• Takayama, a small city in the mountainous Hida region is a preserved old walkable town with 2 festivals in Spring and Autumn with exquisite floats. This town will give you a glimpse into old Japanese country life with the wooden houses, running water sounds, and morning market along the Miyagawa.
• Hida is also noted for the Hoba Miso dishes cooked over an open fire atop of dried magnolia leaves. Try the tasty Hida beef.
• The old town of Takayama has preserved architecture from the Edo Period (1600-1868) and there are shops representing famous sake breweries; just look for the ball of cedar branches (Sugidama) over the brewery entrances along Sannomachi Street.