Takayama is a small town located in the [Japanese Alps](/term/place/japanese-alps). What sets the city apart are its beautifully preserved old streets, with an atmosphere that few other cities can compete with. With few high-rise buildings, walking down the historical district can truly feel like a walk back in time. 

The city also offers a vibrant [asaichi](/term/general/asaichi), with plenty of local stalls serving both ready-to-eat light snacks, as well as fresh fruits and vegetables. Not to be missed is the local miso, as well as [Hida Beef](/term/food/hida-beef), one of Japan's brand name [wagyu](/term/food/wagyu).

While the town itself is small and can be covered within half a day, it is definitely worth a visit.

Walking down the old streets in Takayama, Gifu Prefecture

Takayama Old District.webp

People walking down the Morning Market in Takayama, Gifu Prefecture

Takayama Morning Market.webp

Hida Beef Yakiniku at Maruaki in Ogimachi, Gifu Prefecture

Maruaki.webp

Exterior of Takayama Jinya in Takayama, Gifu Prefecture

Takayama Jinya.webp

Hida Beef Sushi at Hida Kotte Ushi in Takayama, Gifu Prefecture

Hida Kotte Ushi.webp

Osaka

Osaka Prefecture

Kobe

Himeji

Kinosaki Onsen

Hyogo Prefecture

Kyoto

Kyoto Prefecture

Shirahama

Wakayama Prefecture

Kansai

Shodoshima

Takamatsu

Kagawa Prefecture

Shikoku

Kurashiki

Okayama Prefecture

Chugoku

Enoshima

Kamakura

Yokohama

Miura

Kanagawa Prefecture

Tokyo

Tokyo Metropolis

Kawagoe

Chichibu

Saitama Prefecture

Kanto

Kanazawa

Ishikawa Prefecture

Takayama

Shirakawa-go

Gifu Prefecture

Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route

Toyama Prefecture

Chubu

The Meiji Restoration in 1868 brought an end to the [Edo Period](/term/era/edo) and ushered in the [Meiji Era](/term/era/meiji). It arose from the collapse of the [Tokugawa Shogunate](/term/general/tokugawa-shogunate) at the end of the [bakumatsu](/term/era/bakumatsu), and the return of power back to the Imperial Family.

The Edo Period lasted from 1603 to 1867 when the [Tokugawa Shogunate](/term/general/tokugawa-shogunate) ruled Japan from the city of [Edo](/term/general/edo), modern day Tokyo. The [shogun](/term/general/shogun) was the de-facto leader of Japan, and the [daimyō](/term/general/daimyo) under him would rule over the various regions. 

The Meiji Era marked the start of Japan's rapid modernization, moving away from a feudal society and adopting industrialization and other Western influences. The Emperor who reigned at the time was posthumously known as Emperor Meiji.

The period at the end of the [Edo Period](/term/era/edo) that led to the fall of the [Tokugawa Shogunate](/term/general/tokugawa-shogunate), and culminated in the [Meiji Restoration](/term/general/meiji-restoration).

During this period, a fleet of American ships led by Matthew Perry forced the bakufu to lift its [Sakoku](/term/general/sakoku) policy, resulting in unrest across Japan over the next few years. This culminated in a rebellion against the bakufu called the Boshin War and eventually the Meiji Restoration in 1868. 

Hida Beef is the local brand of [wagyu](/term/food/wagyu) that is popular for its fatty melt-in-your-mouth texture. Produced in the [Hida Region](/term/place/hida-region), you can find various Hida Beef products across Takayama, including skewers, stews, and [yakiniku](/term/food/yakiniku).

In Japan, the term Wagyu typically refers to domestically-produced beef. Wagyu beef tends to have a higher fat percentage, resulting in nicer marbling and a melt-in-your-mouth effect. 

Brand-name Wagyu are typically renowned for their quality including Kobe Beef, Matsuzaka Beef, and Ōmi Beef.

Yakiniku, literally "grilled meat", is the name for Japanese barbecue. Typically, slices of meat and vegetables are carefully grilled atop either a gas, electric, or charcoal grill. 

Most yakiniku places are DIY (do it yourself), and the staff will serve up the meat raw and leave it up to you to cook to the doneness of your choosing. 

Yakiniku is typically eaten with an assortment of sauces, including Yakiniku Tare (焼肉タレ), a sweet-savory sauce usually made with sesame seeds and garlic, or even just salt, which helps to bring out the flavor of the meat.

