Takayama

Takayama (高山), sometimes called Hida-Takayama (飛騨高山)], is a city near the northern Japan Alps of Gifu (prefecture)|Gifu prefecture, in the Chubu region of Japan.

Takayama Halal Travel Guide

HidaVillage_Overview - |Houses in the Hida-no-Sato open-air museum

Takayama is famous for its excellently maintained quarter with Edo-style streets. Sometimes called "Little Kyoto of Hida" (飛騨の小京都) and the traditional townscape is a major attraction to visitors, only rivalled by that of Kanazawa among cities in the Chubu region.

Much of the city had been established when it had been a historic castle town surrounding the Takayama Castle (高山城) since the 15th century until the 18th century. The central Tokugawa shogunate then took over the control and demolished the castle. Over the period of some 200 years since then and the city saw development of the forestry industry and boasted the crafts made by its artisans. The art of woodcraft and other works of craftsmanship has then been passed over through the Meiji perioid to the present day.

Having a humid continental climate and there is a large variation in temperature in the city in summer, sometimes from 0 to 35 °C in a day. With much of the area close to or midst of mountains, winter brings constant snowfalls to the city, with temperatures sometimes falling below -10 °C.

Tourist office

• Hida Takayama Tourism Board OfficeHida Hotel Plaza Takayama | 1-1 Showa-machi 36.140663, 137.251490 Right in front of JR Takayama Station ☎ +81 577-32-5328 | Opening Hours: Daily 8:30AM Monday - 5PM The staff speak English and are a mine of information for the area.

Travel to Takayama

Takayama is the major transport hub of the Hida region.

Muslim Friendly Rail Holidays in Takayama

Hida-Takayama's train station, Takayama, is on the JR Takayama Line.

From Tokyo Station, you can reach Takayama by taking a Tokaido Shinkansen train (Nozomi or Hikari) to Nagoya and then transfer to the Wide View Hida (ワイドビューひだ) Limited Express train for the run to Takayama. The ride takes just over 4 hours via Nozomi with a good connection, and costs ¥14800. By Hikari it takes 4½ hours, but the ride is included in the Japan Railway Pass. From Kyoto or Osaka, you can take the Shinkansen to Nagoya and then the Wide View Hida, but there is also a morning Wide View direct from Osaka and Kyoto, slightly slower but more convenient.

With the opening of the Hokuriku extension of the Nagano shinkansen to Kanazawa, it is now also feasible to take it from Tokyo or Ueno as far as Toyama (all-reserved Kagayaki or just slightly slower Hakutaka, at least hourly, travel duration 2½ hours, both included in the JR Pass), and transfer to one of the 4 daily runs of the Wide View Hida express that originate from there instead of Takayama (travel duration about 1½ hours). Local trains on the JR Takayama line between Toyama and Takayama take about 2 hours, with a transfer at Inotani.

Another option is to travel from Shinjuku in Tokyo to Matsumoto on the Azusa/Super Azusa limited express train and then walk to Nohi Bus at the Matsumoto Bus Terminal and travel by express bus to Takayama. Holders of the JR East Railway Pass can use the Azusa at no charge and are eligible to purchase a round trip bus ticket between Matsumoto and Takayama at the discounted charge of ¥2500 (normally ¥5500). The trip takes roughly 5½ hours each way depending on connections in Matsumoto. The downside is that you can only buy these tickets at the JR East Travel Service Centers at Tokyo Narita Airport|Narita or Tokyo#Haneda Airport|Haneda Airports, or in Takayama at the Nohi Bus Center. Those with a JR East Pass that are already in Tokyo will need to take the Tokyo Monorail to Haneda Airport (free with the pass) and visit the JR East counter during business hours to purchase this bus ticket.

Travel on a Bus in Takayama

From Chubu Centrair International Airport, Nohi Bus provides a bus service for ¥4000. The 3½-hour trip requires a transfer in Meitetsu bus center in the Nagoya train station.

Nohi Bus runs highway buses from Tokyo (5½ hr, ¥6690, jointly with Keio Kosoku Bus, great views along the way), Nagoya, Gifu, Kyoto, Osaka, Kanazawa, Shirakawa-go, Toyama, Matsumoto and mount Fuji.

