Picture by Ray Swi-hymn
Takayama town 高山市 is a gem, nestled deep within the Hida Mountains, the Japanese alps. The town’s latticed wooden buildings date back to the Edo Period (200 to 300 years ago). Look for the old carpentry. Step back in time.
Let's discover Jinya Mae Morning Market thorugh the eyes of themintstory.com: "The market wasn’t visually spectacular- it’s an open-air market with stalls made of plastic tents, but the produce was quite interesting: local rice (No 1. in Japan, the sign said!), apples, root vegetables, different sorts of sauces and fermented vegetables that looked and smelled really good, but were sealed into plastic bags. (...) That was the beginning of our eating spree in Takayama. I wanted to try all the street foods and then some, the first one being mitarashi dango- sticky rice balls covered with soy sauce and grilled on a stall just on the corner of the market. They were sticky and salty, but nothing more."
Dried persimmon at Jinya Mae Morning Market
Just around the corner you may stop at Kisse Kisse café. In the words of themintstory.com: "We found out that they were both retired and decided to open a cafe about a year ago. The husband was an architect and decorated the place elegantly and cozy, they were passionate about cooking, they were selling their own pickled cucumbers and tomato juice and made us the tastiest french toast filled with vanilla cream and a regular toast with butter, potato salad, pickles and yogurt with blueberries. We sat on a long wooden table by the window, observing the passers-by and a garden in front of the cafe, savoring the toasts and the tea from beautiful cups while jazz was playing in the back. I really liked the interior with its modern wooden furniture, red Turkish rug on the floor, paintings of vegetables on the walls."
Now we cross Miyagawa river to the very busy, very touristy Sanmachi Suji area. It has shops with embroidery, wallets, jewelry, purses, chopsticks and pottery.
Sanmachi is the Old Town (Furui Machinami) in Takayama. It consists of the part of the city around the castle, the uptown area (Kamimachi), that flourished as a merchant town, and the downtown area (Shimomachi). Sanmachi Suji preservation area contains certain areas of Kamiichinomachi, Kamininomachi, Kamisannomachi, Kataharamachi and Shinmeimachi 4-chome. Shimoninomachi-Ojinmachi preservation area contains certain areas of Shimoichinomachi, Shimoninomachi, Shimosannomachi, Hachimanmachi, Ojinmachi 1-chome, Ojinmachi 2-chome, Ojinmachi 3-chome and Ojinmachi 4-chome.
Kami Sannomachi, Kami Ninomachi and Kami Ichinomachi are lined with modern cafes, traditional houses, candy stores and shops that sell traditional culture crafts. By strolling through the traditional streets you might notice cedar leaf balls hanging from the front of sake breweries and houses. "A fresh ball is hung when a new batch of sake is made. It helps people know the age of the sake in their breweries and shops, as the ball slowly turns into various shades of brown", explains japanbyjapan.com.
Picture by gmacfadyen
Picture by Ray Swi-hymn
We follow themintstory.com to Miyagawa morning market. "The food here was mostly cooked and ready to eat (Yay!), and everything smelled like coffee that was brewing on one of the stalls. We tried the creamiest, tastiest jar of homemade pudding with sakura (cherry blossom) liquor there, made and sold by another husband and wife duo that offered us a seat and a little talk." You might try Senbei (rice crackers soaked in soy sauce), or Owara Tamaten, a sweet made from egg, milk, sugar and sake. Or you try Taiyaki, a warm fish-shaped cake filled with red bean paste.
Yamashira Kougei craft shop at Miyagawa Morning Market
Now we head back across Miyagawa river and look for Hida Kokubunji Temple with its wooden pagoda:
Sakurayama Hachimangu Shrine: Overlooking the town, surrounded by trees.
Betsuin Shorenji:
Picture by Laura Tomàs Avellana
Picture by Laura Tomàs Avellana
Shiroyama park and Higashiyama Tenmachi: Currently (Juli 2019) the park is closed due to bear sightings and the city of Takayama asks people to keep out of the park. So you should not take the park part of the 3,5 kilometer long Higashiyama Walking Course 東山遊歩道. This walking tour offers thirteen temples and five shrines. Many were built by the Kanamori clan, the family at the head of the city during the sixteenth century. Their family temple is Unryuuji. The most popular shrine nestles among cedars and is called Nishikiyamajinja. The starting and ending points of the Higashiyama Walking Course are near the Museum of History and Art. See Map of Higashiyama Walking Course.
You can start with Unryuuji. Its gate tower is thought to have been moved from the Kouun Pavilion of Takayama Castle.
Picture by Unforgiven II
Daioji is the next stop, a temple of the Jodo sect. It used to be a large temple complex with five sub temples. Today there is only one temple called Dounin. But its an outstanding Buddhist monastery with treasures such as the Niou Mon (gate) and its guardian gods, Sho Rou (bell tower, one of the oldest in the Hida area), the large main hall and a hexagonal temple.
Picture by Ed
Picture by Unforgiven II
Picture by Laura Tomàs Avellana
Picture by Laura Tomàs Avellana
Picture by Laura Tomàs Avellana
Picture by Laura Tomàs Avellana
Dounjn temple: Here you see a koyasu jizo statue for children who lost their during a great famine.
Sogenji temple: Here you find the grave of Lord Kanamori Nagachika, the first Takayama Castle’s owner.
Tenshoji temple: This temple was built in 1182 by the Tendai sect, later it fell into decline and was rebuilt in 1615 by the Jodo sect.
Picture by Hannah Swithinbank
See also the pictures by thevisualtraveler.com.
Hokkeji temple: A Part of Takayama Castle was transferred to the main building of the temple. It is said that your sickness or injury will be healed if you rinse and wash the affected part of the Buddha statue. Benten shrine is a work of the father of Murayama (Endo) Minjirou who created some Takayama festival floats. The view of pond and building in autumn is marvellous.
Picture by Joaquim Rocha
Zennoji 善応寺: You can book a Zen meditation here, start at 6:00 (one hour).
Soyuji temple: The stone wall of the Takayama Castle was used here, its bell tower was built thanks to the district governors. This temple served as a group graveyard for those discriminated against and refused to be buried normally. There is a grave of the parents of Yamaoka Tesshū who made a huge contribution to modernize Japan. He was appointed as a chamberlain for the Meiji Emperor by the prime minister and served many government positions. A Buddhist service takes place annually on the 19 of July, the day he died.
Picture by Joaquim Rocha
Some impressions of the old town in Takayama 飛騨高山の古い町並:
More informations:
Stroll The Streets Of Hida Takayama With Delicacies In Both Hands!
Takayama Travel Guide – 15 Things To Do, Access, Festivals, And More
12 Unique Things to Do in Takayama
Things to do in Takayama by "Inside Kyoto"
Highlights of Takayama
Food and Culture Walk
Local speciality shopping
Local food
Transportation in Takayama: Loop bus
Spectacular Scenery Kamikochi,Norikura &Shinhotaka Bus Tour
Express Bus lines
Bus Takayama City line
Takayama Dining Guide
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