Takayama in Sept

Hi. We are visiting Takayama area in Sept 2010 with our 4 year-old. May I know if there is any places of interest to visit (esp for a 4 year-old child) in that area, eg fruit farms, flower parks, waterfalls, or any suggestions? We are renting a car so we can explore the rural areas more easily.

Also, September being the typhoon season in Japan, is that an issue in Takayama? Or are the coastal areas more affected, i.e. mountainous areas like Takayama are alright?

Thank you.

Take a look at the following thread to see whether the information about Takayama for kids is of use to you:

http://www.japan-guide.com/forum/quereadisplay.html?0+68798

It does rain in Takayama. If it is a rain season, then it is rain season everywhere. But there shouldn't be stormy weather. The sea is too far for that.

Takayama for a 4 year old. I don't know about that...The festival floats museum is colorful.
Maybe these places would be interesting:
Hida Takayama Festival Forest
http://www.togeihida.co.jp/
Teddybear Eco Village
http://www.teddyeco.jp/
And there is also a Squirrel park // Hida wild flower gardens. (20min by car from station)
A child could enjoy a walk around Hida folk village site. But i don't know. It's been a while since i was four.
All the places are accessible by bus or car. Please ask for more info at the Takayama tourist information in front of the train station.
Also ask about Kamikochi park. But only go there with a bus.
http://www.kamikochi.or.jp/english/

Hope you will enjoy Hida Takayama and that weather will serve you!

You can see some photos of Hida Takayama if you like:
http://hidatakayama.blogspot.com

Many thanks for the replies!

Could I ask what is the name of the Squirrel Park and Hida wild flower garden, so I can check the directions?

My kid enjoys mucking about outdoors, that's why I was thinking of waterfalls, fruit farms, gardens etc. Any suggestions where I can find these around the Takayama vicinity? We plan to stay at Takayama for a few days and drive around.

Thank you.

Squirrel forest Hida wild flower gardens
(Risu no mori // Hida-sanyasou-sizen teien
20min by car from station
2351-7 Matsukura-machi
I hope this helps.

Waterfalls....there are some. I think it is called 101 or maybe 1001 waterfall. Something like that. Sorry i can't be precise. It is a nice walk in the nature, a bit uphill though.
A bit further from Takayama you have the Hirayu Otaki - a large waterfall about 6 meters wide and 64 meters high. Just ask for Hirayu onsen.
There is a playground in the Ninomaru park which is a part of Shiroyama park. Locals go there with their children for a picnic. You can see most of the Takayama from there, because it is on a hill. Nice, clean and quiet. Just ask for Shiroyama park or Higashiyama walking course.

There was also a tiny petting zoo...well actually it is an old lady with her hens and ducks and a cow. She also has some aquariums with koi fishes and some other big fishes. We were warned not to touch cuz they could bite of our finger ;)
But i can't remember where exactly it was. I'm sorry. I know we were on a daytrip to Hida Nyukawa Cosmos Festival, which is on a mountain just above Takayama, and we stopped at this old ladies petting zoo. It was really nice. It is an old wooden house and the entrance fee was really cheap. Please try and describe it at the tourist office. Maybe you are lucky enough and they know where it is. Because you will have a car, it would be pity not to visit all the tiny villages around Takayama. You will feel like you are not in Kansas any more ;)

If the tourist office is of no help, then you could try and ask at the J-Hoppers Hostel Takayama. They do adventure trips.
http://takayama.j-hoppers.com/e_accessmap.html

Please enjoy Hida Takayama, and if you have any more questions, just ask. You can also look for HidaTakayama on facebook and join.

Enjoy!

Thank you so much!

No problem.

Waterfalls in Japan/Takayama:
http://waterfalls-in-japan.blogspot.com/search/label/Takayama

And on more place for you to visit; Hida Furukawa. A small town with famous Canal area where you can watch at koi fishes swimming under your feet. Most enjoyable. Even though you will feel like, fishing is not allowed ;)
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5975.html

Is it right that the squirrel park is closed from 1 december for a few months? My family are looking to be in Takayama from about 20/12 for 4 days or so them similar at Kanazawa, and I've been keen to see the squirrels, but I think the park might be closed.

Yes it is closed between December 16th and March 14th due to snow. A lot of snow in Takayama in winter!
It is also closed every Monday, unless Monday is a public holiday.

You might want to ask at the Takayama J-Hoopers hostel. They do adventure trips. And if you have a place in nature you want to visit, they might take you there. Of course contact them well in advance.

Enjoy Hida Takayama!

Thanks you very much for that. One last question - is Takayama likely to be very crowded over the new year break? I am trying to schedule whether to be in Kanazawa from 24 - 28 December then Takayama 28 December to 1 Jan, or vice versa, and I'll probably choose based on going to the one least crowded, though I'd also like to see some snow. Anny tips would be appreciated.

crowded...well depends what's crowded for you. I guess you might get the feeling of "crowded" around the red bridge and the sanmachi street. And maybe around one or two temples which are popular amongst Japanese. But Takayama's attractions are well positioned so the crowd tends to get dispersed all over the place. And there are numerous streets which common tourists never really visit or discover, even though those are true gems. So lets say no, it will not get two crowded. An hour or two during the day it really does seem like Takayama is a beehive, but soon most people go back to hotels or continue with their trip. So you will have Takayama back for your self to explore and discover.

But do book a hotel on time. A lot of Japanese families go to Takayama during the holidays.
Hope this helps somewhat.

Enjoy planning your trip!

Thanks heaps for that, now I can plan!