Must-see attractions · Takayama
10 attractions with a verified description
Central Takayama · Free
Three streets of dark wooden houses from the Edo period, a national preservation district since 1979, with craft shops and sake breweries that you identify by the ball of cedar branches above the door. Free. Some breweries offer free tastings (Funasaka) and some charge, and most end tastings at about 16:00.
Price checked October 2026
Photo: Maarten Heerlien from Voorschoten, The Netherlands / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
Central Takayama · Free
A morning market on the riverbank, which according to the market union began in the mid-Edo period: farm women with vegetables, pickles and fruit, sarubobo dolls and mochi. Free, every day. April to November 07:00 to 12:00, and from December to March from 08:00. The best of it is before 10:00.
Price checked October 2026
Photo: bryan... from Taipei, Taiwan / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Central Takayama · Historic building
The office from which the shogun's officials ran the Hida province from 1692, and the only one of about sixty such offices whose main buildings survive: tatami rooms, a rice storehouse and the courtroom. ¥500 since April 2026, and free up to high school. April to October 08:45 to 17:00, and in winter until 16:30.
Price checked November 2026
Photo: Alexkom000 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)
Western Takayama · Museum
An open-air museum with more than 30 old buildings, including thatched houses, moved from villages around Hida that disappeared because of dams and depopulation, around a pond. ¥700, or ¥1,000 with a combined round-trip bus ticket. 08:30 to 17:00. Quiet, and good for kids.
Price checked October 2026
Photo: Mark Bucayan / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0)
Northern Takayama · Free
The shrine from which the autumn festival of Takayama sets out, at the northern end of the old town. Free, in a forest on a slope. Next to it are the floats hall and the Sakurayama Nikko-kan, a 1:10 model of the Toshogu shrine in Nikko.
Price checked October 2026
Photo: 663highland / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.5)
Northern Takayama · Museum
Four festival floats 7 to 8 meters tall, with mechanical puppets, and the shrine's great portable shrine. The floats change three times a year. ¥1,000, including the Sakurayama Nikko-kan next to it. The festivals themselves are on 14 and 15 April and on 9 and 10 October.
Price checked October 2026
Photo: Daderot / Wikimedia Commons (CC0)
Eastern Takayama · Free
A trail of about 4 km through the temple district on the hills east of town, which according to the tourism site was laid out after Kyoto: more than ten temples and shrines, old cemeteries and forest. Free, signposted. It ends in Shiroyama Park with a view over the town. There are bears in the area, so finish before sunset.
Price checked October 2026
Photo: Sjaak Kempe from Groningen, The Netherlands / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
Central Takayama · Free
The forest and the ruins of Takayama Castle on the hill above the town, at the end of the Higashiyama trail. Free. A view over the roofs of the town. There are bears in the area, and in winter 2026 the park was closed for a month and a half because of them.
Price checked October 2026
Photo: Kyla Duhamel / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
Central Takayama · Free
A red bridge over the Miyagawa River at the entrance to the old town. Free. In the illumination seasons it is lit in the evening, in autumn 2026 from 1 October to 30 November, 17:30 to 21:00. The classic photo of Takayama.
Price checked October 2026
Photo: Tomio344456 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Western Takayama · Museum
A museum of Art Nouveau and Art Deco with glass by Lalique and Tiffany, and furniture by Mackintosh. ¥2,000. A surprise for a mountain town, and there is an original English tram at the entrance.
Price checked September 2026
Photo: Not.found.404 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
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