6 Unique Experiences in Takayama Old Town Revealed by a Local

Takayama Old Town, the “Little Kyoto” of Japan’s Gifu region.

This local’s guide to Hida Takayama Old Town was written by Yuki from Finding Yoki. Her guide below actually inspired me to visit sometime afterwards (read more in my detailed 2 days in Takayama itinerary, 3 week Japan itinerary and guide to Japan off the beaten path).

I am very excited to share her top things to do in Takayama from a local’s perspective. Discover how you can make the most of your travel time and enjoy stunning Takayama like a local, written by a local!

This post contains affiliate links, at no extra cost to you. I may earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. 

Here are 6 unique experiences to try in Takayama Old Town

Located in Gifu prefecture, Takayama is in the centre of Japan and it has many popular tourist attractions that lure visitors from all over the world. Gifu is famous for its hot spring and UNESCO World Heritage Site, Shirakawa’s Historic Villages.

Although many people visit Gifu for Shirakawa’s historic villages, my absolute favourite part of this region is Takayama Old Village, which is referred to as “Little Kyoto”.

Takayama is famous for retaining its historical appearance. There are streets called “Sanmachi-dori”, and the old town has been beautifully preserved for 1600 years! It is okay to be a tourist, but it is definitely more fun to explore and merge with the crowds. Here are the 6 recommendations for you to enjoy this inspiring city like a local:

Indulge in Takayama’s street food

Japanese people love eating around! There are many stores along the street, and you will never get bored of exploring the historical architecture.

Although it is fun to just stroll around the area, you have to eat local food when you are in Takayama Old Town.

There are several shops selling old-fashioned Japanese sweets and Takayama’s local food. My favourite local food is mitarashi dango and rice crackers.

I definitely recommend you try mitarashi dango (skewered rice balls covered with soy sauce and sugar), rice crackers, and Hida beef skewer. For mitarashi dango, be sure to visit the shop called “SANGAWAYA”.

I also recommend the store “TEYAKI SEMBEI DOU” for rice crackers. There are several coffee houses and sake breweries here too, some of which have been in business for centuries. The shops in the area are typically open daily from 9AM to 5PM.

Enjoy award-winning sake at a local brewery in Takayama Old Town

Sake is one of the many famous things from Japan. There are multiple Sake Breweries in this district as Takayama is popular for its tasty dry sake. One of the reasons why sake in Takayama is unique and delicious is because of its cold weather.

Takayama gets cold and it snows a lot in winter, so this cold climate is essential for making good sake. Another reason is due to the flavourful rice produced in here.

Takayama produces a brand of rice called “Hida-Homare”, and the rice has a good balance of flavour. The combination of this rice and cold climate produces amazing sake!

If you are in the district, I definitely recommend you try sake tasting. Each brewery makes unique flavours and aromas, so it will be fun to visit and taste the varieties of sake. The breweries are usually open to visitors from 8am to 5pm.

You are welcome to enter and ask for their tasting samples. Finding the best sake for you is one of the great ways to enjoy Takayama like a local. My favourite brewery is Hirata Sake Brewery as it’s famous for its “suiou” sake, winner of many awards and is popular for its clear taste.

READ MORE:

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What to Expect at a Traditional Kyoto Tea Ceremony

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Buy traditional crafts from a Takayama Old Town morning market

If you want to enjoy the Old Town like a local, you also cannot miss Miyagawa morning market. It is open from 7AM to 12PM (it is open from 8AM in winter) every day.

There are numerous stores along the Kaji Bridge to the Miya River so it’s easy to find. It’s a great place to wander through in the morning, and you can find lots of fresh fruit and veggies produced in Takayama.

You can also find handmade traditional crafts at Miyagawa morning market. It is definitely a perfect spot to hunt down souvenirs for yourself or loved ones!

Although Takayama is famous for their pottery (Shibukusa ware, Koito ware and Yamada ware) or wooden furniture, we decided to get cute crafts with traditional Ichii-Ittōbori.

This is the name of a particular type of wood carving style which began in the 19th century. Since each piece is handcrafted, they are varied in colour and shape making them the ideal decoration for your house or a perfect souvenirs gift.

Predict the weather like a local

As temperatures vary significantly depending on the season in Takayama, you should definitely check the forecast beforehand to decide when to visit. Here’s a useful guide to the temperatures for each season to help you prepare:

• Spring: 9°C to 22°C
• Summer: 18°C to 31°C
• Autumn/Fall: 9°C to 20°C
• Winter: -5°C to 3°C

I visited Takayama in January, and temperatures were cold and skies were cloudy. It snowed while we stayed and the road became icy. Be mindful of this if you’re planning to drive around. Although the weather was unpleasant, the city wasn’t crowded.

I would say January and February are the quiet and peaceful times to enjoy a Takayama winter. If you want no crowds at all, I would recommend visiting around 9am. It usually gets crowded with tourists by the afternoon.

READ MORE:

What No One Tells You About Visiting the Snow Monkeys in Summer

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Get involved in a Takayama festival

There are big festivals in Takayama during April and October, and they are two of the three most beautiful festivals celebrated in Japan.

Several hundred people participate in the festival, dressing up in traditional costumes. They parade through the streets and perform Japanese orchestra, ancient music, and traditional lion dance.

During the first night of both festivals, approximately 100 lanterns are on each float. Each float has its own unique ornaments, so it is fun to take time to compare the floats when they are all paraded around the festival.

Takayama Festival is a very popular event, and there are usually several hundred thousand visitors from across Japan and the world. I recommend you book a Takayama ryokan or hotel several months in advance!

READ MORE:

What’s it Really Like Taking an Authentic Kyoto Cooking Class?

Stunning Destinations to Discover in Japan Off the Beaten Path

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Explore a stunning village near Takayama in winter

If you visit Takayama, you cannot miss Shirakawa-go (Shirakawa’s historic villages). They are famous for their traditional farmhouses, and some of them are more than 250 years old.

Due to the area’s natural environment, with high mountains and heavy snowfall, interaction with neighbouring regions is limited.

Shirakawa-go is about a 50 minute trip from Takayama old town, and I highly recommend you take a bus. The fee is usually around JPY 2,600 yen per way, with around 16 round-trip bus services a day.

Shirakawa-go is out of a fairytale, and every photo you take will be a piece of art. There are many souvenir shops with wide varieties of products as well.

TIP: Just be mindful that you might need to wait in line for 2 hours to get a ticket (JPY 500 ea) if you are willing to take a photo on the observation point. Overtourism issues have been affecting Shirakawa-go in recent years, so please be mindful to not be that tourist. For a quieter experience, spend the night or visit lesser-known Toyama or Gokayama.

For more local recommendations from Finding Yoki, follow her adventures on Instagram!

Ready to “blend in” in Takayama old town?

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All photography copyright to Yuki at Finding Yoki.
This guide to Old Town Takayama contains some affiliate links, at no extra cost to you. I may earn a small commission if you decide to make a purchase and if you do, thanks for your support! This helps with the costs of running my blog so I can keep my content free for you. As always, I only recommend a product or service that I genuinely love and use myself!

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