Takayama's old town has been beautifully preserved with many buildings and whole streets of houses dating from the Edo Period (1600-1868), when the city thrived as a wealthy town of merchants.
The southern half of the old town, especially the Sannomachi Street, survives in a particularly pretty state with many old homes, shops, coffee houses and sake breweries, some of which have been in business for centuries. The shops in the area are typically open daily from 9:00 to 17:00.
A rickshaw ride through the streets of the old town
Several homes in the old town open their doors to the public. They provide a glimpse behind the facade into the former living quarters of the local merchants and exhibit traditional household goods and local arts and crafts.
A pleasant alternative to exploring Takayama's old town on foot is getting pulled through the streets on a rickshaw. A 30 minute tour for two costs around 7000 yen. Shorter and longer courses are also available.
A beautiful traditional Japanese style building, the Takayama Jinya used to serve as Takayama's government office during the Edo Period, when the city stood under direct control of the shogun due to its valuable timber resources.
Old Sake Breweries
Hours: Typically 9:00 to 17:00
Sake is one of Takayama's local specialties. Several old sake breweries can be found in Takayama's old town, recognized by sugidama (balls made of cedar branches) hung over their entrances. Small samples of sake can be purchased at some breweries.
Fujii Art Gallery
Hours: 9:00 to 17:00 Closed: No closing days Admission: 700 yen Typical Visit Duration: 20-30 minutes
The Fujii Art Gallery (Fujii Bijutsu Mingeikan), also known as Fujii Folk Craft Museum, is housed in an old building with a beautiful gate along Sannomachi Street. The small museum exhibits various household items and art objects.
Takayama Museum of History and Art
Hours: 9:00 to 19:00 (garden 7:00 to 21:00) Closed: No closing days Admission: Free Typical Visit Duration: 45 minutes
The Museum of Local History (Takayama Hakubutsukan) is an interesting museum about the history and culture of Takayama City. It is housed in an old, restored building.
Takayama Showa Museum
Hours: 9:00 to 18:00 Closed: No closing days Admission: 800 yen Typical Visit Duration: 45-60 minutes
A spacious museum dedicated to all things from the Japanese Showa Period (1926-1989), particularly the 1950s. A recreated town allows visitors to walk through nostalgic displays of contemporary life including houses and restaurants. There are also some interactive exhibits including the chance to play on retro video games consoles.
Northern Area
Hachiman Shrine
Hours: Always open Closed: No closing days Admission: Free Typical Visit Duration: 10 minutes
Sakurayama Hachiman Shrine (Sakurayama Hachimangu) stands in the northeastern area of Takayama's old town. The shrine's festival, the Takayama Autumn Festival, is celebrated annually on October 9-10.
Located just next to Hachiman Shrine, the Takayama Yatai Kaikan (festival float exhibition hall) exhibits four of the Autumn Festival's eleven festival floats. English audio guides are available.
Karakuri Museum
Hours: 9:05 to 16:25 (around one show every 30 minutes) Closed: Irregular closing days during winter Admission: 600 yen Typical Visit Duration: 40 minutes
Also located at Hachiman Shrine, the Karakuri Museum (mechanical doll museum) displays mechanical dolls (karakuri ningyo) which get mounted onto festival floats. The museum also shows over 200 shishimai (lion dance) masks from around Japan.
Kusakabe Heritage House•
Hours: 9:00 to 16:30 (until 16:00 from Dec to Feb, until 15:00 from 12/29 to 1/3) Closed: Tuesdays from December to February, irregular closures in January Admission: 500 yen Typical Visit Duration: 30 minutes
The Kusakabe Heritage House (Kusakabe Mingeikan) is one of Takayama's oldest merchant homes open to the public. Its former residents, the Kusakabe family, used to be successful money lenders.
Yoshijima Heritage House•
Hours: 9:00 to 17:00 (until 16:30 from December to February) Closed: Tuesdays from December to February Admission: 500 yen Typical Visit Duration: 30 minutes
Standing right next to the Kusakabe Heritage House is the Yoshijima Heritage House (Yoshijima-ke), the former residence of the Yoshijima family. Also open to the public, the building used to serve as a residence and sake brewery.
Two morning markets (asaichi) are held in Takayama on a daily basis, one in front of the Takayama Jinya and one along Miyagawa River. Most stands sell local crafts and farm products such as vegetables, pickles and flowers.
Getting there and around
Takayama's old town can be reached in a ten minute walk from Takayama Station.
