Unique mountain culture and one of Japan’s most exciting festivals
Takayama is a picturesque town nestled high in the mountainous Hida alpine region. It’s famous for hosting one of Japan’s most beautiful festivals. On our Takayama tour, you’ll discover a beautifully preserved old town and find out how it was cut off from the rest of Japan, allowing it to develop its own unique culture.
Takayama is easily explored on foot with most of the main sights located around the centre of town. It has a unique culture that takes influence from both Kyoto and Edo (Tokyo) along with its own unique customs and traditions. Explore Shirakawago, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed village. It’s famous for its 'praying hands'-style farmhouses and distinctive architecture. Pick up some souvenirs in the Miyagawa morning market before visiting one of the many sake breweries. The sake made here is of a particularly high quality due to the area's clean water sources. You can also visit the Hida No Sato Folk Village, an open-air museum exhibiting over 30 typical farmhouses from the Hida region.
We recommend taking your Takayama trip either during springtime or in the autumn, when you can experience one of Japan’s most beautiful festivals. During the Takayama Festival, floats are displayed in the town depicting the region's history. There’s even a festival museum where you can see some of the best floats used over the years.