LET'S VISIT TAKAYAMA: PART 1

LET'S VISIT TAKAYAMA!

If you like Kyoto, you will love Hida-Takayama (高山市) ! Hida (飛騨) is the northern section of Gifu Prefecture in the Chūbu region of Japan. The name “Hida” comes from the fact that it was formerly part of Hida Province, before the formation of prefectures following the Meiji Restoration. While there are no official borders to the region, it includes the four towns of Takayama, Hida, Gero, and Shirakawa.

Takayama is often referred to as “Hida-Takayama” to differentiate it from Takayama in Gunma Prefecture, and Takayama in Nagano Prefecture. But for our purposes we just refer to it as “Takayama”. There is no place like it!. Takayama means “tall mountain” and because the city is located in what has come to be known as the “Japanese Alps”, as you stand and turn in a circle, that is exactly what you will see – tall mountains. There is a lot of snow in the winter and skiing is great! In fact, sometimes the snow is so heavy that the rail line and main highway are cut off for a day or two. But not to worry – there are lots of warm places to stay (both modern and traditional), lots of things to do, and lots and lots of great food to eat!

The city, actually more like a “city/county” kind of like Los Angeles, consists of Takayama and nine other towns and villages from the former Ono and Yoshiki districts. The city if famous for it’s background in carpentry; indeed, it is said that carpenters from Takayama worked on the Imperial Palace in Kyoto back in the Heian Period as well as temples both in Kyoto and Nara. The town and its culture took shape late in the 16th century and it was in the beginning of the 17th century that the town came under the rule of the Tokugawa shogunate. Due however to the high mountains which separate it from other areas of Japan, Takayama remained rather isolated’ thus, allowing it to develop its own culture. The city, in addition to carpentry is noted for its elegant lacquerware, pottery, and furniture. So when you visit Takayama be prepared to shop, shop, shop!

Takayama is known as well for its local food which includes mountain vegetables, wasakana or river fish, beef, soba, delicious ramen, and some great sake! So even if you are here in Takayama in the dead of winter, and the roads are closed, you can warm your body and spirit with great cuisine!

There is so much to see and do that we cannot describe it all here today. One thing you really want to do is to visit the eastern part of the city where there is a walking tour, called the Higashiyama Walking Course higashiyama-hokodo), which goes past many beautiful shrines and temples in Shiroyama Park. There are major festivals each year as well: Sanno Matsuri in the Spring and Hashiman Matsuri in Autumn. These are two of the most popular festivals in all of Japan!