Fall foliage in Takayama

Looking for good spots for the fall foliage ?

The fall foliage is an event colorful welcoming the cold season. Let's enjoy the warm-color full scenery around Takayama. It has actually just start in the city but is already quite enjoyable in Shirakawa-Go, do not forget to check our tour to the UNESCO village !

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
Fri/Sat./Sun./Holiday from 17:30 to 21:00
Adult 300 yen / Child 100 yen

Takayama Autumn festival 2017 edition

 Ready for the Festival ?

It is already autumn here in Takayama, and if the leaves are still green the temperatures dropped ! And everyone is now preparing for the festival in Takayama, one of the three most beautiful in Japan. 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 2017
9:00 to 16:00 : Line-up of Floats
12:00 to 12:20 : Puppet show (Karakuri) - Hachimangu Shrine
13:00 to 15:00 : Goshinko processing - Hachimangu Shrine
13:30 to 16:00 : Parade of floats
14:00 to 14:20 : Puppet show (Karakuri) - Hachimangu Shrine
18:00 to 21:00 : Night Parade - From Hachimangu shrine to Shimo-no-machi, through Yasugawa avenue.

***

October 10th 2017
8:30 to 11:30 : Goshinko processing - Hachimangu Shrine
9:00 to 12:00 : Line-up of Floats
11:00 to 11:20 : Puppet show (Karakuri) - Hachimangu Shrine
13:00 to 13:20 : Puppet show (Karakuri) - Hachimangu Shrine
13:30 to 16:00 : Goshinko processing
9:00 to 12:00 : Line-up of Floats - Only in the warehouse and riverside 

Takayama Night Market

After the "Takayama Tezutsu Hanabi Festival"
another summer event is starting today in the city :
The Takayama Jinya Mae Youichi
The Takayama night market in front of the Jinya

This summer event is held on the night of the 11th, 12th and 13th of this month. The venue is in front of the Jinya where you find on the morning the market. The festivities start at 19:00 and continue until 21:00. Locals products, music, dance, games, you will feel like going to a summer festival !

* * *
 

* * *


Where : In front of the Jinya (Jinya morning market)
When :  August 11, 12, 13 - 7:00PM to 9:00PM
What :  Music/Dance Performance
Night market (local product, crafts, etc.)
Food and games stands

Let's enjoy the cool summer night  of Takayama !

Firework in Hida region

Who speaks about summer speaks about "Hanabi".
In Japan the fireworks are typical of the season and here we got our lot of great events too !

 

=================================

August 2, Takayama
60th Hanabi taikai in Hida Takayama

19:30 - 20:45

Feel the start of summer while strolling in the food stands and watching the Fireworks

Takayama's Firework

August 3, Gero

Gero Onsen Hanabi musical summer version 

20:00 - 20:45

Firework synchronized with music

August 5, Nyuukawa (Takayama)

Nyuukawa Summer festival

18:00 - 20:45

The event include Taiko performances, bon dance, live music

 

August 7, Gujohachiman

37th Gujohachiman Hanabi taikai 

19:30 - 20:20

You can also enjoy the bon dance, famous in Gujo Hachiman

August 9, Takayama

34th Tezutsu Hanabi Taikai

19:15 (parade)

19:30 - 21:00 Firework

"Tezutsu Hanabi" are "hand hold firework", please witness the pride and courage of Takayama citizen while enjoy uncommon fireworks

Tezutsu Hanabi in Takayama

August 12, Hida Furukawa

Hida Furukawa Hanabi Taikai

20:00 - not mentioned

Furukawa is known as Itomori in the best-seller movie "Your Name."

Furukawa Firework

August 14, Gujohachiman

26th Gujo Nagarakawa Hanabi taikai

20:00 - 21:00

You can also enjoy the bon dance, famous in Gujo Hachiman

August 19, Kokufun (Takayama)

Furusato summer festival

20:00 - 20:30

One of the last firework of the summer, enjoy the festival before hand

===========================

To complete your summer experience in Japan why do not rent a Yukata !
Let's enjoy this beautiful season all together ~

"Chokeramaika" Great masquerade Bon dance

Summer in Japan is often assimilated to "bon dance".

However, here in Takayama we hold quite a special one at the end of July :

"Chokeramaika" Great masquerade Bon dance

"Chokeramaika" means in Hida dialect : "Won't you play around ?"
The main point of this event is the masquerade parade of its participants.
Funny, colorful, ridiculous, etc. people create teams and come wearing costume to participate at this big event. 

When : 2017 July, 29 ; from 19:00 to 20:30

Where : San-no-machi shotengai, only 7min from J-Hoppers

What to bring : your camera and smile 

Let's have fun together !

