Takayama is one of those rare Japanese towns where time seems to have slowed down on purpose. Tucked away in the mountains of Gifu Prefecture, it has kept its old merchant streets, sake breweries, and morning markets almost perfectly intact. One day is enough to feel the soul of this place — if you plan it right.
How to Get to Takayama
Before getting into the day plan, let's quickly cover how to reach Takayama, because knowing this helps you plan your arrival time.
From Nagoya: Take the JR Hida Limited Express train directly to Takayama Station. The journey takes about 2.5 hours and is fully covered by the JR Pass. This is the easiest route for most visitors coming from central Japan.
From Tokyo: Take the Tokaido Shinkansen to Nagoya Station (around 1.5–2 hours on a Hikari or Kodama train), then board the JR Hida Limited Express to Takayama. The total journey takes about 4 to 4.5 hours. Without a JR Pass, expect to pay around ¥14,500–¥15,000 one way.
From Osaka or Kyoto: Head to Nagoya first, then take the same Limited Express to Takayama. The total trip is around 3.5–4 hours.
Miyagawa Morning Market along the river
Miyagawa Morning Market
The best way to start your day in Takayama is with a walk along the Miyagawa Morning Market (宮川朝市, Miyagawa Asaichi). This riverside market runs along the Miyagawa River and is one of the most well-known morning markets in all of Japan.
The market is open every day from early morning until around noon. Farmers, artisans, and local vendors set up their stalls along the riverbank and sell fresh produce, pickled vegetables, miso paste, handmade crafts, wooden toys, and local snacks.
What to try at the morning market:
Mochi – chewy rice cakes, often sold fresh and warm
Pickled vegetables – Takayama is famous for its traditional pickling, and you can buy small bags to snack on
Mitarashi Dango – savory skewered rice balls glazed with a soy sauce and sesame paste. A local favorite you should not miss
Fresh fruit and local produce
The market is located a short walk from Nakabashi Bridge (also called the Red Bridge), which is one of Takayama's most photographed spots. Take a moment to walk across the bridge and get a view of the river and the surrounding mountains.
Exploring Sanmachi Suji (old town streets, sake tastings, street food)
Sanmachi Suji
After the market, make your way to the heart of Takayama: Sanmachi Suji (三町筋). This is the old town district that most people picture when they think of Takayama, and it truly is as beautiful in person as it looks in photos.
Sanmachi Suji is made up of three narrow, parallel streets lined with dark wooden merchant houses. Many of these buildings are over 400 years old and have been preserved in their original Edo-period style. The streets are home to sake breweries, craft shops, tea houses, cafés, and traditional restaurants.
Things to do in Sanmachi Suji:
Visit a Sake Brewery — Takayama has several well-known sake breweries that have been in operation for hundreds of years. Many offer free or low-cost tastings. You can identify a working brewery by the sugidama (cedar ball) hanging above the door — a traditional sign that new sake is ready. Two popular ones to visit include Funasaka Shuzo and Hirase Shuzo.
Browse the Craft Shops — Takayama has been a town of skilled craftspeople for centuries. Look for shops selling Hida woodcarvings, lacquerware, washi paper goods, and Sarubobo dolls — small red fabric dolls that are a traditional Takayama good luck charm. These make excellent, meaningful souvenirs.
Try Street Food — This is where Takayama really shines. Walking through Sanmachi Suji with a snack in hand is one of the simple joys of the town. Must-try foods include:
Hida Beef Sushi (Nigiri) — Takayama's famous Hida beef is a premium Wagyu. The beef sushi here is lightly seared, incredibly tender, and melts in your mouth. Worth every yen.
Hida Beef Skewers (Kushiyaki) — Grilled beef on a stick, rich and flavorful
Hida Gyuman — A steamed bun filled with Hida beef and Japanese vegetables. Kihachiro is a well-known spot to try these
Matcha Soft Serve — Many shops sell fresh matcha ice cream, perfect for strolling
If you enjoy the history and architecture here, you may also want to look into a Takayama Old Town food tour — a great way to try multiple local foods and learn the stories behind the buildings and the town's merchant heritage, all led by a knowledgeable local guide.
