New Year Fireworks

Have you ever seen winter fireworks ?

Here in Takayama, the city launches beautiful "Hanabi" to celebrate the new year coming.

The fireworks are launched from the Sky park at 20:00.

Good places to see it : the train station, the city hall and near the river.

By the way do you know how to wish a good year in Japanese ?

• "あけましておめでとう！/Ake mashite omedetou ! " it says the 1st of January,
• "良いお年を！/ Yoi o toshi wo !" can be said any day.  

Lets' enjoy a great evening and start the next year with beautiful memories.

Chochin light-up in Old street

Let's enjoy the old street with an enchanting light-up !

The 16th and 17th of December the old streets will be lived-up by the light-up event.
Starting at 18:00 until 20:30 in the Kami-san-no-machi and Kami-ni-no-machi we will be able to enjoy light-up with traditional Japanese lantern chochin and andon.

Chochin lantern

Andon lantern

 You can also enjoy some event in the Sake breweries :

• Funasaka Sake Brewery : Lion dance 19:30~
• Harada Sake Brewery : Amazake degustation
• Niki Sake Brewery : Jazz concert ( twice a day from 18:30)

If you dressed-up in kimono do not miss to take one free rental Japanese umbrella to walk down the street. You can also take a picture on a Jinrikisha !

Feel authentic Japan and travel back in time.

Winter season will soon starts !

In Takayama we get the first snow in the city on the 10th of November. It was a really light snow but our manager made us betting on the first snow date and won. This was a little game in our team but really enjoyable.

Then if it snowed in the city it is even better on the mountains ! 

The ski resort CIAO open on the 11th.

If you want to enjoy walking in the winter landscape why not going there for one day and use the lift and gondola to get on the best spot ?

Until the 31th of December, one day ticket is only 1,000 yen per person. And if we get lucky the snow may fall again soon ! Then get your gear ready to ride on the white carpet !

Even if you never ski before you will certainly enjoy trying this outdoor sport !

Update on Autumn colors in Takayama (Oct 31)

It was supposed to be your correspondent's day off today but he failed to finish all his work (poor him!) the previous day and had to go reluctantly to work today. But luckily he managed to finish
all the remaining tasks in the morning, and after a quick lunch, and armed with his new iphone (your correspondent dropped his iphone 5 on the ground, broke it, bought a new phone, then dropped it into the toilet in less than two weeks, necessitating the purchase of yet another phone; your correspondent is broke right now), he headed down to the Shiroyama Park to check out the autumn colors. Rumor has it that the autumn colors this year are less vivid than in a regular year because of heavy rainfall in the last few months, and I am afraid I have to agree. But still you can spot trees with vividly red maple leaves here and there in the park. Based on my experience, the autumn colors here are still a week away from its peak, as we are expecting the weather to turn pretty cold next week, which will hopefully speed up the change of colors. So don't forget to check out the Shiroyama park in a week! (Don't forget your bear bell...just in case).

 

Autumn Light-up in Takayama

During the Autumn the leaves change color and Takayama get illuminated all around the city !

Well this year is maybe not the most beautiful one due to the heavy rain of the past months, but the light-up are still running in Takayama giving some good view of the city by night.

Spot #1(number 8 on the map) : Nakabashi, the red bridge
From the 1st of October until the 30th of November
Everyday from 18:30 to 22:00
FREE

Spot #2 (number 9 on the map) : Enako River, the little river in th old town
From the 1st of October until the 30th of November
Everyday from 18:30 to 22:00
FREE

Spot #3 (number 10 on the map) : Hida Folk Village
From the 1st of October until the 13th of November
Sat./Sun./Holiday from 17:30 to 21:00
Adult 300 yen / Child 100 yen

Takayama Autumn Festival

Takayama's Autumn Festival, one of the three most beautiful one in Japan.

Tomorrow and the day after tomorrow the street of Takayama will be joyfull and crowded as everyone is waiting to see the floats walking down the path. The floats are really high, about 9m, and colorful. Inside the floats you will be able to watch the Karakuri, wooden puppets moving by strings, performing story and dance. Sometimes 10 people are needed to move one Karakuri !

October 9th 2016

9:00 to 16:00 : Line-up of Floats
12:00 to 12:20 : Puppet show (Karakuri)
13:00 to 15:00 : Goshinko processing
13:30 to 16:00 : Parade of floats
15:00 to 15:20 : Puppet show (Karakuri)
18:00 to 21:00 : Night Parade

October 10th 2016
8:30 to 11:30 : Goshinko processing
9:00 to 16:00 : Line-up of Floats
11:00 to 11:20 : Puppet show (Karakuri)
13:00 to 13:20 : Puppet show (Karakuri)
13:30 to 16:00 : Goshinko processing

Furukawa Fire Fox Festival

Every year on the fourth Saturday of September, foxes walked in Furukawa !

It is the Fire Fox Festival of Furukawa !

Let's get some fox make-up and enjoy the "kistune matsuri" !

Anyone coming into the city will get a white and red fox make-up.