Located in 15-minute bus ride from JR Takayama Station, Guest House & Cafe SOY is surrounded by lush greenery. Free WIFi is provided and free private parking is available on site. The property also provides free pick-up service from JR Takayama Station. Rooms at Guest House & Cafe SOY are air conditioned and fitted with a seating area. A hairdryer and slippers are provided for your comfort. Shirakawa Village is a 50-minute drive away, while Takayama Old Town is a 20-minute away from the property. Hida Minzoku Mura Folk Village can be also reached in 12 minutes by car from Guest House & Cafe SOY.
Located just a 1-minute walk from popular Miyagawa Morning Market in the heart of Takayama, Sumiyoshi Ryokan offers homely Japanese-style accommodation in the historic townhouse building. Free WiFi is available at the lobby and guestrooms. This hotel was selected as one of the Top 25 B&Bs and Inns in Japan by TripAdvisor's Travelers' Choice Award 2015. The inn is a 12-minute walk from JR Takayama Station. Takayama Jinya, an old government building, is a 7-minute walk away, and the streets full of old merchantsf houses can be reached within a 10-minute walk from the property. Rooms are fitted with tatami (woven-straw) flooring and traditional futon bedding. A low table and a TV with satellite channels are provided. Guests can relax in the room with free green tea. Ryokan Sumiyoshi has a spacious public baths and a small Japanese garden. There are many antiques like pots and samurai armours displayed at the lobby. Carefully prepared Japanese multi-course dinner, including Hida Beef sukiyaki dish, can be enjoyed at the guest room. Guests can choose to have either Japanese or Western breakfast to satisfy their appetite in the morning.
Ideally situated in the Hida Takayama Onsen district of Takayama, eph TAKAYAMA is situated 2.6 km from Hida Minzoku Mura Folk Village, 800 metres from Fuji Folk Museum and 1.1 km from Yoshijima Heritage House. Among the facilities of this property are a restaurant, a 24-hour front desk and luggage storage space, along with free WiFi throughout the property. The property is close to popular attractions like Hida Kokubunji Temple, Takayama Jinya and Miyagawa Morning Market. The units at the hotel are fitted with a seating area. Complete with a private bathroom fitted with a bidet and slippers, all rooms at eph TAKAYAMA have a flat-screen TV and air conditioning, and some rooms are fitted with a balcony. At the accommodation the rooms include bed linen and towels. Guests at eph TAKAYAMA can enjoy a buffet breakfast. Popular points of interest near the hotel include Lion Dance Ceremony Exhibition Hall, Sakurayama Hachiman Shrine and Takayama Festival Float Exhibition Hall. The nearest airport is Toyama Airport, 80 km from eph TAKAYAMA.
On just a 6-minute walk from Takayama Station, traditional Japanese-style Ryokan Asunaro offers comfortable rooms with a seating area and free WiFi. The hotel features a relaxing public hot-spring bath and free yukata robe rental for women. Meals provided at this ryokan features local ingredients for guests to enjoy. The traditional decor of the rooms evokes a warm atmosphere with paintings by local artists on the fusuma sliding doors. Each room includes an LCD TV, minibar and electric kettle make for a convenient stay. Rooms have tatami-mat flooring and futon bedding. Complimentary bottle of water is provided in every room. From Asunaro Ryokan it is a 7-minute walk to the morning market, and a 10-minute walk from Old Town and Takayama Jinya. Shirakawa-go Village is located a 50-minute bus ride away, and the bus stop for the village is a 5-minute walk away. Guests at the Asunaro can soak away the day's fatigue in the hot public bath, which is made of granite stone. Also, private shower booths are available for staying guests.The ryokan features a garden and drinks vending machines, and offers bicycle rentals. The property offers traditional Japanese dinner and breakfast at the banquet hall. Western breakfast can be arranged with a prior request. Complimentary coffee can be enjoyed in the lobby every morning.
Renovated in 2015, Iori Stay is nestled in Takayama. This traditional Japanese-style townhouse was created in collaboration with local artists and boasts designs with both modern and traditional Japanese influence. Guests will have the entire property to themselves during their stay. Free pick-up from JR Takayama Station is available upon request. All units are entirely non-smoking and have a kitchen equipped with a microwave and fridge. A stove-top and kettle are also available.There is a private bathroom with slippers in every unit. Towels are provided. A traditional Japanese-style breakfast is served on site. Vegan and vegetarian meals are available upon request.