Yukata event in Takayama

From today and until the 11th of September in Hida Takayama
you can enjoy strolling in the old town wearing yukata.

The event is offering great price for the yukata rent and also coupon in more than 40 places around the city. Another event is a photography contest with the theme : "Hida Takayama" and "Nippon", and "Summer". The photography can be lansdcape or portrait. The contest is on Intragram with #hidasummerphoto or #飛騨夏フォトコン.

The yukata can be rent in two locations.
The closest one from our hostel is :

kimono NAKADA
since 1876 

2-78 Honmachi, Takayama, Gifu 

506-0011 Japan

TEL  (0577)32-0159

FAX  (0577)32-8801

OPEN  10am ~ 7pm

CLOSED  on Tuesday

Reservations for rent a kimono

The price is from 3,500 yen and they have 10 yukata from woman and 5 for man. This price is including yukata, geta, a small bag and a small hair accessory. The price for the help to wear a yukata that you bring is from 1,500 yen.
 

Let's enjoy the Summer !

Takayama Ultra-Marathon

Do you like running ?
How about running 100 km ?

This is the ultra marathon !

Marathon map

Takayama is holding its 6th ultra marathon this year.
Known as one of the most hard marathon due to its sloping course, approximately 3,000 persons participate to this edition.

When : 2017 June, 11 (Sunday)

start at 4:45 finish at 18:45 (for 100km)

start at 5:15 finish at 16:15 (for 72km)

Where : All around Takayama !
From Big Arena through the old streets to the ski station and back

Even if you do not run, please cheer the runner and enjoy the great ambient.

Hida no Aji Matsuri : Spring

The "Hida no Aji Matsuri" is held for each season in Takayama. This is the opportunity to try the Hida flavour enjoying a walk in the city and feel the warm welcome from the people of Takayama.
Do not be surprise to be stop by someone
calling you in English here !
Everyone is always trying their best with a smile.

This month let's enjoy the spring flavour !

When : May, 27 - 9:00 to 17:00 // May, 28 - 9:00 to 16:00

Where : On the Honmachi street

Kimono walk in Takayama

During all this month on Saturday, Sunday and holidays you can enjoy walking in Takayama wearing a beautiful kimono (for women) or a kamishimo (for men). The experience last 2 hours for 2,000 yen. The price include the kimono rental, and a tourist pass offering you to visit for free the Jinya and Hida Folk village and get discount to other tourist spots. You will also get a memorial pictures of you wearing kimono in front of the main bridge of Takayama : Nakabashi, the red bridge.

Flow of experience

1. Choose your favorite Kamishimo (for men) or Kimono (for women) and wear it.
2. Take off for sightseeing town, carrying a sightseeing pass.
3. Memorial photo is presented to you.
4. Return costume and pass.

Fee	2,000 yen for 2 hours (After 2 hours, 500 yen is charged in every 30 minutes.)

Facility info : Nakabashi Bridge Tourist Information center

Address

1-2 Hon-machi, Takayama City

Access

12 min. walk from JR Takayama station

Note

Contact: Tourist Division of Takayama City Hall

Re-openning of the Alps

Spring as finally come here too.

The cherry blossom season is almost over here in Takayama.

However, some farther place in the mountains are still blooming !

And now that spring is over flowing to summer the snow is melting and the alpine roads re-open !

==================================================

Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route

The Tateyama Kurobe Alpine  Road re-opens on the 15th of April.

A lot of snow is still covering the top part of the course.

If you go there bring warm clothes and shoes.

==================================================

 

Kamikochi 

The majestic Kamikochi valley re-opens on the 17th of April while the openning ceremony was hold on the 24th. The valley is walkable but you still have snow on the top.

 

==================================================

Norikura 

The highest road in the Japanese Alps will re-open on the 15th of May.

Spring festival

 One of the three most beautiful festival in Japan !

Registered as a UNESCO world heritage since last year.

The festival is a most to see at Takayama on April.

Let's enjoy the floats and mikoshi parade in the old street and along the river.

Do not miss the "Karakuri" show, on the top of four of the floats enjoy a traditionnal puppets show - sometimes more than 10 men are needed to perform.

The show can be seen on the 14th between 10:00~10:50 then 14:00~14:50, and on the 15th between 11:00~11:50 then 14:30~15:20.

However the must see of the Spring Festival is the night parade on the 14th night from 18:30 to 21:00. The parade is departing form Shinmei-machi going north up to Uenomachi and then turning on the Yasugawa avenue.

 

Let's enjoy the Spring Festival !

Shizukumiya Festival

Let's enjoy a Sake Festival on this end of winter !

Do not miss the sake barrel mikoshi, portable shrine, carried by the local youth. Colorful, and full of energetic people, the parade is a must to see ! Children from sport clubs also participate, feel the local atmosphere of this festival.