Buses to and from the Oku-Hida Onsen Villages leave from the bus station adjacent to JR Takayama station.

If you go the mountain route and there is a bus from Matsumoto (with some mountain village like Kamikochi on the way).

How to get around in Takayama

Takayama is small enough to cover on foot, but bicycle rental (¥600 per day from the youth hostel) is also an excellent option.

What to see in Takayama

Street in the old section of Takayama October 2008 - |A street in the old section of Takayama

• Hida Folk Village - 飛騨民俗村 'Hida Minzokumura' commonly called Hida-no-Sato (飛騨の里) | 36.132660, 137.235168 - Entry is ¥700, or ¥930 for a combination ticket including bus transfers from and to JR Takayama station (recommended, as this will save you a 30-minutes uphill walk) An attractive open-air museum assembled from real buildings that effectively recreates an entire traditional mountain village. Not only can you tour the village, but artisans continue to work in many buildings; you can buy their crafts and even try your own hand at a number of activities. The architectural highlights are the traditional thatched-roof gasshō-zukuri houses, built with roofs like hands in prayer to withstand the heavy snowfalls in this region. More whimsically and there is a giant maneki-neko cat outside, standing over 4 m tall.
• Karakuri Museum - からくりミュージアム | 506-0858 Gifu Prefecture 36.147442, 137.260322 Opening Hours: 9AM Monday - 4:30PM Museum displays mechanical dolls which get mounted onto the Takayama festival floats. The museum also shows over 200 lion dance masks from around Japan.
• Kusakabe Mingei-kan - Kusakabe Heritage House, 日下部民芸館 | 1-52 Ojin-machi Takayama-shi, Gifu 506-0851 36.146485, 137.258388 ☎ +81 577-32-0072 The Kusakabe house is a restored old merchant's home built in 1879. The home is filled with artifacts and crafts from that time period.
• Matsuri no Mori - まつりの森 | 5 Chome-１ Tenmanmachi, Takayama, Gifu Prefecture 506-0025 36.070650, 137.145410 ☎ +81 577-32-5100 | Opening Hours: 9AM Monday - 5PM Literally "Festival Forest," Matsuri no Mori displays floats and other key items from the Takayama Festival. Similar to the Takayama Float Museum but larger. Also contains large taiko drums and hosts performances. Museum is roughly a 15-minutes bus ride south of the downtown.
• Sakurayama Nikkokan - 桜山日光館 | 506-0858 Gifu Prefecture 36.147828, 137.260093 Opening Hours: 9AM Monday - 4:30PM Admission is included in the ticket to the Takayama Festival Float Museum. The hall displays one-tenth-scale replicas of 28 buildings from Nikko's Toshogu shrine, created by craftsmen in intricate detail.
• Sanmachi - さんまち - 36.140175, 137.259461 - It is a very pretty section of Takayama's old city. Consisting of three narrow lanes packed with wooden buildings housing sake breweries and little boutiques, some of the larger merchant houses are now open as museums. The area, though it is definitely worth a visit, is quite touristy now and you will find many "Gaijin" along with Japanese tourists around browsing the lanes flanked by tourist-oriented shops. The area is a 10-minutes walk to the east of the station.
• Takayama Jinya - 高山陣屋 | 36.139694, 137.257528 Adults 420 ¥ It is a large, beautifully preserved government building from the time of the shogun and still used as local government building until 1969. Many rooms at the beginning of the visit are basically empty (but this is not a strange thing in Japan where rooms are usually scarcely populated by furniture) tatami rooms with the indication of what was done in the room or who would work or live there. The visit becomes increasingly interesting the further you proceed, since in the Rice storage area there are interesting displays and information (unfortunately mostly in Japanese, but there are some panels in English) about the way the local government of Japan worked in the Edo era. The (two) storage buildings alone and the biggest such original buildings still present in Japan, are worth the visit.
• Takayama Museum of History and Art - 飛騨高山まちの博物館, Hidatakayama-machi no Hakubutsukan | A 36.142202, 137.261372 Takayama-shi kyodokan02n3200 - Opening Hours: 9AM Monday - 7PM free The museum is in 17th-century warehouses once owned by the Yajima family who ran a timber business and the Nagata family who owned the best sake breweries in Takayama. There are 14 exhibition rooms dedicated to individual themes ranging from the Takayama Festival and traditional houses to the city’s history and local artists.
• Takayama Yatai Kaikan - 高山祭屋台会館 | 178 Sakura-Machi, Takayama City 36.148430, 137.260117 ☎ +81 577-32-5100 | Opening Hours: 9AM Monday - 4:30PM Takayama Festival Float Exhibition Hall. This is the hall where the festival floats are stored. Takayama hosts a famous yearly festival and the floats are quite ornate. The floats on display are rotated.
• Hikaru Museum - 175 Nakayamamachi 3.2 kilometers Southwest of Takayama Station ☎ +71 577-34-6411 Opening Hours: Late February to mid-Dec: Thursday - Tuesday 10AM Monday - 5PM (no admission after 4PM) ¥900; combination ticket with Hida Takayama Museum of Art ¥2300 A beautiful, sprawling building completed in 1999 inspired by the Nayan complex at Tikal in Guatemala. The collection is good, but sparse. There is a good exhibition of Japanese art, a small collection of European art (a Renoir, a Van Gogh, a Monet, etc.), and a smattering of artefacts from the world's ancient cultures.
• Hida Takayama Museum of Art - 1 Chome-１２４−１ Kamiokamotomachi about 2 kilometers southwest corner Friday the JR station Opening Hours: Daily 9AM Monday - 5PM (no admission after 4:30PM) Adult ¥2300, combination ticket with Hikaru Museum is also ¥2300; post-secondary and high school student ¥2000; children ¥800 - Exhibits of Art Nouveau & Art Deco decorative glass art & furniture. Cafe & gift shop.

