Day 58 – Takayama
Today we left our accommodation, Relax Hostel Takayama Station and walked towards the Miyagawa Morning Market, which is across the river on the other side of the Miyagawa River. The market itself has lots of food, plant and souvenir shops.
Most fancy chopsticks I’ve seen Rice Burger anticipation Rice Burger was disappointing for me at least 🙁
Kitiyama Walking Course
Old town houses Sakurayama Hachimangu Shrine Sakurayama Hachimangu Shrine Akiba Shrine, on the grounds of the Sakurayama Hachimangu Shrine
From the market we joined up with the Kitiyama Walking Course, which is around 3km long, and takes around 1 hour to complete. There is a large shrine called Sakurayama Hachimangu Shrine, which was having a private ceremony in the Main Sanctuary. The highlight along this walk was probably Kitayama Park, which requires a nice climb up the streets of Takayama. From here we read a sign, that told us the place was haunted (as translated by Google Translate) which was understandable as it was right next to the cemetery!!!
Google Translate of the Sign at Kitayama Park
The map (we got from the hostel) showed Ayuzaki Castle Ruins which we walked around looking for, but never saw.
Higashiyama Walking Course
From the end of the Kitiyama Walking Course we could start the Higashiyama Walking Course, which was 5.5km. This path would go past heaps of temples, and then into Shiroyama Park, which was the sight of the Takayama Castle Ruins, and ending in the Takayama Museum of History and Art.
Daioji Temple Daioji Temple Daioji Temple Daioji Temple Higashiyama Hakusan Jinja Shrine Dairyuji Temple Shrine
Turns our we did the path in reverse with the museum being recommend as the first thing to see once you come to Takayama. If we had done this as recommended I would not have been super keen to see the Castle Ruins, as we found out, there was nothing there any more, as it was torn down during the end of the Shogun Rule.
Ninomaru Park Path to Takayama Castle Ruins Steps to Takayama Castle Ruins What Takayama Castle looked like What Takayama Castle Ruins looks like Takayama Museum of History and Art
Definitely a good way to spend the day, but in retrospect we would have done the courses in the opposite direction, or seen the museum the day before.
Thanks for reading 🙂