Takayama in Gifu Prefecture is a town renowned for its well-preserved Edo-period streets and rich samurai history, making it a dream destination for history buffs. Beyond its traditional charm, it also offers plenty of seasonal beauty, especially in spring when vibrant flowers bloom across the region. From cherry blossoms to azaleas and plenty more, this guide covers five places to enjoy the best of the season's flowers across the region.
Cherry Blossoms: Aoya Shinmei Shrine
Aoya Shinmei Shrine is a picturesque sakura destination, renowned for its elegant weeping cherry trees. Set against rice fields, the blossoms are reflected off the water, creating some magical, mirror-like scenery. During the day, the tree’s sweeping branches form a magnificent display, but at night, the illuminated blossoms take on a completely different charm.
1352 Asahicho Aoya, Takayama, Gifu 509-3301
Primrose: Utsue 48 Waterfalls Park
At Utsue 48 Waterfalls Park in Takayama City’s Kokufu area, approximately 150,000 primrose flowers reach full bloom at the tail end of spring in shades of crimson, purple, pale pink, and white. The flowers thrive in the park's marshy valleys, and an annual festival to celebrate their beauty is typically held around the early June timeframe.
Kokufucho Utsue, Takayama, Gifu 509-4121
Peonies: Shōsō-ji Temple
Affectionately known as the Peony Temple, Shōsō-ji is home to around 500 peonies in and around the grounds. The flowers are said to have been planted by a head priest during the Meiji and Taisho periods, and they are typically at their best from the later part of May through to early June.
1004 Nyukawacho Kitagata, Takayama, Gifu 506-2133
Peach Blossoms: Kuguno-cho area
The Kuguno-cho are of Takayama City is the birthplace of Hida peaches, and around mid-April, local orchards come alive with vivid pink peach blossoms. If you can't manage a springtime visit to this part of Japan, never fear—the peaches themselves are harvested around late July, and are well worth trying.
Kugunocho Musugo, Takayama, Gifu 509-3214
Azaleas: Otabiyama
Vibrant Kobano Mitsuba Azaleas bloom at Otabiyama around late April through early May, covering the hillside in pink. As the city’s official flower, this azalea type is also called the "Ichiban (number one) Azalea" in the Hida region due to the fact that it blooms earlier than others. Located just a short walk from JR Hida Ichinomiya Station, Otabiyama serves as a temporary shrine for Hida Ichinomiya Minami Shrine, making it both a scenic and cultural landmark.
Yamashita-naka, Ichinomiya-cho, Takayama, Gifu, 509-3505
