Have you ever heard of the Japanese Alps and its surroundings? If this is not the case, then that's good news, because I am going to show you one of the cities most popular with hiking enthusiasts, and also known for its traditional neighborhood: Takayama.
Head to Gifu Prefecture, a region where the main Japanese mountains are concentrated, for nature walks all year round or for skiing during the winter.
Within it is located one of the main cities known as Takayama. It is through the preservation of its buildings typical of feudal Japan, its handicrafts and its history that the city has managed to attract many visitors.
In my opinion, coming to Takayama is therefore an almost mandatory step in order to discover Japanese culture as we know it through books and movies.
Not only is it a place that's definitely worth spending time in, but you'll also have the chance to see Japan from a variety of perspectives.
Let me share My itinerary for 3 days in Takayama that I experienced during my 4th trip to Japan, this time with my mother to show her her dream country for the first time.
And his verdict was clear: it was his favorite city among all the ones we had visited!
How do I get to Takayama?
Depending on where you are, I will show you the easiest way to get to Takayama.
So for me, you have 5 cities through which you can get there directly.
Coming to Takayama from Tokyo, Osaka, or Kyoto
The company Nohi Bus offers a bus route that allows you to go directly to Takayama.
The prices vary depending on where you are, but on average, you have to count about 7000 yen for a one-way trip.
Travel time is approximately 6 hours from these cities, but you will have to be careful because in the event of a traffic jam, the duration may be longer.
Solo Backpacker Tip : For the main destinations such as Tokyo, Osaka or Kyoto, you should know that the seats fill up very quickly. I advise you to go to the counter as soon as possible in order to take your seats quickly, otherwise you will have to wait for the next bus to pass, or even the next day!
NB: Some destinations (Osaka, Kyoto, Tokyo) can be booked on the website of Japan Bus Online.
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Coming to Takayama from Kanazawa, Matsumoto, or Nagoya
There are two ways to get to Takayama from Kanazawa City or Nagoya City:
- By bus : With the same transport company Nohi Bus, you can also get there for about 3700 yen
- By train : If you have the JR Pass in your possession, you can go to Takayama at no cost. If not, you will have to pay 3420 yen. From Kanazawa or Nagoya, you can take the line Hida 6 Limited Express Nagoya that will take you there in 1.5 hours.
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What to do in Takayama?
Exploring Sanmachi Suji Historic District
Takayama is a traditional city where you should enjoy taking your time to explore the various hidden corners.
Even though you might think the city is small, there is always something to see. I am thinking in particular of the small shops run by the locals in order to let you discover their crafts and products from the region.
The historic district of Sanmachi Suji is home to houses with structures dating from the Edo period (1603-1868), making it even more interesting to visit. You can feel the atmosphere that emanates enormously, especially at night when the lamp posts are on and giving way to a setting worthy of a samurai movie.
Here, visitors can sample local sake, buy handmade souvenirs, and discover the region's typical crafts, including wooden sculptures.
Solo Backpacker review : What I particularly like about the historic district is the atmosphere that reigns there with its many shops with wooden storefronts. This is an opportunity to be able to buy souvenirs and other objects from the region to take home!
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Take a stroll at Miyagawa Morning Markets
As its name suggests, it is a market open in the morning to let you taste products from the region. There is a bit of everything on the street: souvenir shops, food stalls, and from time to time small stalls run by elderly people who offer you to buy local fruits and vegetables.
The only difference with the historic district of Sanmachi Suji is that it is located in front of the Miyagawa River. You can then stroll along the river while contemplating the various open-air markets.
Take the opportunity to test the region's cow's milk, which is really delicious, and buy the famous Sarubobo dolls. These little red, faceless dolls are easily recognizable by their simplified human form and bright colors. Their name “sarubobo” literally means “baby monkey” in Japanese (Saru for monkey, and boho for baby).
Legend has it that in the past, in the Hida region, grandmothers made sarubobo dolls for their grandchildren. These dolls, made of red fabric, were considered lucky charms, and they were supposed to protect children from illness and accidents.