Visit Takayama Jinya (Edo-period government office)
Jinya-mae Morning Market is in front of Takayama Jinya
A short 5-minute walk from Sanmachi Suji brings you to Takayama Jinya (高山陣屋). This place is genuinely unique in all of Japan — it is the only remaining original Edo-period government office building still standing in the entire country.
The Jinya was used for over 300 years as the administrative office of the Tokugawa shogunate to govern the Hida region. Officials collected taxes, managed rice storehouses, and held court hearings here.
What to see inside:
Tatami rooms where officials worked and held meetings
The courtroom, where suspects were interrogated — complete with original equipment
Large traditional storehouses (the largest traditional rice storehouse in Japan), now functioning as a museum with historical documents and artifacts
A peaceful central garden that provides a calm contrast to the formal interior
The kitchen and official chambers
The building is made entirely from Hida timber and the craftsmanship is exceptional. Many of the floors, beams, and structural elements are original. English information signs are available throughout, making it easy to follow the history without a guide.
Jinya-mae Morning Market: There is also a small morning market set up directly in front of the Jinya each morning. This one closes around 12:00 PM and is slightly smaller than the Miyagawa Market, but worth a quick look if you pass by.
Admission: Around ¥430 for adults (prices may vary slightly, check locally). Hours: Typically 8:45 AM – 5:00 PM (closes earlier in winter).
Lunch (Takayama ramen, Hida beef, or soba)
Hida Beef Shops
By midday, you have earned a proper sit-down meal. Takayama has its own distinctive style of ramen — Takayama Ramen (中華そば). It is a light, clear soy-sauce broth with thin, slightly curly noodles. It is simple, deeply flavorful, and very different from the richer ramen styles you find in Sapporo or Tokyo.
Several ramen shops are clustered near the old town. Akarenga Sohonten is a favorite among both locals and travelers, with reasonable prices and a friendly, welcoming atmosphere.
For a more traditional lunch, look for a restaurant serving Hida beef teishoku (a set meal with rice, miso soup, and pickles) or try a traditional soba restaurant for fresh buckwheat noodles made with locally sourced ingredients.
Other lunch options near the old town:
Takayama-style Soba — thin buckwheat noodles served cold or in hot broth
Hidagyu Steak — a sit-down Hida beef steak meal for those who want to fully indulge
Yuba (tofu skin) dishes — a local specialty made from the skin that forms on heated soymilk
Takayama Festival Floats Exhibition Hall and Sakurayama Shrine
Spring Takayama Festival (Sanno Matsuri)
Admission: Around ¥1,000 for adults
Hours: Typically 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (check locally for seasonal hours)
After lunch, walk to the Takayama Festival Floats Exhibition Hall (高山祭屋台会館), located next to the Sakurayama Hachimangu Shrine on the north side of the old town.
Takayama is famous for two annual festivals — the Spring Takayama Festival (April 14–15) and the Autumn Takayama Festival (October 9–10). These festivals are considered among the most beautiful traditional festivals in all of Japan, featuring enormous, intricately decorated floats called yatai that are paraded through the streets.
Because the festivals only happen twice a year, the Exhibition Hall displays four of the real, historic yatai floats year-round so visitors can see them up close at any time of year. The floats are huge, ornately decorated, and represent some of the finest traditional craftsmanship in Japan.
The Sakurayama Hachimangu Shrine right next door is worth a few minutes of exploration. The grounds are beautiful, calm, and often quiet by afternoon, with tall trees and traditional stone lanterns. It is a lovely way to end the cultural part of your afternoon.
Higashiyama Walking Course (temple and shrine walk)
Higashiyama Walking Course
For the afternoon, leave the main tourist area and head east to the Higashiyama Walking Course (東山遊歩道). This is Takayama's peaceful, quieter side — and it is a wonderful contrast to the busy Sanmachi Suji.
The walking course passes through Takayama's Teramachi (temple town), a neighborhood created in the 16th century by the feudal lord Kanamori Nagachika.
