Welcome to Takayama

Takayama is in Gifu prefecture and is an old castle town spread on a wide plateau in the Hida Mountains. Although the castle is no more, the charming historic core of the town itself remains remarkably unchanged, with narrow streets lined with traditional buildings arranged on a gridiron design as in Kyoto, earning Takayama the nickname “Little Kyoto.”

The city has unique museums, shops selling local crafts, and historic buildings, making this a favorite destination for Japanese and international travelers alike. Famous for the Takayama Matsuri Festival, which is held on April 14 and 15 for the Spring Festival, and October 9 and 10 for the Autumn Festival.

This is one of the three grandest festivals in Japan, featuring 12 exquisite floats in the Spring Festival and 11 in the Autumn Festival, which attract many tourists.

San machi Suji is the old historic quarter, a delightful area of preserved homes and buildings, many of them now housing shops selling local handicrafts, restaurants, inns and museums.