Solo Backpacker review : Since the Miyagawa Morning Markets is located 2 blocks away near the historic district, you can continue your visit directly to the market to optimize your time.
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Visit the Hida no Sato Folk Village
This open-air museum village recreates a traditional village in the Hida Mountains. It features thatched farm houses, ancient agricultural tools, and artisans showing traditional techniques. Hida no Sato allows you to discover how the villagers lived in this mountainous region in the past.
Located not far from downtown Takayama, you can get there with a local bus that will take you there in less than 15 minutes. Count only 200 yen round trip.
Given its small size, you can go around it in 1 hour to see the entire museum village.
Whether you are alone, with friends or with family, the village also offers you to play small games at the entrance to have a good time!
Preferred bus line :”Sarubobo bus” from Takayama Nohi Bus Station
Solo Backpacker review : If you don't have much time in Takayama City, I think that visiting the village at the expense of Shirakawa-go does the trick. This is an opportunity to visit the life-size thatched houses without having to travel far away or pay expensive bus tickets.
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Visit the sanctuary Sakurayama Hachimangu
Sakurayama Hachimangu Shrine is certainly one of the places to visit when visiting Takayama.
Located a bit outside the city center, you will have no trouble finding it because it has a street entirely dedicated to it.
If you go north along the Miyagawa River, you will see a very large Shinto gate in front of you. It is in this area that the sanctuary is located.
This Shinto shrine, dedicated to Hachiman, the god who protects warriors and communities, is deeply rooted in local culture and plays a central role in the famous Takayama Fall Festival.
Solo Backpacker review : I particularly liked the fact that this sanctuary is not full of tourists, which makes it a really pleasant place to take the time to contemplate the majestic cedars and enjoy a peaceful atmosphere.
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Getting to Mount Kamikochi
Surely one of the most privileged destinations when staying in Takayama, Mount Kamikochi is surely one of the places that will please hiking enthusiasts, or who want to take a break from cities and admire breathtaking landscapes.
From the city, you can take the bus operated by the Nohi company to get there. However, I advise you to anticipate the purchase of tickets in advance because there is no way to book online. Everything is done the day you want to go there.
To know more about how to get there, and what to see in Kamikochi, I invite you to read my complete article on one of my favorite places.
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Where to eat in Takayama?
After staying 3 days in Takayama, there are 3 restaurants that I recommend going to eat, and 1 café that I particularly liked for their friendliness.
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Ramen Le Midi
Surely one of the ramen that I enjoyed the most in the city. This one is especially known for offering game meat, and suggests serving it in ramen bowls!
Not only can you choose different types of ramen, but you can also choose soba.
Located not far from the historic district of Sanmachi Suji, you can easily walk there in less than 5 minutes.
It is a very cozy place with only a few dozen seats. It is not surprising to have to wait in line at the entrance of the restaurant to have a chance to sit there.
For my part, as the game meat was out of stock, so I finally chose a special homemade ramen at 900 yen (number 12 on the menu below).
Solo Backpacker review : For the moment, the setting of this restaurant is really chill. You eat directly on the counters with the possibility of watching the chefs prepare your ramen bowl in front of your eyes. The prices are a bit higher than in other ramen restaurants, but considering the quality and taste, I can only recommend that you try this famous ramen there, and why not the game meat!
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Jingoro Ramen Yasukawa
Here is another ramen restaurant located right next to the historic district that I had the opportunity to try: Jingoro Ramen Yasukawa.
It is managed by two women with the ambition to give a smile to their customers who are visiting with their homemade ramen.
As a result, the taste is different from the Ramen Le Midi restaurant, but still delicious for ramen lovers.
This time the restaurant is more specialized in Chinese noodles and serves it in a broth made from chicken and pork bones.
The menu at Jingoro Ramen is very simple, as you will only find ramen and a few sides, including gyozas. Nothing more!
Regarding the price, we are rather in the local price range for a classic ramen.
