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Takayama in Gifu Prefecture captures Edo-period charm, local cuisine, and mountain scenery, making it one of Japan’s most walkable historic towns.

Traditional Japanese festival floats from Sakurayama Hachimangu Shrine, adorned with ornate carvings and gold details, are displayed indoors. Mannequins in historical Japanese attire and hats stand in the foreground, with banners featuring Japanese writing nearby.

A Mountain Town Full of Character

Tucked away in the northern mountains of Gifu Prefecture, Takayama is a small city with big character. With more than 400 years of history, it remains one of the best places to step back into the Edo period.

Things to Do in Takayama

One of the joys of Takayama is how compact it is. We explored almost everything on foot from our hotel, never needing more than 15 minutes to reach a major sight. Here are the sights we visited and you can click on each post to learn more.

Miyagawa Morning Market (宮川朝市)

A vendor and a customer interact at an outdoor Miyagawa Morning Market stall selling dried goods, spices, and packaged food, with baskets and trays neatly arranged on the tables.

Running along the Miyagawa River, this lively morning market is one of Takayama’s signature attractions. Farmers and artisans sell vegetables, pickles, crafts, and snacks until noon. We bought hoba miso, a regional specialty served on magnolia leaves.

Kusakabe Heritage House (日下部民藝館)

Built in 1879, this Meiji-era merchant house offers a glimpse of Takayama’s wealthy past. The dark wooden rooms and traditional garden are beautifully preserved.

Yume Kojo Hida (夢工場飛騨) – Senbei Making

Our kids loved grilling their own rice crackers at this hands-on workshop. The senbei puffed up in seconds over the hot coals, and tasting our own creations was a highlight.

Sakurayama Hachimangu Shrine (櫻山八幡宮)

A large wooden torii gate stands at the entrance of Sakurayama Hachimangu Shrine, surrounded by tall trees, stone lanterns, and a paved pathway leading to steps and shrine buildings further in.

Dating back to the 5th century, this Shinto shrine was rebuilt in 1683 and is surrounded by stone steps and quiet paths. Its connection to the Takayama Festival makes it an important cultural stop.

Takayama Festival Floats Exhibition (高山祭屋台会館)

Next to the shrine, this museum houses four of the massive floats used in the Takayama Festival, one of Japan’s top three festivals. The craftsmanship is incredible, from intricate carvings to puppets that dance during the event.

Higashiyama Walking Course (東山遊歩道)

A traditional Japanese temple with wooden structures, stone steps leading up, and manicured trees and shrubs on either side, set along the scenic Higashiyama Walking Course under a bright blue sky.

This trail winds past 16 temples and shrines, relocated here by Lord Kanamori in the 1500s. The forested walk was a quiet change of pace from the busy old town.

Takayama Jinya (高山陣屋)

Traditional Japanese buildings with white walls and dark wooden frames stand behind a wooden fence at Takayama Jinya. Tall green pine trees rise above the structures, and a gravel path lines the foreground under a cloudy sky.

The only surviving Edo-period government office in Japan, Takayama Jinya has more than 30 rooms, a rice storehouse, and an old courtroom. English signs and free volunteer guides helped us appreciate the history.

Jinya Asaichi (高山陣屋朝市)

Located just outside Takayama Jinya, this smaller morning market has been running for centuries. We tried hoba mochi, a sweet wrapped in magnolia leaf, while browsing the stalls.

Takayama City Archives Museum (高山市政記念館)

A woman and two children stand smiling in front of the Takayama City Archives Museum, a traditional Japanese wooden building with a tiled roof, surrounded by trees and a gated entrance on a cloudy day.

Set in a former town hall, this free museum showcases Takayama’s famed carpentry. The arched ceiling and hinoki wood details are worth seeing.

Sanmachi Suji / Kami Sannomachi (三町)

Takayama’s historic district is a living postcard of the Edo period. Wooden houses line the narrow streets, many housing sake breweries, cafes, and craft shops. Our kids even bought toy wooden swords here and enjoyed playing samurai.

Takayama Museum of History and Art (飛騨高山まちの博物館)

This free museum has 14 rooms filled with artifacts on the city’s traditions, including exhibits on the Takayama Festival and local crafts.

Hida Kokubun-ji Temple (飛騨国分寺)

A short walk from the station, this temple features a three-story pagoda and a ginkgo tree said to be 1,200 years old. Locals say that the first snowfall comes the day after its leaves fall.

Other Places We Missed

  • Hida Folk Village – An open-air museum with Edo-period houses and craft demonstrations.
  • Takayama Showa-Kan Museum – Retro exhibits on Showa-era daily life, from candy shops to vintage cars.

How to Get to Takayama

Train

  • From Toyama: JR Hida Line to Takayama Station, 90 to 120 minutes.
  • From Nagoya: Limited Express Hida to Takayama Station, about 2.5 hours.
  • From Tokyo: Shinkansen to Toyama or Nagoya, then transfer to the Hida, total about 4 to 5 hours.

By Car

  • Nagoya to Takayama: about 2.5 hours.
  • Kanazawa to Takayama: about 2 hours.
  • Roads can be snowy in winter, so check conditions and use snow tires.

Pro Tip: Takayama Station sits in the city center, and many sights are within a 5 to 15 minute walk.

Is Takayama Worth Visiting?

A traditional Japanese building with wooden and beige walls, tiled roof, and several vending machines in front sits near the Takayama Museum of History and Art. The street is clean with flower planters and clear skies above.

If you’re looking for a well-preserved old town with great food and mountain charm, Takayama should be on your list. We loved its walkability, its markets, and the chance to see traditional culture up close. We’d happily return, especially to experience the Takayama Festival or the fall foliage.

More to Explore Nearby

Once you’ve finished exploring Takayama, you’re within reach of other highlights in the Japanese Alps:

  • Shirakawa-go (白川郷) – A UNESCO village with steep thatched farmhouses.
  • Hida Folk Village (飛騨の里) – Edo-period houses with craft demonstrations.
  • Kamikochi (上高地) – A scenic mountain valley with hiking trails.
  • Shinhotaka Ropeway (新穂高ロープウェイ) – A double-decker cable car with panoramic views.

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