Half-Day Walking Tour: Takayama’s Hidden Gems & Temple Walk

Step back in time as you explore Takayama, a city shaped by centuries of tradition, craftsmanship, and cultural heritage. Nestled in the Japanese Alps, Takayama offers a unique blend of natural beauty and historical charm, where ancient temples, well-preserved streets, and feudal history tell the story of a bygone era. This immersive walking tour takes you through the city's most significant sites, providing a deeper understanding of its rich past and architectural wonders.

Designed for history enthusiasts, culture lovers, and travelers who enjoy walking through picturesque settings, this tour offers a perfect mix of storytelling, scenic landscapes, and local insights. Whether you're a first-time visitor eager to discover Takayama’s hidden gems or a returning traveler looking to experience the city from a fresh perspective, this guided walk will leave you with a newfound appreciation for its enduring legacy.

Highlights

• Visit the Takayama City Museum, where you’ll uncover the city’s history and heritage.

• Walk the Higashiyama Walking Course, a serene route lined with temples, shrines, and the stunning landscapes of Shiroyama Park.

• Stroll through Takayama’s Old Town, a beautifully preserved area featuring traditional wooden buildings, artisan shops, and sake breweries.

Description

This tour will start at Takayama Station and journey to Takayama City Museum, where you’ll spend time learning about the region’s rich history, from its samurai-era governance to the thriving merchant culture of the Edo period. The museum provides insight into the history of the town where you’ll learn about the Kanamori family, the feudal lords who founded Takayama and guided its development through six generations.

Explore a collection of artifacts, historical documents, and engaging exhibits that provide deeper context for the sites you'll visit later. This naturally connects to the Higashiyama Walking Course, where history comes to life through its temples, shrines, and scenic pathways.

From the museum, embark on the Higashiyama Walking Course, a scenic 2-hour route that winds through a peaceful district of temples and shrines. Lord Kanamori Nagachika developed the temple area in the late 16th century, drawing inspiration from Kyoto’s Higashiyama district. Many of the temples along the route were relocated from the old castle area as part of Takayama’s urban planning during the Edo period. Along the way, you’ll pass through the Higashiyama Temple Area, home to over a dozen temples and shrines, including notable sites.

The course also includes a walk through Shiroyama Park, now a wooded area that was once the site of Takayama Castle. Though only small remnants of the castle remain today, the area offers a peaceful setting with natural scenery and panoramic views of the city. As you walk through the park, your guide will share insights into its history and significance, bringing the past to life with stories of the former castle and its role in Takayama’s development. The gentle trails make this walk enjoyable for visitors, allowing for a relaxed and immersive experience in nature and history.

The tour concludes in the heart of Takayama’s Old Town, where you’re free to continue exploring at your own pace. Whether you choose to visit a sake brewery, enjoy a local meal, or browse artisan shops, the remainder of your day is yours to enjoy. Guests are welcome to accompany the guide back to Takayama Station, where the tour began, or stay in the Old Town to further explore its historic streets and hidden gems at their leisure.

TOUR MEETUP POINT

1 / TAKAYAMA STATION @ 09:00 A.M. / 01:30 P.M

The meetup point is outside of the ticket gates at JR Takayama Station. Once you have left the gates, look to your left to see a walkway and a carving depicting an ornate wagon. You may wait nearby there until the tour begins at 9:00 A.M. / 01:30 P.M. respectively. Be sure to look for the guide wearing a SNOW MONKEY RESORTS tour tag. There is also a waiting room with benches nearby for guests who have arrived early and would like to sit down; however, please make sure that you have left the waiting room and are in place at the meetup point at 9:00 / 13:30 respectively.

NOTES

Included

• Guided tour through Takayama Muesum
• Guided walk through the Higashiyama Walking Course
• English speaking guide

Excluded

• Lunch
• Accommodation

Other Information

• This tour involves several hours of walking in the outdoors. We recommend that you wear shoes and clothes which are easy to walk in. Please check the weather forecast before you head to the meetup point and prepare an umbrella or rain coat if necessary.

• In winter the temperatures may drop below freezing, and even during the daytime temperatures may not exceed 1-2 ℃ on some days. Please wear warm clothing and footwear appropriate for snowy and cold conditions. There may also be snow and ice on the road/sidewalk, and so you should take care to not slip by preparing the correct shoes for such conditions.