The Taiko performance and hand-held fireworks are also event to watch at Miyagawa !

And then why do you not try the local sake : “Kami no shizuku” sake, and browse many food stalls.

---------------------------------

=================================

WHERE  : In front of Jinya, Along Miyagawa river

WHEN : 9;55 in front of Jinya
12:25 along Miyagawa river
13:50 in front of Jinya
14:20 Kanpai

WHAT : parade, market, sake, taiko performance

---------------------------------

=================================

All photographies from http://ameblo.jp/shizukumiya/

Ji-Kabuki and Sake Night

A Night for Jikabuki and Jizake (local sake) in Hida-Takayama

If Ji-Kabuki is an art from Gero it is quite rare to see it in Takayama and even rarer to see it with English subtitle. However GreenHotel is holding an event where even foreigners can enjoy this performance, and it's free !

In March you can still view it on the 11th, 12th, 18th and 19th.
The performance starts at 21:00 and lasts 2 hours.
The performance changes every nights.

The local sake bar opens at 20:30 and the costs varies.
Snacks also available.

"Takayama is a popular sightseeing spot in Japan, known for its picturesque old town that is unchanged from the Edo period, its morning market, and one of the most beautiful festivals in Japan, the Takayama Festival.

There is another thing that you should not forget when visiting Takayama: the abundant local sake.  Six historical sake breweries are located in the town for you to visit on foot.

Takayama Green Hotel, which is located near JR Takayama Station, holds a special event where you can enjoy both a Jikabuki performance and the Jizake (local sake) of Takayama at the same time. "-Takayama Greenhotel official page

Halal Food in Takayama

Hello everyone !

Did you know that Takayama is a Muslims friendly city ?

A lot of visitors are from muslim countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia. 

However it is not always easy for muslims to find places to go to eat outside...

But here in Takayama an association is working hard to help muslim to enjoy their trip.

If you are looking for a place in which the facilities are welcoming muslim with either prayer room or special menu look for this sign :

 

Hida-Takayama has even its own "Travel guide for Muslim Visitor"

Let's share our differences and culture !
Please enjoy Hida and Shoryudo region !

Winter Illumination 2017

The snow has finally been falling all over the mountains !
Last week Takayama got 75cm in only 3 days, while Shirakawa-go got over 1m ! And what may be more beautiful than winter landscape with light-up ?

Of course Shirakawa-go will be running is main event from the 22nd of January every Sunday and Monday. But Takayama has also some beautiful places near by which get their own light-up.

Like every season Nakabashi, the red bridge, is illuminated between 19:00 and 22:00. It is really near our hostel, only 5 minutes walk. If you are not afraid by the cold you will be able to take good pictures.

However if you allow yourself more time one of the best spot for winter illumination is definitely the Hida Folk Village ! The open air museum light-up is run every day from 17:30 to 21:00. Entrance fee is 300 yen per adult and 100 yen per child. You will enjoy Gassho-zukuri style house covered by snow like you were in Shirakawa-go in a less crowded environment.

 

To reach the Hida Folk village from J-Hoppers :

• by walk : 30mn Est
• by bus : Sarubobo bus (number 1) 210 yen one way
• to go 18:00 / 18:30 / 19:00 / 19:44
• to come back 19:00 / 20:00 / 21:00

 Let's enjoy winter view by night !

Let's discover and enjoy Japanese Sake !

From the 13th of January to the 26th of February 2017, 

the breweries will open their door to everyone. 

One brewery opens the door of its making process for one week. 

Group up to 15 people are invited to see the inside of the building and taste the sake produce.

No reservation needed / Last entrance 15mn before closing

① 1月13日（金）～1月19日（木）　平田酒造場（上二之町）
From 13th to the 19th of January : Hirata Brewery
(01/13 (Fri.) from 10:00 AM Opening ceremony at Hirata Brewery)
-*-*-*-
② 1月20日（金）～1月26日（木）　原田酒造場（上三之町）
From 20th to 26th of January : Harada Brewery
-*-*-*-
③ 1月27日（金）～2月  2日（木）　川尻酒造場（上二之町）
From 27th of January to 2nd of February : Masamune Brewery
-*-*-*-
④ 2月  3日（金）～2月  9日（木）　二 木 酒 造（上二之町）
From 3rd to 9th of February : Niki Brewery
 -*-*-*-
⑤ 2月10日（金）～2月16日（木）　平瀬酒造店（上一之町）
From the 10th to the 16th of February : Hirase Brewery
 -*-*-*-
⑥ 2月17日（金）～2月26日（日）　舩坂酒造店（上三之町）

From the 17th to the 26th of February : Funasaka Brewery