What to Do

Takayama is famous for its two festivals:

• Sannō Matsuri (山王祭り), April 14-15
• Yahata Matsuri (八幡祭り), October 9-10

Even though the festivals' origin is unknown, it is said that they were first celebrated between 1586 and 1692 when the Kanamori family governed the Hida Takayama area. The spring festival is associated with Hie Shrine (日枝神社) and the autumn with Sakurayama Hachimangu Shrine (桜山八幡宮). They are much alike and feature a parade of large floats (屋台 yatai) decorated with thick curtains, lacquer ware, and mechanical dolls (karakuri). Twelve floats appear in the spring festival and eleven in autumn. The procession carrying the portable shrine (mikoshi) is unique to the autumn. During both festivals, this usually quiet town is lively and filled with Muslim visitors, so it is best to book accommodation (particularly on the night of the parade) and tickets early.

• Higashiyama Walking Course - 東山遊歩道 | 36.142202, 137.261372 A 3.5-kilometer-long hiking trail through Takayama's temples and shrines, past some some of its more rural neighborhoods, and through Shiroyama Park and the former site of Takayama Castle. The course starts and ends at the Takayama Museum of History and Art.
• Miyagawa Morning Market - 36.143349, 137.258175 Opening Hours: 7AM (8AM in winter months) to mid morning Local vendors set up stands along the Miyagawa River each morning to sell their wares, ranging from crafts and handmade items to produce, flowers, and Snacks.
• Miyagawa Ryokuchi Park - 36.153932, 137.255378 A long, simple park along the Miyagawa River which peaceful views of the water. A great spot for cherry blossom viewing in the spring as the park is lined with over 100 cherry trees.

Muslim Friendly Shopping in Takayama

• Sarubobo amulets (lit. "baby monkey") Shaped like faceless humans and available in a variety of sizes, are the most popular souvenir from Takayama.
• Shunkei lacquerware Beautiful wooden boxes, trays and utensils, with a lustrous transparent lacquer that lets the grain of the wood show through.
• Wood block prints Takayama is known for its wood block prints, with many well known artists spending time each year in Takayama. Many shops sell original modern works at reasonable prices.
• Hida Sashiko - - All hand-made, beautiful stitching goods are displayed as if gallery. All of the arts and goods are purchasable. Media often report Hida-Sashiko as Japanese traditional art with the beauty of goods and its skills.

