Takayama is a quiet, preserved city in the Hida region of the Gifu Prefecture. During the Edo period (1601-1868, the period under the rule of Tokugawa Shogunate), Takayama was a major trade centre and had a thriving merchant community because of its rich timber resources. Takayama translates to “tall mountain”, and at 3,190 metres, Mount Hotakadake is the highest point in the region. The Miyagawa river flows through the heart of Takayama, and the town is alive with bustling markets and shopping streets around it. It is breathtaking throughout the year—covered in snow during winters, cherry blossoms in spring, and trees brushed with colour through summer and autumn.
AloJapan.com