What's on in Takayama, Japan through the year

Busy — Winter break (fuyuyasumi) in Japan, school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it

• Festival

  Shirakawa-go winter light-up

  15 Jan – 20 Feb · usuallyIce seasonBook early

  The thatched village an hour west is lit on a handful of winter evenings only, and both the parking and the viewpoint run on an advance ballot. There is no turning up on the night. Source ↗

Quiet — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in February.

Still on: Shirakawa-go winter light-up (15 Jan – 20 Feb (usually))

Busy — Spring break (haruyasumi) in Japan

Nothing new starts in March.

Peak crowds — Spring Takayama Festival, Golden Week

• Festival

  Spring Takayama Festival

  14–15 AprMajor festivalCrowdedBook early

  Two fixed days of lacquered floats and marionettes through the old town, with the evening procession by lantern. The town has nowhere near enough beds for it. Source ↗

• Opening

  Kamikochi season

  17 Apr – 15 Nov · usuallyTrail seasonClosures

  The valley on the far side of the Alps opens to buses in the second half of April and closes in the middle of November, after which nothing runs and the huts are shut. Source ↗

• Holiday

  Golden Week

  29 Apr – 5 MayCrowdedBook early

  One of the most-visited small towns in Japan in the week the whole country drives. The Sanmachi lanes are single file and the ryokan were taken in the winter. Source ↗

Peak crowds — Golden Week, Golden Week in Japan

Nothing new starts in May.

Still on: Kamikochi season (17 Apr – 15 Nov (usually)), Golden Week (29 Apr – 5 May)

Busy — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, one of its best months for weather

Nothing new starts in June.

Still on: Kamikochi season (17 Apr – 15 Nov (usually))

Busy — Summer break (natsuyasumi) in Japan, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in July.

Still on: Kamikochi season (17 Apr – 15 Nov (usually))

Busy — Summer break (natsuyasumi) in Japan, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in August.

Still on: Kamikochi season (17 Apr – 15 Nov (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in September.

Still on: Kamikochi season (17 Apr – 15 Nov (usually))

Busy — Autumn Takayama Festival, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

• Festival

  Autumn Takayama Festival

  9–10 OctMajor festivalCrowdedBook early

  The Hachiman half of the same pair, on fixed dates in October and generally the better weather of the two. Book a year out or stay down in Gero or Toyama. Source ↗

• Nature

  Autumn colour

  15 Oct – 10 Nov · usually

  The colour comes down from the Norikura road in mid-October and reaches the town and Shinhotaka a few weeks later. The ropeway up there queues on clear weekends.

Still on: Kamikochi season (17 Apr – 15 Nov (usually))

Shoulder season — an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in November.

Still on: Kamikochi season (17 Apr – 15 Nov (usually)), Autumn colour (15 Oct – 10 Nov (usually))

Busy — Winter break (fuyuyasumi) in Japan, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in December.