Takayama is a fantastic city, where you have some very cool streets with very old buildings and sake breweries. There are some good hikes in the area, some interesting museums and lovely morning markets. This is a small place, where you can enjoy many sights, streets, and hikes. The density of things to do is very high, so keep reading for the details!

Tourist occurrence: High

How to get here: Two and a half hours by public transport from Nagoya

How much time needed: 1-2 days

1. Have a visit to the Takayama Jinya

Takayama Jinya is from the Edo Period, and it is one of the most important buildings in Takayama. It was a former government building, but it has not been in use as such since 1969. Now you can walk through it, and there is some nice information. There is also a rice building, which is pretty cool. This is not a must-do, but it is nice to visit.

Price: ¥ 440

Tourist occurrence: Medium 

How much time needed: 30 minutes to an hour

2. Taste some sake in the lovely breweries

The city centre of Takayama holds several old sake breweries, where you can taste many different local types of sake. You probably will get a glass, and you can fill up your glass with the type of sake you want. You can later fill up your glass with another sake. Note that you cannot fill up with the same type again, as it is a tasting. Cheers!

Price: Free to enter, but the tasting costs a surprisingly low amount of money.

Tourist occurrence: High

How much time needed: 1 hour

3. Try some hida beef

Besides the lovely sake, Hida beef is another type of food you have to try in Takayama. It is very soft food, and you can try it in so many places. In the city centre you can find many food stalls that sell the beef as sushi, and that is absolutely fantastic. This is as good as wagyu and very tasteful.

Price: You will pay different amount of money per location

4. Have some food or drinks at Dekonaru Yokocho

Dekonaru Yokocho is a very fun alleyway with several bars and restaurants. There are fancy places, but also some relaxed bars. This is a location you should visit in the evening. This alley has a lively, fun atmosphere, where locals and tourists mix together. This is a must-do in the evening!

Price: Free, but there are fancy and cheaper options as restaurants and bar.

Tourist occurrence: Low

How much time needed: An evening

5. Walk through Sanmachi Suji

Sanmachi Suji is one of the prettiest streets I have seen. The houses are very stunning, as are the streets and the plants. This street is one of the most important reasons to visit Takayama. The street holds many restaurants and sake breweries. I recommend going during the daytime, as the street is lively and everything is open, but also during the evening, as you can be alone and everything is quiet. 

Price: Free

Tourist occurrence: High during the day, and very low in the evening.

How much time needed: 1-2 hours

6. Do some shopping during the morning markets

Takayama has two morning markets, which are open every day. Jinja Mae is the smaller market next to Takayama Jinja, and here are mostly crafts, but some food as well. The bigger market is the Miyagawa Morning Market, which is next to the river. Here you can buy food and crafts. This is a fun thing to do in the morning.

Price: Free

Tourist occurrence: Medium

How much time needed: 30 minutes

7. Visit the Takayama Festival Floats Exhibition Hall

The Takayama Festival Floats Exhibition Hall is a fun, small museum. They show the huge festival floats, and they have some information about it. Every spring (in April) and fall (in October), one of the most famous festivals in Japan is held in Takayama, and this museum shows the most important artefacts. 

Price: ¥900, but it also includes Sakurayama Nikkokan

Tourist occurrence: Low

How much time needed: 20-30 minutes

8. Have an insight in Nikko at Sakurayama Nikkokan

Sakurayama Nikkokan is an impressive museum that shows you a lot of models and small replicas of some fantastic temples in Japan, like the Tosho-Gu Shrine in Nikko. The models are very detailed and cool. This museum is perfect in combination with the Takayama Festival Floats Exhibition Hall, as the price includes both museums.

Price: ¥900, but it also includes Takayama Festival Floats Exhibition Hall

Tourist occurrence: Low

How much time needed: 20-30 minutes

9. Have some rest at the Sakurayama Hachimangu Shrine

Unfortunately, when I was at the Sakurayama Hachimangu Shrine, it was raining cats and dogs, so I was here for a very short amount of time. The temple is very beautiful and a lovely sight to visit in Takayama. I cannot really judge it, because I was there for a short period. 

Price: Free

Tourist occurrence: Low

How much time needed: 5 minutes, but probably more.

10. Visit many temples during the Higashiyama hiking course

For the Higashiyama hiking course is the highlight of Takayama. It is north of the city, and you will be walking through nature and graveyards, but mostly through temples. And many of them! The paths are very clearly pointed out, and it is great to walk. The number of temples is just incredible on this 5.5-kilometre trail. At the end (when walking from north to south) you will be more in nature and less in-between the temples. The part in the north is the highlight, but I would recommend walking the whole 5.5 kilometres. This is a highlight you cannot miss here!

Price: Free

Tourist occurrence: Very low

How much time needed: 2-3 hours

11. Try a mitarashi dango

Ok, in comparison to other sights, this is not one of the important ones, but mitarashi dango are a local treat. These snacks are on a stick and made of rice flour. The flour is boiled and grilled. Usually it is served with a sauce, and it is delicious. You should try it in this area, as it is where it originates. 

12. Spend some time in the town next door Hida

Close to Takayama you can find the village of Hida, which is a very cute village. The absolute highlight are the small canals with koi in them. The canals are very scenic, and the fish make it even better. The fish are not in the canals in winter. Other things to do in Hida are the very pretty Enkoji Temple, the lovely Festival Square, Seiganji Temple, and the almost communistic-looking city hall. This village is not one of the biggest highlights of Japan, but it is a lovely three-hour trip from Takayama. 

Tourist occurrence: Very low

How to get here: 15 minutes by train from Takayama, but check the train schedule on beforehand.

How much time needed: 2 hours

Things I have not done, but could be cool

For a normal visit in Takayama, I think I saw and did the most important things, but I want to visit the city during the Takayama Festival in spring or fall.

Final Thoughts

Takayama is one of the most beautiful cities in Japan, and I would definitely recommend visiting. The old city with its lovely streets and sake breweries, the several museums, the canals and the Higashiyama hiking course make it a city worth visiting. The surroundings are also gorgeous. 

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