Just a 2-minute walk from Takayama Station, Oyado Koto No Yume offers Japanese-style rooms with a colourful touch. The hotel features hot-spring baths, a restaurant serving breakfast and free WiFi throughout the property. This ryokan is introduced in Michelin Green Guide Japan. Rooms feature tatami-mat flooring and traditional futon bedding. They are equipped with a 40-inch flat-screen TV, fridge, coffee maker and green tea set. Attached bathrooms come with a shower, bathtub and toiletries. Japanese-style hotel Koto No Yume Oyado is only a 2-minute walk from Kokubunji Temple. The Miyagawa Morning Market and the historical Old Private Houses are less than a 10-minute stroll away. Guests at Koto No Yume Hotel can soak in an indoor or outdoor hot-spring bath, or in a semi-outdoor hot tub for private use. Massages are available. In addition, staff are readily available to help guests put on Japanese yukata robes. A Western or Japanese breakfast is available at Oyado Koto No Yume. Shirakawago can be accessed within a 50-minute bus ride; the bus terminal is located a 2-minute walk from the property.
Yamakyu features classic Japanese-style accommodations with free Wi-Fi. Indoor and outdoor public baths are available for guests to relax in. JR Takayama Train Station is a 20-minute walk away and a free shuttle service is provided from the station. The air-conditioned rooms feature tatami (woven-straw) floors and Japanese futon bedding. A TV, yukata robes, safety box, towels and green tea bags are provided. Includes a private toilet but bathrooms are shared. Guests can enjoy the beautiful Japanese garden or request for relaxing massages. There are 1 computers at the lobby that guests can use. Complimentary coffee and a computer with free internet access are available as well. Local products can be purchased at the souvenir shop. There is a washing machine on site that guests can use for an additional fee. A traditional multi-course meal is served for dinner and a Japanese set menu is available for breakfast. All meals are served at the dining room. Yamakyu Inn is a 5-minute walk from Old Town, Takayama Jinya and the morning market. Hida No Sato Folk Village is a 20-minute bus ride away.
Situated at the heart of historic Takayama Old Town and just steps away from Takayama Jinya Morning Market, the traditional Honjin Hiranoya Kachoan offers personalised hospitality, hot spring baths and carefully prepared Japanese meals using Hida Beef. Free pick-up shuttles are available from JR Takayama Station, a 3-minute ride away. Free WiFi is available throughout the property. This property is awarded with TripAdvisor's Travellers' Choice Japan Top 25 in 2015. Classical guest rooms feature Japanese aesthetics and a relaxing ambiance. In-room facilities include a flat-screen TV, an electric kettle and a personal safe. The en suite bathroom comes with a bathtub and free toiletries. Guests can choose to wear one of 800 yukata robes at an additional charge. The Hiranoya Kachoan ryokan is located along the Miya River. It is a 15-minute bus ride from Hida No Sato Folk Village. The indoor hot spring bath features special toiletries for both men and women, as well as cold drinking water. The property also features bicycle rentals, a souvenir shop and free parking. Authentic Japanese set meals are served for breakfast and dinner. Guests can choose to eat in the dining room or in the comfort of their own room.
Set amid a beautiful landscape in Okuhida Onsengo hot-spring area, Yamazatonoiori Soene offers beautiful rooms in a Japanese style with river or garden views. The property is 80-munite bus ride from JR Takayama Station, and Fukuchionsen Shita Bus Stop is a 3-minute walk away. Providing a peaceful escape from the city, Yamazatonoiori Soene's rooms are equipped with a flat-screen TV and refrigerator. All rooms have access to a shared bathroom, while some rooms also come with a private toilet. Slippers and Yukata robes are provided. Some rooms have Japanese-style bedding on a tatami (woven-straw) floor, while others have Western-style beds. A set menu for breakfast is provided and Kaiseki (traditional multi-course meals) is available, but will need to be reserved 3 days in advance. Guests can relax in the indoor and outdoor baths with its natural hot spring water. Kashikiri (private baths) are also available and can be reserved for free. It is a 15-minute drive to Shin Hodaka Ropeway and a 30-minute drive to Kamikochi area. Mount Norikura is a 60-minute drive from the property.
Featuring a garden and free WiFi, cup of tea is set in Takayama. The property is close to Museum of Local History, Hirata Folk Art Museum and Fujii Museum of Folk Handicraft. The property is situated in the Hida Takayama Onsen district, 2.4 km from Hida Minzoku Mura Folk Village. With a shared bathroom equipped with a bidet and free toiletries, some units at the guest house also offer a terrace. All rooms will provide guests with a microwave. Popular points of interest near cup of tea include Yoshijima Heritage House, Lion Dance Ceremony Exhibition Hall and Sakurayama Hachiman Shrine. The nearest airport is Matsumoto Airport, 85 km from the accommodation.
