Takayama, Gifu, Japan

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Hida Folk Village - Situated on the foot of the mountains, Hida Folk Village presents as a heritage community with traditional Japanese farmhouses, storehouse for drying the rice crop, two mills, woodcutters hut, a sawmill, a fire lookout, and shrines, most of which have been relocated from the nearby villages and reconstructed for the exhibitions. Four thatched are designated as National Important Folk Cultural Assets. Visitors are encouraged to look round those houses and see 5,000 items of tools and devices which were used for local industries and agriculture. The volunteers demonstrate how the authentic product, e.g. wooden spoon was made and the past expertise was carried out, e.g. woodcutter slicing the timber, making the threads with the spinner. The silkworm industry’s exhibition includes the display of the alive silkworms eating mulberry leaves. The visitors are encouraged to try producing Japanese artwork e.g. making knots with straws or painting on the lucky cats on their style, and such activities give you an insight of Japanese culture and art. Moreover, there is a wide variety of trees growing and it offers a lovely scenery all year around, together with Goami Pond and the paddy field. Finally, don’t forget to pop around three old houses on the east. You can see traditional art and crafts e.g. dyed goods, weaved goods, lacquerware, and wood carving carried out and completed by skilled craftsmen and they are displayed on the showcases. Admission 500yen

Takayama Jjnya - One of the best tourist attractions in Takayama. He authentic wooden house welcomes people with the cloth of hollyhocks crest. The property was established by the Tokugawa family in 1603, and was used as a local government office till the Meiji Restoration in 1868. The former government residence possesses the glorious history and has been preserved with high respect. The visitors are able to look round the convention rooms, drawing rooms, bedrooms, and kitchens which were used by officials and their family and maid-servants, and there are significant difference between the officials and maid-servants’ living quarters. The officials living quarters contains beautiful artwork drawn on the wall and sliding doors. The visitors can view the traditional Japanese garden with gravel, rocks, pines, and maples from any angles of residential quarters. There is a wide variety of devices, goods, and tools displayed, all of which were used by local officials, and for historical events, and mine industry. The highlights of exhibits include the display of rice barrels, maps, and detailed information of peasants’ uprising at the late Edo period, between the mid 18th and the beginning of the 19th century, set of helmet and armour that was used by local officials.

Takayama Festival Float Exhibition Hall - Takayama citizens are proud of hosting one of the three most beautiful festivals in Japan, i.e. Takayama Matsuri which runs twice annually. The exhibition hall on the site of Hachiman shrine displays 11 decorative festival floats on the glass case room. Each of the floats has very distinctive features embellished with ornate decorations, superb artwork, and carvings, which have been designed and maintained by the skilled artisans and craftsmen over the years. English, Chinese, and Korean tapes are available at the reception, and visitors are able to follow the descriptions and history involved in each of the festival floats. They are pulled across the Takayama city under the cherry blossoms on 14-15th April, and autumn coloured leaves on 9-10th October. Although it runs only in Japanese, it is worth watching the video which gives an insight of the festival such as the role of the person who holds the key for the properties where festival goods and floats are kept, preparations, and organising the security along the route.

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