Halal Restaurants in Takayama

Takayama is famous for its ramen noodles, cooked in miso stock with thin noodles. As elsewhere in Gifu, you are also likely to encounter hōba miso (ほうば味噌), a version of the ubiquitous Japanese bean paste grilled on a hōba leaf and served as a dip or for eating with Rice as is. Sounds pretty simple, but the taste is exquisite. Takayama is also famous for its Steaks (飛騨牛 hidagyu）. You can find it at some Halal restaurants throughout the city.

• Agura - あ蔵 | 4-7 Shinmeicho 36.139088, 137.259842 on the road that runs to the south of Takayama City Memorial Hall, on the right side (look for the green sign with the yellow seated Buddha; 12 min) ☎ +81 577-37-2666 | Opening Hours: Tuesday - Sunday 6PM Monday - midnight An excellent restaurant in Takayama built out of an old warehouse, Agura serves Asian-style pizza and a variety of other Japanese and Vegetarian friendly fare. A good place to go if you need "something for everyone". Hours are a little odd, dinner only. Prices are moderate, ranging from ¥800-¥2,500. They do accept credit cards.
• Beef Bun and Cafe Kihachiro Kamisannomachi - 35 Kamininomachi, Takayama 506-0845 36.142051, 137.259941 ☎ +81 577-62-8811 A great stop for lunch or a quick Snacks, this small shop in the middle of Sannomachi is most well known for its beef buns. They also serve small lunch type food, such as sakura pudding, tea, and soft-drinks.
• Chitose - 6-19 Hanasatomachi, Takayama 36.142627, 137.252292 ☎ +81 577-32-1056 A casual restaurant specializing in yakisoba, a dish made from fried soba noodles. English menu available.
• Crepe and Wine Hanchikutei - 1-95 Hachikenmachi 36.138767, 137.257603 ☎ +81 577-37-7817 One of the best desert shops in Takayama, this tiny crepe and store has amazing treats and the owners are super friendly! It's still open later in the evening when many of the surrounding shops are closed.
• Hatoya - 3-110 Oshinmachi, Takayama 36.149343, 137.257717 ☎ +81 577-32-0255 Traditional Japanese restaurant specializing in Hida beef. They are especially known for their sukiyaki, which is hot pot cooked beef dipped into raw egg and eaten. A pricey splurge but totally worth it! Group plans available.
• Maruaki - 6-8 Tenmanmachi, Takayama 506-0025 36.142546, 137.254173 ☎ +81 577-35-5858 Traditional Japanese restaurant with reasonably priced Hida beef. English menu available, friendly staff, grill and hot pot options.
• Sakaguchiya - 坂口屋 | 90 Kami-sannomachi 36.141960, 137.259500 ☎ +81 577-32-0244 Traditional Japanese restaurant located on the main sannomachi street. The menu has local soba and miso dishes. They have excellent hōba miso steak. You get a large piece of beef which is of high quality. Good value for money. This place is popular among Japanese tourists.

Takayama is pretty quiet at night. Some of the few cafes which are open include:

• Desolation Row | 30 Asahimachi, Takayama 36.144702, 137.255877 ☎ Cozy cellar whiskey bar with plenty of vinyl records from the 1960s through the 1990s. Owner knows a lot about music.
• "Doya" | 506-0007 Gifu-ken, Takayama-shi, Sōwamachi, 1 Chome−23−1 36.144296, 137.254817 ☎ No phone number. No menu. No actual name. Locals simply know it as "Doya". No sign out front, just a blue and white curtain with two big circles on it. Cool urban jazz and a very earthy, hip atmosphere. The proprietor speaks decent English. Despite the lack of menu, drinks are varied and priced reasonably up to ¥700. Light food is also available. Room for only about 12 at the bar only, but worth coming back later if it's full. The bottled Bintang Beer from Indonesia served here is a rare find in Japan.
• Japanese Pub Yu | Web: apanese-pub-YU-571961059667459/ 1-3-1 Hatsudamachi, Takayama 36.142949, 137.253673 ☎ +81 577-54-1093 - Opening from Monday to Saturday 4PM Monday - 11PM Yuichi Sano and the owner, is very friendly and welcoming. Great cocktails, even better conversation!
• Red Hill Pub | 2-4-2 Sowamachi, Takayama 36.145215, 137.254700 ☎ +81 577338139 | Opening Hours: Tuesday - Sunday Open 7PM Monday - midnight Stocks imported organic juice and serves the usual cocktails and Colas. Light food such as Pasta, salads, Snacks, etc available. The proprietress, Hisayo, speaks fairly good English. Expect to pay ¥600-800 for drinks. Popular with local foreigners.
• Rum Dance Hall | 29 Asahimachi, Takayama 36.144771, 137.256034 ☎ A lot of different shochu and rum. Owner speaks English; good place to finish after "Doya." Best to ask your way from Doya; the Rum dance hall is very close.