From all over the country couples apply to been selected as the fire foxes married coupled, 

but only one will be chosen and play this huge role.
Procession, dances, stands, music... A lot to see and feel during this event !

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Where : Hida-Furukawa, 5mn from the station

When :  September 24 (Sat.) 13:00~21:00

Japanese PDF information (Map)

Aji Matsuri - Festival of Taste + Street Jazz Festival

The Festival of Taste is back in September !


This weekend the Hida Autumn Food will be held in Honmachi.
Enjoy the friendly ambiance of the event and discover the popular foods of Hida Takayama. :

•  Hida beef on skewers - Gyu-kushi
• Hida beef sushi - Gyu-zushi
• Salty grilled river fish - Ayu/Amago/Iwana shio-yaki
• Sticky rice balls covered with a sweet soy sauce - Mitarashi dango
• Sticky rice covered with miso - Miso gobei
• Hida beef Croquette - Gyu-kuroke
• and so many others !

You will also be able to have some locals sake tasting ! Hida-Furukawa's sake, Hourai, has been selected best sake in the world ! Do not miss the chance to try it during this festival !

Where : Shopping Street Honmachi, Takayama
When : September 10th (Sat) and 11th (Sun) // 9:00~17:00 (~16:00 Sunday)

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10th Street Jazz Festival in Takayama !

7 Jazz-bands from the region gathered to this Festival. 

A free event bringing you music in the old street. 

Have a hear to them !

Where : Kami-ni-nomachi (the old streets)

When : September 10, 13:00~18:00 

Obon odori and summer festival in Takayama

Summer is hot and full of festival in Japan !

Do you know "obon" ? It is a Buddhist custom to celebrate the ancestors. "Bon odori" means "bon dance", which is a dance to celebrate the ancestors' spirits. Each city has its own dance and music, but it is always constructed with a pattern which is repeated all along the song, and people usually dance in circles. Let's try to dance with locals !

In Takayama near the J-Hoppers Hida Takayama we will have a lot of opportunities to dance and wear yukata ! You should try to wear it at least once if you come to Japan during summer ! Yukata can be easily rented.

• Takayama Jinya Obon odori: 14th and 15th of August 2016
• 3mn from the hostel

• Takayama Bestuin Obon odori : 16th of August 2016
• 15mn from the hostel

• Takayama Ryokan Obon odori : 27th of August 2016
• 5mn from the hostel

Handheld Fireworks

The annual handheld firework display will be held in Takayama on August 9 along Miyakawa River. If you haven't seen this amazing event before, I do recommend that you see if for once. I am sure you will be awed by the sight of fireworks raining down on the body of the brave handheld firework holder and the sound of explosion in the end, after which everything falls silent. I always wonder if it will be pretty painful doing this, and I definitely cannot imagine myself doing this. I will be happy being the spectator, and this year will probably be my third year watching this event. Please join me on August 9 from 7.30pm! 

! 

Lavender Festival at Kiyomi

Okay, I know Furano at Hokkaido is famous for lavender, but actually you can find lavender field in Takayama, though in a much smaller scale. But still if you don't have time to venture that far to Hokkaido, you can satisfy your thirst of seeing lavender by riding a bicycle to Kiyomi. The best time to see lavender here is around early July, and for two consecutive weekends, on July 2 and 3, as well as on July 9 and 10, a lavender festival will be held around the lavender garden. Don't miss it! Please ask our staff for access to the lavender garden.

Summer illumination at Nakabashi bridge

What makes summer bearable in Takayama is the temperature difference. As the sun sets, the scorching heat grilling us during day time will gradually disappear, and as you step out to the streets at night, you will be greeted with a comfortable cool breeze. How would you not want to take a walk at night in Takayama? Between July 2 and August 16, the famous Nakabashi bridge (nicknamed red bridge) will be lit up from 7.30 pm and 10 pm to invite locals as well as travelers to take a stroll around the red bridge. 

Okuhida Himuro Soba Festival.

Autumn is the best season for making Soba noodle.
 
In Okuhida, they have special way to make

original soba in the Ice house.

It tastes more sweeter than normal one.

You can choose original topping at the festival.

They sell local products like a fresh veggie!!

17th May (Tue) - 20th May (Fri)
20rd May (Mon) -26th May (Thu)

11:00am-13:00pm

At Taruma no Yakata

Mt. Norikura opening

Mt. Norikura, which has been closed during winter, will be open again for visitors from May 15 this year. The Alpine route in Tateyama is of course famous for its snow wall, but though much lesser known, Mt. Norikura also offers a snow wall experience at the beginning of the season, but at a smaller scale. Given the unusually warm winter that just left us, it is worrying how thick the snow will be this year, but let's hope it will not be too disappointing. But anyway, Mt. Norikura has much more to offer as the season gradually moves towards summer. In July and August, it attracts many hikers aiming for the summit at more than 3000 meters, deemed one of the most easily accessible 3000-meter level mountains. See you on the trail!

