Hello from Takayama! This is Kado from the MACHIYA RESIDENCE INN Takayama team.
If you enjoy taking walks and you’re looking for a way to explore Takayama peacefully, be sure to add the Higashiyama Walking Course to your itinerary.
This walking course takes you through Takayama’s temple town district (Teramachi) and Shiroyama Park, site of the former Takayama Castle. You’ll walk past numerous temples and shrines as well as the ruins of the castle while walking this path.
The area explored while walking the Higashiyama Walking Course was established during the 16th century by Lord Kanamori Nagachika, the same lord who built Takayama Castle. Nagachika was a fan of Kyoto city, and was inspired in particular by the Higashiyama area, rich in temples and shrines. He relocated many of the existing temples and shrines in the Hida region and gathered them together on the east side of Takayama Castle.
As the route is set slightly away from the main sightseeing areas of Takayama city, it tends to be uncrowded, with a calm atmosphere. If you’re looking to discover a local side of the city while enjoying unique views of the temple and shrine architecture, gardens, and Japanese castle ruins, this is a great addition to your trip.
The trail does include stretches of unpaved paths, stone steps, and slopes, so we recommend wearing comfortable shoes. If you’re visiting Takayama during the summer, there is plenty of tree cover throughout the walking course, but we recommend enjoying the course during the early mornings or in the late afternoon to beat the heat. The course also passes through forest areas. Please check local signage while walking, and be aware that there may be seasonal alerts regarding wildlife along the course.
The Higashiyama Walking Course is approximately 20 minutes from JR Takayama Station, or about 10 minutes from Takayama Old Town. The full walk takes about 1.5 to 2 hours.