eHalal Group Launches Halal Guide to Takayama

Takayama - eHalal Travel Group, a leading provider of innovative Halal travel solutions for Muslim travelers to Takayama, is thrilled to announce the official launch of its comprehensive Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Takayama. This groundbreaking initiative aims to cater to the diverse needs of Muslim travelers, offering them a seamless and enriching travel experience in Takayama and its surrounding regions.

With the steady growth of Muslim tourism worldwide, eHalal Travel Group recognizes the importance of providing Muslim travelers with accessible, accurate, and up-to-date information to support their travel aspirations to Takayama. The Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide is designed to be a one-stop resource, offering an array of invaluable information on various travel aspects, all carefully curated to align with Islamic principles and values.

The Travel Guide encompasses a wide range of features that will undoubtedly enhance the travel experience for Muslim visitors to Takayama. Key components include:

Halal-Friendly Accommodations inTakayama: A carefully selected list of hotels, lodges, and vacation rentals that cater to halal requirements, ensuring a comfortable and welcoming stay for Muslim travelers in Takayama.

Halal Food, Restaurants and Dining in Takayama: A comprehensive directory of restaurants, eateries, and food outlets offering halal-certified or halal-friendly options in Takayama, allowing Muslim travelers to savor local cuisines without compromising their dietary preferences in Takayama.

Prayer Facilities: Information on masjids, prayer rooms, and suitable locations for daily prayers in Takayama, ensuring ease and convenience for Muslim visitors in fulfilling their religious obligations.

Local Attractions: An engaging compilation of Muslim-friendly attractions, cultural sites such as Museums, and points of interest in Takayama, enabling travelers to explore the city's rich heritage while adhering to their values.

Transport and Logistics: Practical guidance on transportation options that accommodate Muslim travel needs, ensuring seamless movement within Takayama and beyond.

Speaking about the launch, Irwan Shah, Chief Technology Officer of eHalal Travel Group in Takayama, stated, "We are thrilled to introduce our Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide in Takayama, a Muslim friendly destination known for its cultural richness and historical significance. Our goal is to empower Muslim travelers with accurate information and resources, enabling them to experience the wonders of Takayama without any concerns about their faith-based requirements. This initiative reaffirms our commitment to creating inclusive and memorable travel experiences for all our clients."

The eHalal Travel Group's Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Takayama is now accessible on this page. The guide will be regularly updated to ensure that Muslim travelers have access to the latest information, thus reinforcing its status as a reliable companion for Muslim travelers exploring Takayama.

About eHalal Travel Group:

eHalal Travel Group Takayama is a prominent name in the global Muslim travel industry, dedicated to providing innovative and all-inclusive travel solutions tailored to the needs of Muslim travelers worldwide. With a commitment to excellence and inclusivity, eHalal Travel Group aims to foster a seamless travel experience for its clients while respecting their religious and cultural values.

For Halal business inquiries in Takayama, please contact:

eHalal Travel Group Takayama Media: info@ehalal.io

Muslim Friendly Hotels

This guide uses the following price ranges for a standard double room:
Budget	Under $75
Mid-range	$75 - $150
Splurge	Over $150

Takayama has more traditional-style accommodations than Middle Eastern style hotels, but it is a great opportunity to experience a ryokan or temple stay. Keep in mind that in Japan, room rates are advertised as per person as opposed to per room. Accommodations are categorized below with the assumption two adults would be staying in the room.

