Takayama, Gifu

Takayama(高山市,Takayama-shi)is acitylocated inGifu Prefecture,Japan. As of 1 January 2019, the city had an estimatedpopulationof 88,473 in 35,644 households,and apopulation densityof 41 persons per km. The total area of the city was 2,177.61 square kilometers (840.78 sq mi) making it the largest city by area in Japan. The high altitude and separation from other areas of Japan kept the area fairly isolated, allowing Takayama to develop its own culture over about a 300-year period.
The city is popularly known asHida-Takayama(飛騨高山)in reference to the oldHida Provinceto differentiate it from other places named Takayama. The name 'Takayama' means 'tall mountain'.
Takayama is located in northern Gifu Prefecture, in the heart of theJapanese Alps.Mount Hotakadakeis the highest point in the city at 3,190 meters (10,470 ft). The city has the largest geographic area of any municipality in Japan.
The city has a climate characterized by hot and humid summers, and mild winters (Köppen climate classificationDfa). The average annual temperature in Takayama is 11.4 °C (52.5 °F). The average annual rainfall is 1,776.5 mm (69.94 in) with July as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 24.4 °C (75.9 °F), and lowest in January, at around −1.2 °C (29.8 °F).It features four distinct seasons with a wide range of temperatures between the summer and winter, somewhat resembling parts of northern Japan andHokkaido. Takayama is part of the heavy snow area of Japan(豪雪地帯,gōsetsu-chitai)with snowfall most days throughout the winter season. Takayama and many other places exposed to theSea of Japanexperiencelake-effect snow, generating some of the highest, most consistent snowfall in the world.
Spring is short-lived, usually dry with mild temperatures and plenty of sunshine.Cherry blossomscan be seen in Takayama from the middle to the end of April, around three weeks later than Nagoya.
Summer begins around the end of May to the beginning of June. It is humid and wet with the arrival of the rainy season(梅雨,tsuyu), receiving high rainfall amounts. It then yields to a hotter and generally less humid end to the summer with daytime temperatures usually higher than 30 °C (86 °F) and occasionally higher than 35 °C (95 °F) coupled with strong sunshine.
Autumn approaches during the middle of October and is short and dry. and cool with diminishing sunlight. Colorful foliage from maples(紅葉,momiji/kōyō)can be seen in the Takayama area from the end of October to the first week of November.
Winter arrives around the beginning of December and is moderately long, cold, and icy with high amounts of snowfall annually amounting to an average of 5.11 meters (201 inches) commonly leading to the development of snowbanks in the outer areas of the city. The first snowfall usually arrives at the end of November and lasts until the beginning of April. Yearly low temperatures in the city center drop as low as −15 °C (5 °F) and occasionally fail to reach above freezing point during the day.
Per Japanese census data,the population of Takayama peaked around the year 2000 and has declined since.
The area around Takayama was part of traditionalHida Provinceand was settled as far back as theJōmon period. During theSengoku period,Kanamori Nagachikaruled the area fromTakayama Castleand the town of Takayama developed as acastle town. During theEdo period, the area wastenryōunder the direct control of theTokugawa shogunate. In the post-Meiji Restorationcadastral reforms,Ōno Districtin Gifu prefecture was created, and the town of Takayama was established in 1889 with the creation of the modern municipalities system. At the time, it was the most populous municipality in Gifu Prefecture. On November 1, 1936, Takayama merged with the town of Onada, forming the city of Takayama.Takayama annexed the village of Josue in 1943 and the village of Ohachiga in 1955. On February 1, 2005, the town ofKugunoand the villages ofAsahi,Kiyomi,Miya,Nyūkawa,Shōkawa, andTakane(all fromŌno District), the town ofKokufu, and the village ofKamitakara(both fromYoshiki District) were absorbed to create the expandedcityof Takayama.This made Takayama both the largest city and largest municipality in Japan by area.
Takayama has amayor-councilform of government with a directly elected mayor and aunicameralcity legislature of 24 members.
The economy of Takayama is strongly based on tourism, agriculture, and woodworking.
Takayama has 19 public elementary schools and 12 public middle schools operated by the city government. The city has three public high schools operated by the Gifu Prefectural Board of Education, and one private high school.
JR Tōkai–Takayama Main Line
This city was selected as one of the top ten travel destinations in Asia by Lonely Planet Magazine in the year 2017.
Takayama was the basis for the settings in theanimeseriesHyouka, adapted fromHonobu Yonezawa'sClassic Literature Clubseries. Designs of the fictional city of Kamiyama are based on Takayama.
A restaurant in Takayama was featured in the 2016 animated filmYour Name.