Hida Kokubun-ji Temple

Hida Kokubunji is the oldest temple in Takayama, founded in 746 as one of the provincial temples established by Emperor Shomu across Japan. The temple's most striking feature is its magnificent ginkgo tree, estimated to be over 1,200 years old, whose massive trunk and spreading canopy dominate the compact grounds and turn brilliant gold each November. The main hall houses several Important Cultural Property Buddhist statues, and the three-story pagoda, though rebuilt in the Muromachi period, stands as the sole pagoda in the Hida region. Located just a short walk from Takayama's famous morning markets and old town, the temple provides a contemplative pause amid the city's more bustling tourist attractions.