Higashiyama Walking Course in Takayama: Complete Guide

Takayama is a town in the mountains of Japan and has no shortage of things to do.

But while most people flock to the old Edo-period townscapes of Takayama, there is much more history on all sides of the town. One of these places is the Higashiyama Walking Course, a scenic route that winds through the town and passes by numerous temples and shrines.

Higashiyama Walking Course Complete Guide

The Higashiyama Walking Course is a 5.5 km trail that takes you through Takayama’s city streets and the nearby Shiroyama Mountain. Along the route, you’ll see traditional architecture, shrines, and temples, all against the backdrop of Gifu’s scenic forests and hills.

The Higashiyama Walking Course isn’t a single trail but rather a series of scenic roads and paths that wind through Takayama, allowing you to hop on and off at various points.

The course is suitable for most fitness levels, and you can easily adjust the length of your hike. The full course takes around 2 to 3 hours, but you can explore as much or as little as you’d like.

The main highlight of the course is the Higashiyama Temple Area, which features 12 shrines and temples all lined up together. If you only want to walk through the Higashiyama Temple Area, it takes about 1 hour.

How to Get to the Higashiyama Walking Course

The Higashiyama Walking Course is within walking distance from anywhere within Takayama’s city center. The full course begins at the Takayama Town Museum, a 15-minute walk from Takayama Station.

However, the full course is rather long and more of a hike rather than a sightseeing route.

Instead, most people opt to walk through the Higashiyama Temple Area. This is the most popular and interesting section of the walking course. Located on the east side of Takayama, the Higashiyama Temple Area contains ten temples and two shrines, all situated close to each other, making it the highlight of the course.

The Higashiyama Temple Area extends from Kyushoji Temple to Soyuji Temple and goes through 12 temples and shrines. On the walking course, there are wooden signs that denote the course route so you can stay on track. Walking through the Higashiyama Temple Area does not take long, about an hour or two depending on your pace.

Higashiyama Walking Course Maps

Below is a Google Map of the Higashiyama Walking Course route. I’ve marked all the temples and shrines along the route, as well as the course itself, so you can easily follow along during your adventure.

The Higashiyama Temple Area is marked in red on the map below, so you can easily find the highlight of the walking course.

Higashiyama Walking Course Temple Area

The Higashiyama Temple Area is the highlight of the walking course and contains 12 temples and shrines that date back to Japan’s Edo period.

These temples vary in size but all are worth visiting. Since they’re situated close to one another, it’s easy to explore the entire area as you walk along the route.

All the temples in this area are very much part of the town and some are even separated by homes. So it can be a little confusing to get around, but the course is marked with wooden signs to help you navigate. There is even a section with a tunnel where you walk underground to cross the street.

There are two shrines in the Higashiyama Temple Area—the Higashiyama Hakusan Shrine and Higashiyama Shinmei Shrine. These shrines are located uphill in the forest. Surrounded by trees and greenery, the shrines have a peaceful vibe in nature.

Here is a list of all the temples and shrines in the Higashiyama Temple Area:

• Kyushoji Temple
• Unryuji Temple
• Eikyoin Temple
• Higashiyama Hakusan Jinja Shrine
• Daioji Temple
• Tounin Temple
• Sogenji Temple
• Higashiyama Shinmei Jinja Shrine
• Tenshoji Temple
• Hokkeji Temple
• Zennoji Temple
• Soyuji Temple

Higashiyama Walking Course: Our Experience

Our adventure through the Higashiyama Walking Course took us to the east side of Takayama, where the course stretches just below the forest hills. We hiked the Temple Area of the course, starting at Soyuji Temple and going north.

Some temples are more impressive than others, with some being large and others quite small. The temples were quiet and peaceful, giving the impression that these were more historical sites than active places of worship. Each temple has a sign that provides information and the history of each place.

Our favorite parts of the course were the two shrines. Both shrines are slightly off the temple area route, about a 5-minute walk up into the forest. The walk to both shrines was peaceful, even just leaving the town area for a few moments into the forests.

The walking course was a fun way to experience a quieter side of Takayama, as we didn’t see many other groups on the course.

The next day, we walked a portion of the course that extends up into Shiroyama Mountain. This section of the course felt more like a hike than a leisurely walk, with fewer temples and shrines compared to the Higashiyama Temple Area.

This section of the walk took us through wooded forests, passing the Takayama Castle Ruins, and through Shiroyama Park. I’d recommend anyone who wants to hike the full course to do the same.

The hike up Shiroyama mountain, though not long, is an event in itself. It may be a little exhausting to hike the full course in a single day and will leave little room for other activities in Takayama.

Where to Stay in Takayama

We stayed at both a traditional Ryokan and a Western-style hotel during our visits to Takayama. Both were exceptionally wonderful, super clean, and comfortable.

Here are the places we stayed at in Takayama and our recommendations:

• Hostel Murasaki – Japanese-style ryokan: Staying in this ryokan gives you that traditional feeling like you’re in old Japan. It is also budget-friendly. The ryokan has a shared kitchen so you can cook your food and a large living room to meet other travelers.
• Hotel Wing – Western-style hotel: This hotel is a new and modern accommodation. The rooms are clean and comfortable, but a bit on the smaller side, which is normal for Japan. The lounge area in the hotel’s lobby opens up in the afternoon, so you’re free to sit and work there and enjoy free drinks.

Our Free Takayana Google Maps Locations

Do you need a handy map with all our Takayama locations? We’ve got a Google Map with all the Takayama locations in this post (plus a LOT more). Sign up in the box below and we’ll deliver it right to your inbox, plus our top tips to help you plan your Takayama adventure.

Are You Following Our Takayama Blog Series?

We’ve been to Takayama three times and found so many awesome things to do there. To help you plan your trip to Takayama, we’ve put together guides to the best places we found. You can check them out by clicking the links below.

• Our Ultimate Guide to Takayama: 14 Awesome Things to Do in Takayama
• How to plan your trip to Takayama: Takayama 2 Day Itinerary
• We attended Takayama Spring Festival and put together a guide to help you navigate the crowds: Takayama Festival: Our Complete Guide
• Our favorite hike in Takayama: Higashiyama Walking Course