Things to do in Takayama: Travel Guide

Takayama is a charming town in the Japanese Alps and a great stop during a trip through Japan. The town is known for its beautifully preserved historic streets, traditional wooden houses, and local culture. Unlike bustling Tokyo or Osaka, Takayama is much more relaxed, making it a great place to experience traditional Japan at a slower pace.

We visited Takayama with our 10-month-old daughter and found the town very easy to explore with a baby. Most of the main attractions are within walking distance of each other, and because Takayama is much quieter than Japan’s major cities, we could take our time and explore at our own pace.

From wandering through the charming Old Town and trying local specialties at the markets to visiting a traditional mountain village, there is plenty to see and do in and around Takayama. These are the best things to do in Takayama.

How to Get to Takayama

Takayama is easy to reach from Japan’s major cities by train or bus. Traveling by train is also very comfortable when you’re traveling with a baby.

From Kyoto to Takayama

We traveled from Kyoto to Takayama. First, we took the Shinkansen from Kyoto to Nagoya, which takes around 35 minutes. In Nagoya, we transferred to the Limited Express Hida heading to Takayama. The train takes about 2.5 hours and takes you through beautiful mountain scenery on the way. The total journey took us around 3.5 hours.

You can easily buy train tickets at almost any train station.

From Tokyo to Takayama

Traveling from Tokyo to Takayama? Taking the train via Nagoya is again one of the fastest and most convenient options. From Tokyo, take the Shinkansen to Nagoya, which takes around 1 hour and 40 minutes. Just like when traveling from Kyoto, you then transfer to the Limited Express Hida in Nagoya and arrive in Takayama about 2.5 hours later. The total journey takes around 4.5 hours.

From Kanazawa to Takayama

From Kanazawa, you can easily travel to Takayama by bus. The bus travels via Shirakawa-go and takes around 2 hours and 15 minutes.

You can also visit Shirakawa-go along the way. The bus from Kanazawa to Shirakawa-go takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes. After visiting Shirakawa-go, you can continue to Takayama, which takes around 50 minutes.

Tip: We recommend reserving both bus rides in advance, as this route is popular and reservations are required for many departures.

Where to Stay in Takayama

We recommend staying close to the train station, as this puts you in a convenient location and means you don’t have to carry your luggage too far.

We stayed for two nights at Chisun Grand Takayama, a comfortable hotel less than a 5-minute walk from the station and just a 10-minute walk from Takayama Old Town. There are also plenty of restaurants and a small supermarket nearby.

How Many Days Do You Need in Takayama?

Two nights is ideal: one full day to explore Takayama itself, plus an additional half day or full day for the Hida Folk Village or Shirakawa-go.

Things to do in Takayama

Explore the historic Old Town

A visit to Takayama isn’t complete without exploring Takayama Old Town. This area is filled with charming streets lined with traditional wooden houses, small shops, and cozy restaurants.

The most famous street in the area is Sanmachi Suji. It’s a great place to wander around and experience the atmosphere of old Takayama. You’ll find local products, souvenirs, and plenty of delicious food here.

Try a sake tasting at Harada Sake Brewery

Takayama is known for its sake, and you’ll find several sake breweries in the Old Town. One of the most interesting stops is Harada Sake Brewery, where you can try several different types of sake.

If you find a sake you really like, you can also take a bottle home as a souvenir. They sell not only larger bottles, but also smaller sizes that are easy to fit in your suitcase.

Even if you’re not a big sake fan, it’s still worth stopping by while exploring the Old Town.

Visit the Miyagawa Morning Market

Want to try some of the best local products and Japanese snacks? Then don’t miss the Miyagawa Morning Market. Located along the Miyagawa River, the market consists of various stalls selling local products, snacks, and souvenirs.

The market is especially lively in the morning and is a great place to walk around and try some local treats, such as Hida gyu-man (a steamed bun filled with Hida beef), mitarashi dango (rice dumplings covered in a sweet soy sauce glaze), and much more. The market is also easy to combine with a visit to the Old Town.

Visit Takayama Jinya and the Jinya-mae Morning Market

Another interesting attraction is Takayama Jinya. This historic building was used as a government office by the Tokugawa shogunate during the Edo period and is the only surviving building of its kind in Japan. Inside, you can see the former offices and living quarters, traditional tatami rooms, and the old rice storehouse.