Asaichi operate like a Farmer's Market, typically offering a wide range of fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as food stands with [keishoku](/term/food-category/keishoku).

The Tokugawa Shogunate (also called the Edo Shogunate) was the military government of Japan during the [Edo Period](/term/era/edo), and was led by the [shogun](/term/general/shogun) from the [Tokugawa Clan](/term/general/tokugawa-clan).

The domains were the predecessor to the modern [prefecture](/term/general/prefecture) system used in Japan today. They were primarily used during the [Edo Period](/term/era/edo) and each domain would be ruled by a [daimyo](/term/general/daimyo). 

There were around 260 domains at one time, with around 540 domains existing in total during the course of the entire Edo Period. During the [Meiji Era](/term/era/meiji), the daimyo system was dissolved and the domains were reorganized into prefectures.

The Tokugawa Clan is a dynasty that ruled Japan as the [shoguns](/term/general/shogun) through the [Edo Period](/term/era/edo). 

Shoguns were the military leaders of Japan, nominally appointed by the Emperor. The position is typically hereditary, and the government of the Shogun is called the [Shogunate](/term/general/shogunate). 

There have been multiple Shogunates over the course of history, with the final Shogunate being the [Tokugawa Shogunate](/term/general/tokugawa-shogunate) that ended in 1867 with the return of power to the Emperor in the [Meiji Restoration](/term/general/meiji-restoration).

Edo is the former name for Tokyo, used up to 1868 when it was renamed to *Tōkyō* (東京, lit. Eastern Capital) by the government. It became the de-facto capital from 1603 during the [Edo Period](/term/era/edo) as the seat of the [Tokugawa Shogunate](/term/general/tokugawa-shogunate).

The daimyō were generally regional lords that controlled military, police, and economic power in the area that they ruled. Most commonly, the term daimyō is used to refer to the regional lords during the [Edo Period](/term/era/edo) that would report to the [Tokugawa Shogunate](/term/general/tokugawa-shogunate). They were abolished in 1868 during the [Meiji Restoration](/term/event/meiji-restoration) that saw the fall of the Tokugawa Shogunate and Japan’s feudal system.

There are currently 47 prefectures in Japan: 1 metropolis (都, *tō*, lit. capital), 2 urban prefectures (府, *fu*), 1 territory (道, *dō*), and 43 prefectures (県, *ken*). The prefectures serve as the level of government below the national government.

The current set of 47 prefectures was established in 1888, whittled down from the over 300 prefectures when the prefectures were established in 1871 at the start of the [Meiji Era](/term/era/meiji). Before the prefecture system, Japan was divided into [domains](/term/general/domain), each ruled by a [daimyo](/term/general/daimyo), during the [Edo Period](/term/era/edo).

The Shogunate, also called the Bakufu, is used to refer to a government led by the [shogun](/term/general/shogun).

Sakoku refers to the policy of national isolation from 1633 to 1853 during the [Edo Period](/term/era/edo) (also called the Sakoku Period) by the Tokugawa Shogunate that cut off almost all diplomatic and trade relations with other countries. 

No foreigners were allowed to enter, and no Japanese were allowed to leave. Certain exceptions were allowed, such as the trade with the Dutch and Chinese in Nagasaki. 

The Japanese Alps are a series of mountain ranges that run from north to south through [Honshu](/term/place/honshu). 

They consist of the:
* Northern Alps: Hida Mountains (飛騨山脈, *Hida-sanmyaku*)
* Central Alps: Kiso Mountains (木曽山脈, *Kiso-sanmyaku*)
* Southern Alps: Akaishi Mountains (赤石山脈, *Akaishi-sanmyaku*)

Honshu is the largest of Japan's main islands and stretches from Aomori Prefecture in the north, all the way to Yamaguchi Prefecture in the south.

The Hida Region is the northern part of [Gifu Prefecture](/link/place/chubu/gifu) and was named after the former [Hida Domain](/term/place/hida-domain) that was located there. Today it consists of the [Takayama](/link/place/chubu/gifu/takayama) and [Shirakawa-go](/link/place/chubu/gifu/shirakawa-go) areas.

The Hida Domain was a [domain](/term/general/domain) during the [Edo Period](/term/era/edo) that was directly controlled by the [Tokugawa Shogunate](/term/general/tokugawa-shogunate) since 1692. It occupies today's [Hida Region](/term/place/hida-region) in the northern part of [Gifu Prefecture](/link/place/chubu/gifu), and the local government was based in [Takayama](/link/place/chubu/gifu/takayama).

Best Things to Eat in Takayama