Takayama is a beautiful city in the mountainous Hida region of northern Gifu prefecture.  Also known as Hida-Takayama, the city is famous for hosting one of the best festivals in Japan, its well preserved historic district, and its Hida-gyu (Hida beef) and sake. The Edo-era historic district has great street food and sake breweries.

It’s hard to go wrong just eating and drinking whatever looks good, but here is my list of things you should try.

Mitarashi Dango

Mitarashi Dango are mochiko (rice flour) dumplings covered with a soy glaze and charred over a grill. The charred sweet and salty glaze and glutinous chewy dangos are pillows of comfort on a stick.

Gohei Mochi

Gohei mochi is pounded regular rice on a stick, charred then covered with a sticky soy glaze. With more texture than dango, it is a completely different experience.

Takayama Yogurt

It’s not a surprise that great cows produce great dairy. CowCow is a small yogurt shop that makes really decadent small-batch yogurt, and other additive free products such as local jam.

Hida Gyuuman

Who can resist a soft fluffy steamed bun with flavorful tender Hida beef?  This is an inexpensive way to eat quality local beef in a portable package.

Takayama Pudding

The Hida dairy also makes sinful pudding. Japanese custard pudding is richer than your instant grocery store variety. It’s very popular in Takayama where several restaurants and stores make their own version.

Sake Tasting

Takayama has several excellent sake breweries that offer tastings right in town.  With excellent rice, fresh water, and the perfect climate, Takayama has a long history of sake production.

Sake Soft Serve

Great sake means great sake soft serve. Soft serve is popular in Japan and no wonder – it’s almost always made from great dairy unlike the fake stuff sold in some fast food establishments. The sake adds a subtle light flavor to a rich milk base. You can also find sake in cheesecake and other desserts around town.

Amazake Banana Shake

My mother always touts the health benefits of amazake, a traditional naturally sweet non/or slightly alcoholic drink made from fermented rice. It’s known for it’s probiotic properties, but I have never liked it. That is until I tried a great amazake banana shake in Coffee House Baren. The coffee shop is in a lovely 100 year old building, surrounded by local art.

Hida Takayama Beer

The pure Takayama water that makes great sake also makes great beer. Hida Takayama Beer is an award winning brewery. The beer is sold online and at select stores in Takayama. The water has been said to have anti-aging properties, so go ahead and have some more beer and sake.

Hida Ramen

It’s not just the alcohol, great water also means great ramen. Katsuobushi (bonito flakes) and soy sauce add to it’s distinctive regional flavor.

Hida Beef Skewer

Hida beef comes from black haired cattle in the Gifu region. It’s beautifully marbled, and melts in your mouth. Each bite is perfectly seasoned and succulent, but it’s so rich that it is easily shared by two.

Hida Beef Sushi

Hida Beef Sushi is my top choice in Takayama. The seared hida beef nigiri-sushi is served with Takesumi bamboo salt, and with ginger soy sauce.

The heavily marbled “otoro” cut is served “sashimi” style with ginger, wasabi, and negi (Japanese long onion). The beef sushi is served on environmentally friendly edible (and tasty) rice crackers “plates” that completely eliminate waste.

Details

Takayama is on the Hida Line between Nagoya and Toyama.  It’s almost 2.5 hours from Nagoya and 1.5 from Toyama.  Unfortunately, at the time of this posting,the torrential rains and floods of July 2018 have disrupted train service to Takayama.  Please check the official Central Japan Railway for updates. Replacement bus services are available in the interim.

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