Gifu-ken Travel Forum

Should we visit both Takayama and Kanazawa or only one and if so which? we will only have around 17 days for our trip , and otherwise will be in Tokyo, Kyoto and HIroshima.Travelling by train its doable but maybe better to spend more days in one location.. thanks

We plan to stay 1 night in Shirakawa-go, and would like to book either Koemon, Magoemon or Hisamatsu. I have contacted japaneseguesthouse, but they informed me that they do not work with these ryokans.

Can someone recommend me a website or email address where I can make the booking.

Thanks

Sandy

I am travelling to Takayama and am looking for a place to stay ( budget guest houses, Not hotels pl) in November of 2009 ( 4th, 5th, and 6th)

What are the must-see places in Takayama?

Anyone? Please post your faves here so I may have initial ideas
on where to start my trip. Thanks!

Would two days and two nights be enough to explore Takayama? I'm basically after the folk village, and seeing more of nature this side of Japan.

Hi! I'm planning a trip to Takayam sometime in October 2009. I would like to spend some time in Tokyo first, then on to Takayama. As I've never traveled to Japan before, and I hear everything is just so pricey, around how much do I have to prepare if I wanted to stay for about 3 days in Tokyo and two days in Takayama?

Also, anybody got some advice on budget places to stayin both Tokyo and Takayama? And least expensive routes to Takayama from Tokyo and back?

Thank you so much!

Hello everybody

I travel on my own to japan for the first time, and I will spend a night in Takayama on april 9th 2009.

I would be pleased to meet local people for a drink, and discovering the city by night.

Hoping you will have a little time to meet me,
Thank you,

Nathalie

Hi fellow VTs,
I'm heading to Takayama for the Sanno Festival 2009.

1. Which of the 2 days are more festive and when do the puppets make their appearance? Will it be daytime on the 1st day or night-time? Is there anything spectacular on the 14th night and 15th? I want to enjoy the whole experience but I can't get a room on the 14Apr (unless someone here lives in Takayama and don't mind lending a sofa / futon / pillow for the night :-))

2. Is the train station safe to spend the night (as a last resort)? else I have to catch the last train out to Osaka at 8pm.

3. Anyone else making their way to the festival?

Thanks all.

Hi, my friend and I are planning to go to Takayama on 15th April to catch the festival. Actually we are pretty much clueless about how to get there. Would it be better to go on the 14th? We are thinking of staying in Tokyo then taking the train with the JR pass to get to Takayama. Or is it better to stay in Takayama. Also, what is the timing and location of the festival? I have searched online that it is associated with the Hie shrine, but I don't really know where we should head. Please help us with this :D Your help would be greatly appreciated!

Hello, we will be in Takayama for 1 day either 14 or 15 April 2009. We want to see the Spring Festival. Could anyone please tell me whether it is best to be there late on the 14th for the evening festival and spend the 15th in the town, or whether all the events are focused on the 14th April and therefore we should arrive early on that day? I have heard there are 2 parades - what are the dates and times of these? Any help is appreciated.
Thank you.

I plan to go to Kakamigahara next april. What can i do overthere? Best cities to visit near by. The hot water baths is near? I don't need hotels and restaurants info but i need train info and distance between cities. Shopping, where we can make good deals?

I will stay there 2 weeks.

Thank you and have nice trips :-)

Violette

Hihi, I will be spending 2 days in Takayama and was wondering if a side trip to Shirakawago is worth it (i could spare an extra day if i go here). Is Shirakawago similar to Takayama, esp the Hida Folk Village?

Advice please :) Thanks.

I am wanting to spend a couple of days in ogimachi after skiing in Shiga Kogen before returning to Toyko by bullet train - and was wondering what is the best way to get to Ogimachi - Is there a bus or train from Nagano or another way to get there from Shiga Kogen or anywhere around there?

Hi there. We will be in Takayama on 6 and 7 Nov. We are not young and energetic so please tell us what are the must see places and must eat places. we are also budget travellers but we would like to taste the local cuisine. we love nature and we do not mind walks or hikes rather than to temple hop.so much to see and do. so little time, money and energy. PLEASE HELP! tHANK U

Dear fellow VTers

I'll be in Takayama/Kanazawa/Shirakawa between 20 Sep to 26 Sep. Check of the weather report history shows rainy weather. As we'll be driving from Takayama towards Gokayama, I notice some roads are closed in the event of heavy rain.

Any advice on some good routes and whether the weather will clear up by then?

Thanks in advance

Those who visited Takayama for the October Festival, or those who just happen to live in the area: do the leaves turn at the beginning of October or later? Takayama's tourist page says "early Sept- early Oct". I think it's BS. No way it can start so early. Or can it?

I am going to Japan at the end of January to visit my sister who is teaching english there - she lives in Inuyama - now while i have done a good bit of travelling on my own its noramlly to english speaking counties as im crap at languages.my sister will be working during the day so i will be doing a good bit of sightseeing on my own. i have been looking at some sites and must admit that at first glance it seems a very confusing place to visit. can anyone sooth my nerves and tell me that im worring for nothing !! i will be getting a rail pass what will give me unlimited travel so i will be able to go where i want with out worring aobut the cost. do you have any sugestions on where to go and what to see while im there

thanks

I'm making my first visit to Japan in October and when I found out the festival was on I decided I should see it. But it must be very popular because all the accomodation I've found (via the web) is booked out for 9th Oct.

Can anyone suggests any alternative lists that I (non-Japanese speaking) can use to try and locate some more obscure or less obvious accoummodation that just might still be available for 9th Oct.

What will happen during Oct.9-10 festival? Will there be any float parade on the street? If so, where will be the usual path/route for the parade? Where will be the best place (and when the best time) to experience the event in Takayama?

If we arrive at Takayama in the early afternoon of Oct.9, will we miss something important of that morning? Our original plan is to arrive on Oct.8, but just wonder if there is any other option.

Thanks for any info/advice/suggestion!

We would like to see the Oct.9/10 festival - IF I can book a hotel, so far it seems all hotels are fully booked! :(

Q1: How many days would it take to see the festival (2 days) and tour the small town?
Q2: Is there any other day trip one can take from Takayama? E.g., is there any bus tour taking us to "Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go or Gokayama", going by ourselves seem to be rather time consuming (need multiple transfers)?
Q3: Any suggestion on booking a hotel for the time?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

Hi,
Im going to be spending time in Inuyama in July and was wondering if you can tell me where the shopping is? Malls/department stores etc.
Sadly, there isnt that much on the web to tell you what Iniyama has to offer (other than the castle of course).
Thanks

Hello,

I need to get from Tokyo to Takayama, on friday, 14th of April. What is the earliest and fast way i can get there, and what is the latest time i can leave in order to get back to Tokyo?

I heard the bus at 5.5 hours is the best way - but the website is in japanese, so i cant tell what's the earliest time the bus departs tokyo, and the latest time a bus departs Takayama back to tokyo!

I hope you can help,

CHeers,
alex

Planning on visiting both Takayama and Kananzawa and was hoping that somebody could recommend a good ryokan or minshuku. Would like to have a Japanese room and use an onsen. Would like to have meals there as well to have the full experience. Thanks in advance for the help!

I am looking for a good place to find some snow to look at and walk through - I am not interested in winter sports, just winter sightseeing. Northern Gifu-ken might be a bit far away - does anyone now of a good place to go in southern Gifu-ken?

I need to translate a Kanji inscription. From what I've seen it looks incredibly complex.