Takayama

Gifu

Scenic Views & Townscapes

Craft Making & Workshops

# Historic Building

# Street Food

# Historic Preservation District

The traditional Old Town streetscape of Hida Takayama covered in snow, with dark-wood merchant houses lining the road and a snow-covered hill in the background.

Key Points

Many historical and traditional structures, like townhouses and sake breweries from the Edo period still stand
The main buildings of Takayama Jinya, a government facility dating back to the Edo era, remain intact to this day. As the only surviving district magistrate’s office, it is an extremely valuable historical site
Offers a fascinating look into how the Edo shogunate’s officials once ruled Hida Province
Local crafts, street food, and hands-on cultural experiences

Takayama is a mountain town where the atmosphere of the Edo period still lingers in the streets. The preserved old townscape, with its wooden merchant houses, latticework facades, sake breweries, and flowing canals, is designated as an Important Preservation District. Wandering here feels like stepping back to a time when Takayama thrived as a castle town and trading hub.
One Edo period highlight is the Takayama Jinya, the former local government office of the shogunate, which operated for over 250 years. Inside, visitors can explore tatami rooms, storehouses, and exhibits that reveal the day-to-day workings of Edo administration. Just outside, the lively Jinyamae Morning Market and Miyagawa Asaichi Market—held since the Edo period—offer fresh produce and miso.
Takayama is also known for its crafts and regional flavors. Shops showcase lacquerware, woodcarving, and pottery, while food stalls tempt visitors with the town’s distinctive local specialties like soy-glazed mitarashi dango (mochi balls on a skewer) and Gohei mochi. You can also try making local crafts like bright-red sarubobo dolls, once crafted for children as a winter pastime in the snowy Hida region.

Information

Spot information including address, access, and website
Address	Kamisannomachi, Shimoninomachi, Oshinmachi, and other areas of Takayama City, Gifu
Access from Tokyo	(1) From Tokyo Station, take the Tokaido Shinkansen Nozomi to Nagoya Station (approx. 1 hr 39 min). (2) At Nagoya Station, transfer to the Limited Express Hida to Takayama Station (approx. 2 hr 24 min). Show route from Tokyo Station
Website	https://www.hida.jp/english/touristattractions/takayamacity/historyandculture/4001666.html
Official SNS Accounts