To go there, you have to first take a bus from Takayama to Honokidaira through the Shinhotaka line, and then from there another bus will take you to Norikura at 2,700 meters above sea-level.
Please click on the following links for timetables:

http://www.nouhibus.co.jp/english/routebus/hirayu_shinhotaka_line.pdf
http://www.nouhibus.co.jp/english/routebus/norikura_line.pdf

See you on the trail!

 

Anbo wisteria garden

In 2014, the Ando wisteria garden in Furukawa city, which boasts five wisteria trees over 100 years old, was closed temporarily due to heavy snow that winter. But thanks to an unusually warm winter, this year the garden is expected to open its door to visitors coming to admire the wonderfully beautiful purple wisteria flowers.

The blossoms are expected to be at its peak in mid-May, so do not miss the chance to take a walk under this huge natural curtain of purple flowers.

The garden is 15 minutes' walk from Hida Furukawa station.

New bus route running between Takayama and Mt. Fuji

Our beloved Nohi Bus has again given a pleasant surprise by adding a bus bus route from Takayama to Fujisan station from April 15, passing through the theme park Fujikyu Highland, as well as Kawaguchi-ko, on the way. This is indeed good news for me, and I believe, for a lot of tourists as well. Quite a few tourists coming to Takayama pick Fujisan as their next destination and the train ride can be quite a hassle involving multiple transfers.

Whether you are planning to go for some hair-raising or scream-your-heart-out fun at Fujikyu Highland park, or to admire the sea of pink shiba-zakura at Kawaguchi-ko, or to scale the summit of Mt. Fuji and to admire the sea of clouds, this bus will be a transportation means worth considering.

The bus from Takayama departs from 3.30 pm, and arrives at Fujisan station at 8.13pm.
Reservation is required for this bus. 


 

Watanabe Sake Brewery Festival in Hida Furukawa 19,20 March

19, 20th March 9:30-16:00 

You can have special food only for this event

★Yakisoba
★Grilled River Fish 
★Pizza
★Yakitori 
★Steamed Bun
★Hand Made Soba Noodle
★Sake Curry

You can try "Sake Tasting Quiz" as well! 

Access: 
Google Map

Hina Matsuri a.k.a. Doll's Festival

We have had an unusually warm winter this year, and there is hardly any snow on the ground anymore, and hints of spring can be found here and there. Before the sakura blossoms in early or mid-April, Takayama city also has something to offer, at a time when the temperature during the day is more suited for taking a stroll outdoors. What I am referring to is the Hinamatsuri,  or Doll's Day, which falls on March 3, a festival celebrated throughout Japan, but one month later in Takayama than in other places because spring comes late here.  In Takayama, the festival will run for more than a month, from March 1 to April 3, during which dolls representing a range of roles, including emperor, empress and musicians, in beautiful traditional court dress will be displayed in a variety of locations within the city. Don't miss your chance to take a close look at these beautifully dressed dolls as they will only be on display within the specified period. Try to discover them while taking a stroll in town. Don't count on people offering a longer display as superstition has it that leaving the dolls beyond April 4 will lead to a late marriage of a daughter: who would want that?

Takayama's 5th Ultra Marathon! 12th June

Takayama's 5th Ultra Marathon!12th　June　2016

For the 5th year in row, Takayama will host an insane 100km & 72km marathon! The course starts in the center of Takayama city, passes through the old town, continues out into the mountains past many beautiful rivers and then ends in the center of Takayama city

There will be two courses. You can see the full 100km course and the 72km course by clicking the link below:

http://kankou.city.takayama.lg.jp/_res/projects/kankou/_page_/002/001/179/5th_course_map.pdf

The marathon will have three separate start times starting from 4:45, 5:00 & 5:15am all starting infront of the Takayama City Hall.


The costs for participation are 18,000 yen for the 100km course and 14,000 for the 72km course respectively.

You can see further details written in English by clicking the link below:


http://www.r-wellness.com/takayama/english/index.html



Even if you have no interest in participating in this event,  you can get up at 4:30am you will be able to see this event.

We hope to see you here!

New Restaurant Information: Sushi-Dining Nob

Sushi-Dining Nob

 

*******Opening hours *******

Lunch 11:30-14:30 (LO 14:00)

Dinner 18:00-22:30 (LO 22:00)

Closed on Wednesday 

※Friday/ Saturday 18:00-23:00 (LO 22:30)

※Sunday, Public holiday 18:00-21:30 (LO 21:00)

Hida Folk Village - Winter Illumination

Feeling helpless having failed to grab a spot on the immensely popular bus tour to the light-up event in Shirakawa-go? If you do not want to wait for one more year, we have an alternative for you. Hida Folk Village, the museum version of Shirakawa-go, is opening their door at night from Jan 9 to the end of February with the Gassho-style traditional houses being illuminated. Even though the scale might be smaller than that in Shirakawa-go, it is still reasonably pretty and much less crowded than Shirakawa-go, where you might find yourself struggling to go forward in a sea of crowds. You may even enjoy a cup of ama-zake to warm yourself up inside.

Date: Jan 9 - February 29
Time: 5.30pm - 9pm 
Admission Fee: 300 yen  
There are buses running from Takayama station to Hida Folk Village at night.