If you ever go to Japan, you will recognize Takayama as a snowy town identic with Ski Resort and Snowboard. Takayama is located in the middle of mountains which are covered by snow during winter. Thus makes Takayama is surrounded by many Ski Resorts. However, if you go to Japan during summer, you should not miss Takayama.




Hida Daishounyudou is a limestone cave full of stalactite and stalagmite. You can find a lot of sea organism fossils inside. Here, you can learn the geological history of Japan. Takayama was located under the sea, and then it lifted tectonically to become high mountains (over 900 m above sea level).

There are a lot of places you should visit in Takayama. Beside a lot of Ski Resort and Snowboard, there are plenty of interesting places like Hida Daishounyudou (ひだ大鍾乳洞/Great Limestone Cave), Hida no Sato (Hida Folk Village), and Takayama Sen Machi. Hida Great Limestone Cave is a limestone cave with stalactite and stalagmite inside. Nevertheless, you can find a lot of sea organism fossil in its wall. Other than that, we can find many tuber roots planted inside the cave and also a wine storage. The temperature inside is very cold even during summer. So you should bring your warm clothes when you come inside the cave. To reach this cave, you have to drive about 45 minutes by car or taxi. There is no train line to reach this place. The ticket price is 1100 yen to get inside.
Hida no Sato or Hida Folk Village is an artificial Japanese old village. There are plenty of old houses with 1:1 comparison with the original. Even though it is just an artificial village, the environment surrounds is exactly similar to the original old village. The houses here are the traditional house in Hida area. The house has a long roof made from paddy straw and twigs to prevent from the high snow precipitation. To reach Hida no Sato, you can drive your car or by taxi around 15 minutes from Takayama Station. Or you can walk by 35 minutes. Ticket price to go inside is 700 yen.




One photo spot of Hida no Sato

You can also take a look around in the heart of Takayama city. One of the best spot is Takayama Sen Machi. You just walk 10 minutes from Takayama Station to the heart of Takayama city. You can find a lot of shops and restaurant with Japan old fashion building. You can enjoy Takayama cuisine like Hidagyu or Hida Beef, the most delicious beef in Japan, and also Houbo Miso, miso paste baked with magnolia leaf. For one set meal with 100 gram of Hida Beef, you have to pay about 2500 yen in average. You can buy a lot of things about Sarubobo as souvenirs. Sarubobo is one of famous folklore in Hida Takayama.


Takayama old road photo spot. You can get this picture if you go around the city in early morning. If you go a little bit noon, there will be a lot of tourist.


A giant Sarubobo doll in front of restaurant

Access to go to Takayama is easy. You can go from Tokyo side or Kansai side. You can go to Nagoya Station or Gifu Station, and then take JR Hida line to Takayama Station.However, to go by train is a little bit expensive. You have to pay 6030 yen from Nagoya Station, or 4940 yen from Gifu Station. However, you can reserve bus ticket from JR Bus or online-based bus company like Willer Express or Sakura Express to get cheaper transportation budget.