Takayama in a Day – Afternoon

Next to the float museum, Sakurayama Hachiman-gū (桜山八幡宮), dates back to the fourth century.

Tenmangu & “fudezuka”
Michizane Sugawara 菅原 道真 was a scholar in the latter part of the 9th century. He is one of the three most famous calligraphers in Japan, along with Koubou Taisi 弘法大使 and Onono Toufuu小野道風. Worshiped as the god of learning, this “Tenmangu” is visited by a large number of students during the spring exam season. It is said that if you devote your worn-out writing brush to this “fudezuka”, you will be good at writing.

Sakurayama Hachiman shrine

Sakura (cherry blossom) motif highlighted in the design

Takayama’s biggest attraction is the old town, with its beautifully preserved houses dating back to the Edo Period (1600-1868), when the city thrived as a wealthy town of merchants.

Several houses in the old town are open to public. They provide a glimpse into the former living quarters of the local merchants and exhibit traditional household goods, local arts and crafts.

Kusakabe house is one of the oldest merchant houses open to public. Its former residents used to be successful money lenders.

Old town street is also lined with shops, including this hundred year old miso shop:

Where you can sample a cup of warm miso soup, made with sake lees, and a mix of red and white miso. Simply delicious!

We also visited numerous sake breweries, ended up in a special “once a year” sake brewery gathering event, and had the best raw beef in my life “sushi style”!

Details to come in the following posts.