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Rising Sun > Area Inforamtion > Hida Takayama in Gifu prefecture
Hida Takayama in Gifu prefecture
Hida Takayama has so unique historical cultures that depend on the facts sending Takumi who were the greatest masters and carpenters to Kyoto or Nara in ancient times and the area was directly managed by Tokugawa Bakufu (Tokugawa shogunate) in the Edo period even if the area is very far away from the sea and surrounded by a lot of mountains. And now, we can touch the unique cultures in snowy mountains area and enjoy Japanese old style streets and splendid Takayama festivals in the area.
History
Hida Takayama area had sent 100-150 Takumi to Japanese ancient capital of Yamato Chotei (Yamato dynasty) since ancient times in place of paying their tax, because of their building techniques were so famous and the land of Hida was unfit for farming by a lot of mountains. And they constructed a lot of temples, shrines and palaces in the ancient capital at that time.
In 1586, Nagachika Kanamori started managing Hida area and he had constructed Takayama castle for 16 years from 1588 and the castle was said, "There are less than five castles that are amazing like the castle in Japan". His family managed the area until the sixth load. But Tokugawa shognate opened a magistrate's office called Jinnya in 1962, and then they directly managed the area called Tenryo. Since the time, Edo cultures flowed into Hida and affected the rich floats of Takayama festival in pageantry.
Events
Takayama Festival
Takayama festival is one of the three major beautiful festivals and the three major float festivals in Japan, and the history started since the end of 16 century or 17 century. And now, the festival is significant intangible folk cultural asset.
The highlight should be the floats ornamented gorgeously. The very beautiful floats made by Takumi are called "Moving Yomei Gate" and all of them are National important tangible cultural heritages of Japan.
Usually we can see four of the floats in the festival floats exhibition hall in Hida-Takayama, but we can also see the floats nearly at Takayama festival. Especially, three of the floats in spring festival and one of the floats in autumn festival are Karakuri Yatai (gimmicked floats) that are most popular and a lot of people want to enjoy the mechanisms.
Spring Festival (April 14th, 15th)
This is the festival for Hie-Shrine that is the local Shinto deity in the south part of Takayama castle town, so it's called Sanno-Sai. The 12 floats included three gimmicked floats hold the big parade.
Autumn Festival (October 9th, 10th)
This is the festival for Hachiman-Shrine that is the local Shinto deity in the north part of Takayama castle town, so it's called Hachiman-Sai. The 11floats included one gimmicked float hold the big parade.
Features
Old Private Houses
Takayama city flourished as the castle town of Kanamori family and also the town of Takumi, and now they keep the traditional Japanese style streets. Especially, there are some souvenir, liquor and coffee shops at the area included Sanmachi Street is nice for shopping.
Takayama-Jinnya
Jinnya was a magistrate's office of Edo shogunate to directly manage Hida in the Edo period. there were more then 60 Jinnya in Edo period, but now there is only Takayama Jinnya in the point keeping origin building.
Local dishes
The famous local dishes are Hoba-Miso, Hida beef , Gohei-Mochi, Takayama-Ramen. Please check the dishes on this page.
Hoba-Miso
This is very unique local food that we can enjoy the taste and flavor of miso with leeks and beefs broiled on a Hoba (leaf of magnolia). It's nice to eat only miso, but broiling with some ingredients is totally better.
Hida Beef
It's a very delicious beef of Japanese black cattle risen more than 14 months in Gifu prefecture. And the beef is the highest-grade in Gifu prefecture.
Gohei-Mochi
Gohei-Mochi is one of the local foods in Gifu and Nagano area. It's a rice cake toasted with miso or soy sauce, so this is the reason that is has so nice flavor. We can eat it during walking around.
Takayama Ramen
The stock is very simple taste made with soy sauce and fishes as bonito or small dried sardines. The noodles are straight and we eat it with leeks, nori and mianma usually. The style is very Chuka-Soba.
Souvenirs
Sarubobo
The words 'Sarubobo' means "baby monkey" and it was a charm to have an easy delivery originally. Grandmothers made them as charms and/or toys for their grandchildren in winter in Hida that is snowy region. The reason that Sarubobo is made with red material and it depends on the folklore that Housou-Shin(deity of illness) hates red color, so they selected red for their charms.
Get in
It's the best way to go Hida-Takayama by the train in winter. If you go there in winter by your car, you need studless tire. Because of Hida is a heavy snow area in winter.
In additionally, the parking fee is 300 yen in each hour in Takayama city.
From Nagoya to Takayama
- By Train
- Nagoya－(Wide-view HIDA)→Takayama
- By Bus
- Meitetsu Bus Center→Takayama
- By Car
- NAGOYA EXPWAY－(MEISHIN EXPWAY)－(TOKAI-HOKURIKU EXPWY)－(CHUBU-JUUKAN EXPWAY)→Takayama
From Tokyo to Takayama
- By Train
- Tokyo－(Tokaido Shinkansen)→Nagoya－(Wide-view HIDA)→Takayama
- By Bus
- Shinjuku → Takayama
- By Car
- Tokyo－(CHUO EXPWAY)→Matsumoto－(R158)→Hirayu Onsen－(R158)→Takayama
From Osaka to Takayama
- By Train
- Osaka－(Tokaido Shinkansen) →Nagoya－(Wide-view HIDA)→Takayama
- By Car
- Toyonaka－(MEISHIN EXPWAY)－(TOKAI-HOKURIKU EXPWAY)－(CHUBU-JUUKAN EXPWAY)→Takayama
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