HIDA TAKAYAMA

Takayama is located at the foot of the 16th centur y Takayama Castle in Gifu Prefecture. The town consists of many old wooden houses, and the beauty of the projecting lattice and eaves draws many visitors. Takayama-matsuri Festival, first held in the 16th or 17th century, is one of the most beautiful festivals in Japan. At the festival intricate floats, constructed according to Hida’s traditional technique, parade around the city. Takayama-matsuri Festival is held at Hie-jinja Shrine in spring and Sakurayama Hachiman-gu Shrine in autumn. There are other events held at the Takayama City Memorial Hall where women don kimono and men don hakama, and then tour the city in spring and autumn. Other tourist spots include Kyodo Gangu-kan, which exhibits Japanese folk-art toys, Hida Minzokukan, which preserves the history of life in farming villages in Hida, and Takayama-jinja Shrine, which was a centre of government during the Edo period. There are many ski resor ts nearby, and Takayama is also popular as a base for sightseeing trips to Mt. Norikuradake, Shirakawago and Chubu Mountains National Park.

PLACES OF INTEREST

Takayama Jinya

Takayama Jinya, a Historical Government House, is a 10 minute walk from Takayama Station. Once the seat of local government when Takayama was under the administration of the Kanamori clan, this is the only building of its kind in Japan. It was originally built in 1615 and managed by the feudal authorities until the late 19th century, when it was taken over by the local government.

Hida-no-Sato

Hida-no-Sato, a 20 minute walk or 10 minute bus ride from central Takayama, is a Hida folk village where historical buildings, craf ts and traditions are preserved. Each of the traditional buildings has been maintained in its original state. Certain houses function as craft workshops, which stage demonstrations of local crafts such as woodcarving, lacquerwork, and the making of straw baskets, hats and sandals. Open:8:30-17:00. Admission: ¥700.

Shirakawago

Shirakawago, a secluded snowy mountain village, retains a historic landscape with some 150 traditional farm houses known as Gassho-zukuri. To withstand the weight of snow during winter, the angle of the roof is sharp. This feature is called Gassho in Japan, a word which refers to two hands closed in prayer, resembling the rooms. The Gassho-zukuri-style roofs are rethached once every 40-50 years. The observatory at the Ogimachi Castle ruins gives the best view of the whole village.