Introduction
Japan has a way of pulling families back. Kevin and Lynn had been visiting Japan for years — it was here that Kevin proposed to Lynn, and the country had held a special place in their hearts ever since. This November, they were back with three kids in tow: a boy of 10, and two girls, 6 and 4. Their first time in the Hida region.
Before reaching out to book a photographer, Kevin sent me a note that I keep thinking about:
“I thought the scenery would be special for family portraits. I’m envisioning the shrine and old town as the backdrop — the architecture is simply stunning. The autumn colors will be nice, though we’re not sure if we’re too late. But I’m hoping we can capture those warm, earthy tones.”
They were not too late. They arrived at exactly the right moment.
This post is part travel itinerary, part behind-the-scenes of our photo session — for any family planning a November trip to Takayama who wants to make the most of it.
Getting There: Driving from Nagoya
Kevin and Lynn flew into Nagoya, picked up a rental car, and drove north through the Japanese Alps on the Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway. It’s one of the most straightforward drives in central Japan — essentially a single highway all the way to Takayama, no complicated navigation required.
The drive takes around 2 hours depending on traffic, and the expressway itself cuts through mountain terrain that in November is lined with autumn colour. Kevin mentioned the drive was scenic and a genuinely enjoyable start to the trip — which makes sense, because you’re already in the Hida landscape long before you arrive.
Practical notes for families driving this route:
- Rental cars from Nagoya Station area are easiest; several major companies are within walking distance
- The expressway rest stops (SA/PA) are family-friendly and worth a stop — the Hida region ones often sell local snacks like Hirugano Softcream
- Driving time: approx. 2 hours Nagoya to Takayama, less from Gifu city
By Highway Bus
Prefer not to drive? Direct highway buses run from Nagoya, Osaka – Kyoto, and Tokyo (Shinjuku) to Takayama. The Nohi Bus Takayama–Matsumoto–Shinjuku route is popular with international visitors and runs year-round. Booking in advance for November is strongly recommended.
Where They Stayed: fav TAKAYAMA, Executive Bunk Room
The family based themselves at fav TAKAYAMA, a stylish hotel in the centre of town that manages to feel both minimal and genuinely welcoming. They were in the Executive Bunk Room — and the moment the kids spotted the bunk beds, the session had already started.
We actually began photographing here, in the room, before heading out for the day. There’s something about capturing a family in the space where they woke up — morning light, still-rumpled bedding, kids already running around — that sets the tone for everything that follows.
If you’re travelling to Takayama with children and struggling to find family-sized accommodation that doesn’t feel like a budget compromise, fav TAKAYAMA is worth a serious look. The Executive Bunk Room sleeps up to five and the design is the kind that makes you want to photograph it even before a photographer shows up.
Day Before: Rail Mountain Biking in Hida-Kamioka (Gattan Go!!)
The day before our session, Kevin and the family headed to Hida-Kamioka — about 30 minutes from Takayama — for something completely different.
Gattan Go!! is a rail mountain bike experience built on the former Kamioka Railway, a freight line that served the local mining industry until it was decommissioned in 2006. Local residents brought the line back to life as a slow, scenic ride through mountain terrain — and it’s been one of the most popular family activities in the Hida region ever since.
Two Courses to Choose From:
Machinaka Course (town course) — the family-friendly option. Electric-assist bikes, no height restriction, accessible for small children and even infants. The route passes through a tunnel with local high school students’ illumination art inside — a detail that apparently goes down very well with the under-10 crowd. Wooden trolley option available for those who’d rather be pulled than pedal.
Keikoku Course (valley course) — opened 2018, more dramatic. High bridges over river gorges, steeper terrain, height restriction of 145cm. Not for the littlest ones, but spectacular for older kids and adults.
For a family with children aged 4, 6, and 10 in November, the Machinaka Course is the clear choice — and November timing is ideal, with the surrounding mountains at peak autumn colour right before the winter closure at the end of the month.
Book in advance — this fills up, especially on weekends and during koyo season. Reservations via the official Gattan Go!! website.
Photo Session Day: The Morning Itinerary
We planned the session as an morning, which is always the right call in November Takayama. Here’s how the morning moved.
Stop 1 — fav TAKAYAMA Hotel
We opened in the room. Natural window light, the kids still in that slightly wild morning energy before the day settles them. Hotel sessions like this work especially well for documentary-style photography — nobody is performing yet, everything is still loose and real.