He greatly admired Kyoto and relocated numerous temples and shrines to the eastern hills of Takayama to mirror Kyoto's famous Higashiyama district. The result is a cluster of 12 temples and shrines set among forested hills, cobblestone paths, and quiet back streets.
The full course is about 5.5 km and takes 2–3 hours if you walk it completely. For a one-day visit, focusing on the Higashiyama Temple Area section is ideal — this takes about 1–1.5 hours and covers the most historically interesting part of the route.
Unryuji Temple — The starting point of the temple area section. Look for its large belfry gate, which was relocated here from Takayama Castle in 1590
Higashiyama Hakusanjinja Shrine — The oldest shrine on the course, built in 719 AD. Beautiful cedar trees and stone guardian dogs donated by Hida carpenters
Soyuji Temple — The largest temple on the course, built in 1632. Impressive scale and architecture
Zennoji Temple — A serene Zen temple where Zen meditation experiences are sometimes available by reservation
Castle Ruins at Shiroyama Park — At the top of the hill, you can see the ruins of Takayama Castle. The views of the Japanese Alps from here are wonderful on a clear day
If you love nature walks combined with cultural sightseeing, the surrounding Hida region offers excellent hiking and hot spring experiences. A day trip to Okuhida Onsen or the mountains around Shinhotaka is a popular add-on for visitors staying more than one night.
Final stroll through Sanmachi Suji, shopping for souvenirs
Sanmachi Suji
After the Higashiyama walk, make your way back to Sanmachi Suji for a final evening stroll. The late afternoon light hits the wooden buildings beautifully, and the crowds begin to thin out as shops prepare to close. This is honestly one of the best times to photograph the old town streets.
Use this time to pick up any last-minute souvenirs you want to bring home. Here are the most popular items to shop for in Takayama:
Sarubobo dolls — the traditional red fabric dolls that are Takayama's most iconic souvenir
Hida woodcarvings — intricately carved pieces made by local artisans
Local sake — many breweries sell their sake in beautiful bottles to take home
Lacquerware (Shunkei Nuri) — Takayama has its own distinct style of lacquer with a warm golden-brown finish
Washi paper goods — handmade Japanese paper items including cards, fans, and notebooks
Hida beef jerky or processed goods — a delicious edible souvenir
Dinner at a local restaurant or ryokan
For dinner, the old town becomes calm and atmospheric once the day-trippers leave. This is the best time to enjoy a sit-down meal in one of Takayama's excellent restaurants.
Where to eat dinner in Takayama:
Hida Beef Dinner — Treat yourself to a proper Hida beef dinner at one of the local restaurants. This premium Wagyu beef is raised in the Hida mountains and has a deep, rich flavor and beautiful marbling. You can order it as a steak, shabu-shabu (hot pot), sukiyaki, or teppanyaki.
Takayama Ramen — If you did not have ramen for lunch, evening is a perfect time to sit down at a local ramen shop. The light soy-based broth style of Takayama is comforting and warming, especially after a long day of walking.
Izakaya (Japanese pub) — Several casual izakayas in and around the old town serve local sake, Hida beef dishes, grilled items, and seasonal vegetables in a relaxed setting. This is a great way to try a bit of everything.
Kaiseki at a Ryokan — If you are staying overnight at a traditional ryokan (Japanese inn), many offer a multi-course kaiseki dinner featuring seasonal local ingredients. This is one of the best dining experiences Takayama has to offer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, one day is enough for Takayama if you focus on the main highlights. In a single day, you can visit the morning markets, Sanmachi Suji, Takayama Jinya, and the Higashiyama walking trail, while staying overnight allows for a slower pace, evening atmosphere, and nearby day trips.
Yes, Hida beef is worth trying if you want to sample Takayama’s most famous local specialty. This premium wagyu from the Hida region is known for its rich marbling and tenderness, with small portions and skewers offering an approachable way to try it.
Takayama is about 1 hour from Shirakawa-go by direct bus. Regular bus services make the short journey easy, and the route is one of the most popular and convenient day trips from Takayama.
Takayama is slightly more expensive than average Japanese towns, but still manageable for most travelers. Higher costs are mainly due to tourism demand and specialty foods, while accommodation and daily expenses remain flexible across budgets.