Solo Backpacker review : I ate at this restaurant in the evening because it was among the only ones that were open until late. And for the time being, I was not disappointed with their ramen, which I think is good to eat. For those who are hungry, I recommend taking gyozas in addition, as they are also homemade.
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The Rinrin restaurant
It's for me The favorite restaurant of my 3-day trip. Because it is run by an elderly couple who are very friendly and who really take care of their client.
Located right next to Takayama Jinya Shrine, it's a place to try if you want to discover a local restaurant where you only see locals eating breakfast there. In this case, I only saw old people.
The menu is relatively large: ramen, udon, rice, toast... so you are spoilt for choice when it comes to building your morning meal before exploring the city of Takayama.
Note that the restaurant offers their “breakfast special” at a ridiculous price of 500 yen. You can then have a coffee, a toast and a hard-boiled egg at this price. This is only possible between 6:30 and 10:30 in the morning. A good deal for those who are not very hungry in the morning or who do not want to eat salty food!
Solo Backpacker review : The Rinrin restaurant is really a place that I appreciated for its cozy setting and where we see the two elderly people enjoying cooking to serve you breakfast. However, you should know that they don't really speak English.
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Where to stay in Takayama?
Since I travelled with my mother and my cousin, the accommodations I am going to recommend here may not be suitable for you if you are a backpacker.
But I will still give you two guesthouses that seem really good to me in terms of quality/price ratio.
Utatei Villa
I stayed 2 nights in this accommodation, because considering the fact that all the other accommodations were already booked, I only had this choice left which seemed interesting to me.
And to my surprise, the stay was really incredible because everything is explained for the check-in by the owner of the accommodation.
The interior is very spacious, as it is a house with one floor. The ground floor consists of the shower, a small laundry room and a separate toilet. The 1st floor is the living space, a corner with futons, a kitchen and a 2nd toilet.
You also have access to the balcony, where you can listen to the sound of water flowing along the road.
In addition, since the villa is located in a place quite remote from tourist spots, you will be quiet in a residential area where there are almost no tourists.
To get there, you can take The Machinami bus that goes around the city for the sum of 100 yen. Then get off at the bus station Ojinmachi 2chome, then you will have to walk about 2 minutes to reach your destination.
Price of one night : ~100€ per night for 3 people
Travel time : ~18 minutes from Takayama Main Station
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Guest House Ouka
If you want to be close to the main station of Takayama (train and bus included) as well as to the city center, then you can opt for the Guest house Ouka.
Next to you is a Seven Eleven to get a snack, drink or if you want to have a small meal already prepared.
The fairly traditional setting of the guesthouse makes the stay experience more appealing.
You have the choice between a bunk bed if you are traveling alone, or a private room where you will sleep on the floor on futons if you are traveling as a couple, friend or family.
Price of one night : ~ 20€ for a bunk bed depending on the day, 60€ for a private room
Travel time : ~ 8 minutes from Takayama Main Station
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Hostel Murasaki
If you want to be close to the Miyagawa River and the shrine Sakurayama Hachimangu, then you can opt for theHostel Murasaki.
Located 1.2km from the main station of Takayama, the hostel is located in a very quiet location that will allow you to enjoy the small streets that will lead you to the city center.
A few steps away, you also have a Family Mart, a 24-hour supermarket that will allow you to buy snacks, drinks or meals.
The setting of the Murasaki Hostel is in itself really cozy. It is actually a ryokan, in a sense an ancient structure that welcomed locals to take hot baths, and has been renovated to become the place to accommodate travelers.
The icing on the cake is that it has a pretty Japanese garden that you can admire from the common area.
Price of one night : ~ 20€ for a bunk bed, and ~70€ for a family room.
Travel time : ~ 17 minutes from Takayama Main Station
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Conclusion
Takayama is a city that you should include in your travel itinerary if you are going to Japan for the first time.
Because we often talk about the classic Tokyo - Kyoto - Kyoto - Osaka - Hiroshima route, except that in my opinion, it would be better to go beyond what many people do to really enjoy traditional Japan.
If you have a few days ahead of you, then consider spending time in Takayama City, because I am confident that you will not regret it!
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