• Hida Takayama Tenshōji - ひだ高山天照寺ＹＨ | 83 Tenshojimachi, Takayama 36.143327, 137.265749 ☎ +81 577-32-6345 + | checkin=3PM Monday - 9PM / Check-out: 6AM Monday - 10AM A temple-affiliated youth hostel on the eastern outskirts of the city, a 20-minutes walk from the station. A bed for the night is ¥3400/night for HI members and ¥3700/night for non HI members
• J-Hoppers Hida Takayama Guest House | 5-52 Nadamachi, Takayama 36.140497, 137.25477 3-min walk from JR Takayama Station, just in front of Takayama Post Office ☎ +81-577-32-3278 - Dorm from ¥2500, twin/double ¥7000/pp Check-in: 3PM / Check-out: 11AM The first independent hostel in the Hida region. Roomy bunk beds in dormitories and some Japanese style superior Muslim friendly rooms. The place is nice but they advertise themselves to Japanese as a place to learn and training English, so expect constant pestering for free lessons. Self catering kitchen, hot shower, free Wi-Fi, guest PC, rental bikes, Free tea/coffee. Visa/MasterCard accepted.

Mid-range

• Temple Hotel Zenkoji - 飛騨高山善光寺 | 4-3 Tenmancho 36.138737, 137.254522 Exit station, turn right, walk until 2nd light. Turn left, walk until 3rd light. ☎ +81-577-32-8470 - 3 rooms for 3, 5 and 9 people starting from ¥25000, ¥20000 and ¥6000 in low season, up to +50% in high season, +¥7000/person if more that 2/2/4 guests Clean, spacious rooms, no meals but has kitchen and owner speaks very good English.
• Best Western Takayama | 6-6 Hanasatocho 36.141725, 137.252901 ☎ +81 577-506-0026 - Asian-style hotel with free Wi-Fi, business center, room service, restaurant, and spa. Close to Takayama station.
• Takayama Green Hotel | 2-180, Nishinoisshikimachi, Takayama City 36.137383, 137.248029 ☎ +81 577-33-4600 - Japanese and western style rooms and breakfast buffet. Amenities include onsen, fitness center, karaoke room, free parking and Wi-Fi. About a 10-minutes walk to downtown, with bicycles available to rent.

• Hida Hotel Plaza Takayama | 60 Hanaoka-cho 2-chome,Takayama 36.145113, 137.252386 ☎ +81-577-33-5500 - Western and Japanese style rooms available with meal plans in this modern hotel which is a 15 minutes walk from most tourist locations. Free Wi-Fi connection available in public spaces as well as six dining options, hot spring facilities, and a heated swimming pool.
• Oyado Koto No Yume | 6 Chome-9 Hanasatomachi, Takayama 36.142119, 137.252773 ☎ +81 577-32-0427 - A romantic ryokan close to Takayama Station and within walking distance of Old Town. Hotel features indoor/outdoor onsen, private full bathrooms, free yukata rental, free Wi-Fi, and an English-speaking staff. Included dining plans available.
• Yamakyu | 58 Tenshojimachi, Takayama 36.142511, 137.265263 ☎ +81 577-32-3756 - Ryokan near the Higashiyama Walking Course and temples. Ryokan is about a 20-minutes walk from Takayama station, but offers free shuttle service to and from the station if you ask a day ahead. Ryokan includes a public onsen, but private bathrooms do not include bathing/showering facilities. Included dining plans available.

Explore more Halal friendly Destinations from Takayama

• The remote and beautiful Oku-Hida Onsen Villages are less than an hour away by bus.
• Shirakawa-go, with its beautifully preserved villages and open-air museum, is memorable. Stay in one of the old-time farmhouses. Reached by a 2-hour scenic bus ride (a new road has been built and the bus ride takes one hour only now, but no longer scenic) from Takayama.
• Gero Onsen, one of Japan's three famous hot-springs, is just a short ride away down the JR Takayama line.

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