15 Must Visit Attractions in Takayama Hokuriku Region, Japan

1. Maruoka Castle

“Maruoka Castle is the only castle in the Hokuriku region with the remaining original castle towers built before the Edo period (1603-1868) and registered as national important cultural property.

Maruoka Castle, also known as “Kasumiga Castle,” is a beautiful castle with beautiful cherry blossoms blooming in the spring. In April, the Maruoka Castle Cherry Blossom Festival was held on the castle grounds. There are about 400 Yoshino cherry trees planted in the park. This park is also known as one of the 100 best cherry blossom viewing spots in Japan.

Reference: https://echizenkaga.jp/spot/maruokajo/?lang=en

2. Echizen Crab

Echizen Crab is called the king of flavour in winter from the Echizen coast and the representative of Fukui Prefecture. Echizen crab has a huge shell, long legs, and large claws. The crab has full of delicate meats and has a sweet taste. It is a special dish that you don’t want to miss when you come to Fukui.

Reference: https://www.town-echizen.jp/en/

3. Tree Picnic Adventure IKEDA

Tree Picnic Adventure Ikeda is a popular place to enjoy nature to the fullest through various adventure activities.

At the facility, you can enjoy a spectacular view of nature while exercising on Japan’s largest Mega Zipline and a jungle gym in the forest. It’s a great place to enjoy athletic activities, taste delicious food, including camping!

Reference: https://www.picnic.ikeda-kibou.com/en/

4. Yokokan Garden

The Yoyokan Garden is ranked as one of the top gardens every year by garden magazines published in the United State.

It has tranquil scenery created by the expansive garden centered around a large pond. You can enjoy the beautiful changing scenery as you stroll around in the garden of four seasons. The best time to visit the garden is during the fall foliage season.

Reference: http://fukuisan.jp/en/yokokan/index.html

5. Yuge-Kaido Street

Yuge-Kaido Street is full of a hot spring atmosphere. A peaceful shopping street in harmony with nature, history, and culture. Along the street, you can find many galleries offering Yamanaka lacquerware and Kutani-yaki pottery, also cafes, restaurants, and delicious croquette stores to enjoy.

Reference: https://yamanaka-spa.or.jp/global/eng/view3.html

Photo courtesy of Ishikawa Prefectural Tourism League.

6. Kakusenkei Gorge

Kakusenkei Gorge, a place where you can enjoy a tranquil strolling in the deep greenery and clear water. A famous spot especially to visit in the autumn when the leaves are starting changing colour to red.

The “Kakusenkei Kawadoko Riverside Cafe” near Ayatori Bridge, is an elegant place to enjoy Japanese confections while enjoying the sounds of nature.

Reference: https://visitkaga.jp/attractions/kakusenkei-gorge

Limited Express Thunder Bird connecting train from Kaga Onsen to Kanazawa

From Kaga Onsen to Kanazawa, you can take the limited express Thunderbird without changing the train. If you are using Takayama-Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass, you can reserve a seat on the limited express train up to four times.

https://touristpass.jp/en/takayama_hokuriku/

https://www.jr-odekake.net/train/thunderbird/

7. Omicho Market

Omicho Market is located close to Kanazawa Station, with about 170 stores offering a variety of fresh seafood and vegetables and fruits grown in the area. The market is not only a “citizen’s kitchen” but also a tourist spot where you can enjoy fresh sushi and seafood bowls.

Reference: https://visitkanazawa.jp/mustgoplace/touristspot/area3/2

8. Etchu Yatsuo (Suwamachi Hondori Street)

Yatsuo Town in Toyama is famous in Japan for the “Owara Kaze no Bon Festival”. Etchu Yatsuo (Suwamachi Hondori Street) with the stones pavemented the road townscape that runs through the center of the town. The houses are lined up in the town district has similarity in colour and shape, and you can see the beautiful streets that remind you of the old Japanese era.

Reference:
http://visit-toyama.com/festivals/000036.html

https://www.yatsuo.net/english

Hokuriku Shinkansen from Toyama to Shin Takaoka

If you are using Takayama-Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass, you can ride trains along the designated routes including Shinkansen from Toyama to Shin-Takaoka, fast and easy transportation in Central Japan!

Reference: https://bit.ly/31zvw1S

9. Zuiryuji Temple

If you are visiting Takaoka, Zuiryu-ji Temple is a must to visit. This temple has been designated as national treasures and some of the areas in the temple are designated as national important cultural properties.

Reference: https://www.japan.travel/en/spot/1408/

10. Autumn in Gokayama

Gokayama is a quiet and beautiful village of Gassho-zukuri houses that has been registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site together with Shirakawago. Gokayama is worth a visit in every season, especially when the autumn season the autumn foliage view in the village is magnificent.

Reference: https://gokayama-info.jp/en/

11. Shirakawago

Shirakawago is highly recognized both in Japan and abroad for its Gassho-zukuri villages, a beautiful landscape that can be called the original landscape of Japan. Shirakawa-go keeps the traditional village of “Japan’s hometown” where you can get a deep sense of Japanese rural culture, activities and daily life of the locals. We recommend you to visit both Gokayama and Shirakawa-go which has been registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Reference: https://shirakawa-go.gr.jp/en/

12. Hida Beef

If you visit Takayama, don’t miss the Hida beef. Hida beef is raised with the blessings of nature: vast land, pure water, clean air, and seasonal temperature differences between day and night. The meat Hida is savory, you taste fine, tender beautifully marbled melting in your mouth with riched aroma.

Reference: http://www.hidagyu-gifu.com/eng/index.php

13. Hida Furukawa (White-walled Store District)

Hida Furukawa is known for its old-traditional scenery. One of the most atmospheric places to visit is a 500-meter length of Seto Canal that runs through the center of town along the Shirakabe Dozogai Street.

On Ichinomachi Street near Shirakabe Dozogai District, you can enjoy strolling and find sake breweries, souvenir stores, restaurants and other stores.

Reference: https://hida.travel/destination/shirokabe-dozogai-street/19

14. Satoyama Cycling

“Enjoy the beautiful nature of Japan in Satoyama by joining the Hida Satoyama Cycling tour! Accompanied by a guide, you can see a glimpse of local people’s daily lives, visiting tranquil farm villages and scattered old houses outside of the regular tourist spots.

Reference: https://satoyama-experience.com/cycling

15. Seki Terrace

Seki Terrace, a new facility opened in March 2021, where you can encounter the charms of Seki City such as the famous Seki City traditional technique of cutlery, the local cultural industries, and you can enjoy communication with the locals.

Let’s enjoy the charm of the cultural and industrial of Seki City, starting from Seki Terrace.

Reference (only in Japanese): https://sekikanko.jp/sekiterrace

16. Nagoya Gate Tower Hotel

On your last day travelling in Japan, why don’t you relax and refresh yourself by staying at a hotel directly connected to Nagoya Station. You can go directly to the hotel from Nagoya station, about 5 minutes from the Shinkansen ticket gate.

Reference: https://www.associa.com/ngh/multi-lingual/?wovn=en