Every morning, the Jinya-mae Morning Market takes place in front of Takayama Jinya. This market is smaller than the Miyagawa Morning Market and mainly features stalls selling local vegetables, fruit, flowers, and pickled products. Visit the market first and then explore Takayama Jinya. Both are located close to the Old Town, making it easy to combine them with the other sights in the city center.

Try the famous Hida beef

You’ve already seen it mentioned several times in this article: Hida beef. This beef is one of the local specialties of the Hida region, where Takayama is located. Takayama is therefore the perfect place to try this delicious, tender beef.

You can enjoy Hida beef in several different ways, including sushi, in a bun, on a skewer (kushiyaki), or as thinly sliced beef cooked on a hot plate (teppanyaki). You’ll find Hida beef dishes and small bites at both restaurants and local markets.

Hike the Higashiyama Walking Course

Looking to escape the “busy” city center for a while? The Higashiyama Walking Course is a great option. This walking route takes you through a quieter part of Takayama, passing several temples and shrines along the way. The route is about 3.5 kilometers (2.2 miles) long and takes around 1 to 2 hours, depending on your pace and how often you stop.

Part of the route passes through the forest, allowing you to enjoy the area’s lush surroundings as well. The combination of temples and nature makes the Higashiyama Walking Course a great way to discover a different side of Takayama.

The route is generally easy to walk and can mostly be done with a stroller. You may come across a few stairs or some steeper and unpaved sections, but overall, the walk is manageable with a stroller.

Good to know: Bears can be found in the forested areas around Takayama, particularly near Shiroyama Park, so you may see warning signs along the route. Check with your hotel before setting out to make sure the trail is open, and stay aware of your surroundings while walking. It’s also a good idea to avoid hiking around sunrise or sunset, when bears tend to be more active.

Visit the Hida Folk Village

Want to learn more about traditional life in the region? Then visit the Hida Folk Village. This open-air museum is located just outside central Takayama and features several traditional houses from the Hida region.

The houses have distinctive steep thatched roofs and offer a glimpse into what life was like in the mountainous regions of Japan in the past. You can take your time walking around, step inside several of the traditional houses and buildings, and even try some traditional Japanese games.

Hida Folk Village as an Alternative to Shirakawa-go

Hida Folk Village is a great alternative to the more famous Shirakawa-go. The open-air museum is smaller, but much closer to Takayama. This makes it a good option if you don’t have time for a separate day trip to Shirakawa-go. Keep in mind that Hida Folk Village is an open-air museum, while Shirakawa-go is an authentic, inhabited village.

Hida Folk Village is about a 10-minute drive from central Takayama. You can easily get there by bus from Takayama Station. The Sarubobo Bus runs directly to the museum and takes around 10 minutes.

Take a day trip to Shirakawa-go

If you have enough time, a day trip from Takayama to Shirakawa-go is definitely worth it. This traditional mountain village is famous for its distinctive gassho-zukuri farmhouses with steep thatched roofs. From the bus terminal next to Takayama Station, you can take a direct bus to Shirakawa-go in about 50 minutes. Once there, you can explore the village, visit several historic houses, and enjoy views over the valley from the observation deck. We recommend booking your round-trip bus tickets in advance, as the route is popular and reservations are required for some buses.

See the festival floats of the Takayama Festival

Another interesting attraction in Takayama is the Matsuri no Mori Museum. Here, you can see impressive, life-size festival floats specially built for the museum. You can also see mechanical karakuri puppets and enormous traditional drums.

The famous Takayama Festival takes place twice a year. The spring festival takes place on April 14 and 15, while the fall festival takes place on October 9 and 10. During the festival, the authentic, richly decorated yatai festival floats are pulled through the historic streets of Takayama. The Matsuri no Mori Museum gives you a good impression of this unique tradition, even if you’re visiting Takayama outside the festival dates.

Want to see some authentic historic festival floats? Then visit the Takayama Matsuri Yatai Kaikan, where several of the actual floats from the fall festival are displayed on a rotating basis.

Where to Eat and Drink in Takayama

Besides all the delicious food at the markets and in the small streets of Takayama, the city is also home to plenty of restaurants where you can enjoy a good meal. Here are some of our favorites:

• Ramen Kamon: Ramen restaurant
• Suzuya Restaurant: Traditional Hida/Japanese cuisine
• Hida Takayama Gyoza Sohonzan: Gyoza

Good to know: Most restaurants in Takayama are quite small. Check in advance whether you can make a reservation, or arrive early to avoid long waits.