The bunk room gave us layers: different heights, a ladder, the low table where everyone eventually ended up sitting. By the time we stepped outside, the family was completely comfortable with the camera.
Stop 2 — Hie Shrine (日枝神社)
Hie Shrine was at peak koyo the morning we visited. The annual autumn festival — 紅葉まつり — was running, and the shrine grounds were everything Kevin had hoped for: red torii gates, ancient cedar trees, maple corridors in full crimson, and a light that in the early morning was warm and directional rather than flat.
We moved through the grounds naturally — no posing, no standing-in-front-of-things. The kids ran. The parents laughed and tried to keep up. There were moments of genuine stillness between the chaos, and those are always the ones that matter.
A few things worth noting for families visiting Hie Shrine in November:
The grounds are at their best before 9am, when the day-trippers from Nagoya and Osaka haven’t yet arrived. The paths are wide enough for children to roam without getting separated. And the shrine itself — unlike some of the more famous maple spots in Kyoto — has a scale that feels manageable rather than overwhelming with a family.
Stop 3 — Sanmachi Suji (古い街並み)
From the shrine, we walked into the historic merchant district — the preserved Edo-period streetscape that gives Takayama its particular character. Two stops were essential:
茶乃芽 (Chanome) — handmade ice cream. The youngest required two scoops.
こって牛 (Kotte Ushi) — Hida beef nigiri, grilled fresh to order from a small shopfront counter. There is almost always a queue. It is absolutely worth it. The kids’ reactions when the dad started eating were excellent documentary material.
Sanmachi in the morning, when the light is still coming in low and sideways through the narrow lanes, is a genuinely beautiful place to photograph. The dark timber facades, stone-lined drainage channels, and the rhythm of the shopfronts give every frame a natural frame within it.
Dinner: Hida Beef Yakiniku at Maruaki (丸明)
That evening — and as it turned out, more than once during the trip — the family returned to Hida Beef Marumei (飛騨牛 丸明), a yakiniku restaurant near the station that had clearly made an impression on a previous Japan trip.
Yakiniku is an ideal family dinner format when you’re travelling with children: everyone is engaged, the food arrives in a pace that works for impatient small people, and there’s something genuinely fun about a 10-year-old taking the grilling seriously. Kevin mentioned the kids loved doing the cooking themselves — which tracks.
Marumei specialises in Hida beef, sourced locally, and the quality difference from supermarket yakiniku is immediately obvious. Worth reserving ahead, especially in peak autumn season.
The Review
After delivering the full gallery, Kevin and Lynn chose the Traveler I package — every image, the complete gallery. Lynn’s message when they decided:
“We really couldn’t decide on picking the photos so decided we will just get them all.”
And from Kevin’s written review:
“We recently had a family travel photo shoot with Hyakok Lens, and I cannot recommend her enough. From start to finish, the entire experience was seamless and enjoyable. She arrived prepared, kept us on schedule, and was easy to work with. It didn’t feel like a stiff photo shoot ‘session’ — it felt like a fun family outing. She was also engaging with our children, keeping them smiling, and capturing those genuine, candid moments that are usually so hard to get.”
Planning Notes: November in Takayama with Kids
A few things worth knowing if you’re planning a similar trip:
When to visit for koyo:
Peak colour in Takayama typically falls in late October to early November. By the second week of November the maples are often past peak but still beautiful; the mountains surrounding the town hold colour longer than the town itself. The Hie Shrine festival runs through the season.
Getting around:
Takayama’s main sights — shrine, old town, morning markets — are all walkable from the station area. A car is useful for day trips to Shirakawa-go (UNESCO), Hida Folk Village, or Gattan Go!! in Kamioka.
For families with young children:
Takayama is genuinely one of the most manageable places in Japan to visit with small kids. The scale is human, the streets are wide enough, and the food options (particularly for the inevitable picky eater) are better than you’d expect for a mountain town.
Photography sessions:
I’m based in the Gujo region, an hour from Takayama city and work with visiting families throughout the year — but particularly in spring (cherry blossoms) and autumn (koyo). November books up early. If you’re planning a November trip and want to document it properly, the earlier you reach out the better.
[→ Learn more about family photo sessions in Takayama]
