Typical tourist sights

Since this is a first posting, I would like to introduce typical tourist sights.

1. Old private houses
Takayama is a castle town at the foot of Takayama Castle, built in the 16th century. It is a town of old wooden houses with lattice standing side-by-side. This district was designated an area of important traditional buildings by the Japanese Government.



2. Takayama Jinya (Historical Government House)
It is an old government office in the Edo period.


3. Morning market
It's a local market selling local products.

4. Hida Falk Village
It is an open air museum exhibiting farmhouses. There are lots of gassho-zukuri houses with thatched roofs, which moved here from Shirakawa-go region. All exhibited buildings are carefully preserved, and are displayed utensils, too.
An old private house in the Hida Folk Village offers several lesson programs such as Sarubobo charms, straw crafts, and printing with vegetable dye. You can enjoy these crafts as hands-on experience.



5. Shirakawago
Gassho-zukuri Village in Shirakawa-go were listed as sites of The World Heritage. The atmosphere of the villages with traditional houses standing side by side looks just like a fairy tale.
Houses built in the "gassho style" are defined as having a roof in the shape of a triangle, similar to hands folded in prayer.


6. Gero Hot Spring
Gero Onsen one of the top three spas in Japan. One spa, Nigorigo Onsen, is open year round and is located at the highest altitude of any spa in Japan.
This hot spring is also well-known for the effective of beauty because of the smooth touch of water. There are some foot baths in the town, which you can enjoy while strolling at free of charge.

7. Hida Furukawa
The main two traditional economies are the production of sake and Japanese candles. Crafts such as Ichii-Itto Bori (One Knife Carving) or Hida Shunkei (lacquer ware maintaining the beauty of wood pattern) are flourished. Variety festivals has been held all over the year.

8. Okuhida
It is located in the northern part of Gifu. There are lots of Hot springs places such as Hirayu, Fukuji, Shin-Hirayu, Tochio, and Shin-Hodaka around Japan Alps.
Hirayu Onsen Hot spring has developed and been known as the healing springs since someone found a old monkey healing its wound with hot springs in the middle of 16th century.　Hirayu-otaki Falls is not far from the town. the frozen waterfall is illuminated by light in winter.

The Shin-Hodaka-onsen Hot Spring is known for the open-air bath to many alpinists as a healing spring. This Shin-Hodaka-onsen Hot Spring is a mountain-climbing base of the Northern Japan Alps.

9. Shopping
Takayama is also well-known place for traditional crafts. On San-machi-suji ave in Takayama city is lined with stores selling the traditional wares and craftman's workshop.


***Not Hotel or Ryokan, Budget Accommodation in Hida Takayama ***