Three Terrific Things to Do in Takayama this Autumn

A Taste of Autumn Traditions with the Takayama Festival

There are so many festivals taking place across Japan every year. Isn’t that amazing? From glamorous winter festivals to small spring fetes, we’re truly spoiled for choice when it comes to traditional celebrations. 

Out of Japan’s numerous festivals, the Takayama Festival might be one of the most visually stunning. Held twice a year in spring and in autumn in the city of Takayama — also known as Hida-Takayama — it’s considered one of Japan’s three largest festivals, drawing thousands of visitors wanting to see the splendid, ornately decorated floats for themselves. 

©Takayama City

Festival notwithstanding, Takayama is a popular destination for inbound visitors wishing to explore a more traditional, rural side of Japan. Not only does it have a beautifully preserved historic quarter and a wealth of traditional crafts to see, but its location deep in the mountains of Gifu Prefecture also makes it an especially lovely autumn destination. Cooler weather, an abundance of nature, and none of the hectic rush of the big cities. What could be better? 

In light of the Takayama Festival celebrated on 9 and 10 October, we’re sharing three terrific ways to enjoy a stay in Takayama this autumn.

Experience the Takayama Festival 

The autumn Takayama Festival is also known as the Hachiman Festival, as it’s hosted by Sakurayama Hachimangu Shrine. You might hear it called a ‘Hikiyama’ festival, which refers to the large, wheeled festival floats that are hand-pulled through town at such events. 

Eleven of these fantastic floats (yatai) are the star of the show in Takayama. In fact, the autumn festival is the only time of the year you can see them gathered in a single place, as they’re otherwise kept in different storehouses around the city! Visitors can go to the shrine grounds and the avenue leading to its front gate to appreciate the artistry of these colourful, intricately crafted floats up close. 

©Takayama City

Several of the floats also have mechanical puppets (karakuri ningyo) mounted on them. Part of the festival includes enchanting performances featuring these puppets moving and dancing to music! The festivities don’t stop at dusk. The yatai are brought out onto the streets and lit up by around 100 lanterns each at around 6 pm on October 9, resulting in a luminous, magical spectacle for all. 

If you’ll only visit Takayama once in your life, why not time your travels with one of the finest festivals you’ll witness? Make sure you check the schedule on the Takayama City website beforehand! 

Go on a Day Trip to Shirakawa-go

Most first-time visitors to Takayama will include a day trip to the region of Shirakawa-go in their travels. And why not? Located just 35km northwest of Takayama, this UNESCO World Heritage Site with over 100 traditional thatched-roof houses (gassho-zukuri) is a place like few others in Japan. So named for their resemblance to two hands coming together in prayer, these houses transport you back in time. 

©Shirakawa Village

It’s worth visiting even if you only have a few hours before heading back to Takayama. Head to Tenshukaku Observatory for postcard-perfect views of the village below. With the surrounding rice fields and forests, you really get a sense of how isolated this place was — and even better, the beginning of October is when the mountains start shifting into their fall colours! 

You can then spend a few hours in the village looking at the houses up close and wandering around the many side lanes and back streets. Don’t miss Myozenji Temple, the largest gassho-zukuri-style building in town, or the Open-Air Museum (Gassho-zukuri Minkaen) with its 26 unique farmhouses that capture the atmosphere of this region. 

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Try Takayama’s Traditional Handicrafts

Did you know that Takayama is home to a wealth of traditional crafts, many of which are still practised today? That’s in no small part thanks to the abundant forests surrounding the city, which provide all manners of natural resources for these crafts to thrive. Think furniture made from local timber, stunning wood carvings and carpentry, ceramics, wagasa (Japanese umbrellas), Shunkei lacquerware, woodblock prints, bamboo lamps, and so much more. 

Being in Takayama is a wonderful opportunity to dive into this world. For one, you can visit the Kusakabe Folk Museum to see some fine examples of local craftsmanship. Don’t miss the chance to try out one of these crafts for yourself, such as with craft experiences offered at the Hida Takayama Town Experience Exchange Centre. There are few better ways to gain an insight into traditional crafts than actually doing it — and it’ll give you a greater appreciation of the effort that goes into creating something beautiful too! 

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Takayama is a truly special destination in Japan, with so much to offer visitors when it comes to culture, nature and art. Combining a trip there with the autumn Takayama Festival makes it a once-in-a-lifetime experience — we hope this gives you an idea of how you can make your travels here really special!