Best Things to Do in Takayama, Japan #japantravel

@Brandon Nguyen

Brandon Nguyenyoutubethe post

Explore Takayama's historic Old Town, interactive Showa Kan Museum, and take day trips to Hida Folk Village, Shirakawa-go, and Kamikochi in the Japanese Alps.

1 plan · 7 places · 6 experiences

Plan · 4 places · Takayama, Japan

Takayama Old Town Exploration

“Explore the heart of Takayama by starting with a stroll through the Old Town, visiting the morning market, sampling sake, and immersing yourself in the Showa era museum.”

Experience · 1 place
Stroll through Takayama's Old Town
Start your visit by strolling down the Old Town. It's a beautiful area with traditional buildings and a relaxed atmosphere, perfect for soaking in the history and charm of Takayama.
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Takayama Old Town
Store · Takayama
4.7 (1,266)
Creator's voice
Takayama's historic district, known for its beautifully preserved Edo-period streets and traditional wooden merchant houses. It's a great place to wander and explore.
Takayama Old Town, 43番地 43 Kamininomachi, Takayama, Gifu 506-0845, Japan
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Miyagawa Morning Market
Market · Takayama
4.1 (10,567)Closed · opens tomorrow 7 AM
Creator's voice
One of the biggest morning markets in Japan, located along the Miyagawa River. It's a vibrant spot to find local produce, crafts, and street food.
Miyagawa Morning Markets, Shimosannomachi, Takayama, Gifu 506-0841, Japan
Experience · 1 place
Sample sake at Funasaka Sake Brewery
This is the coolest place! You can get a mini sake cup from a gacha machine, then sample all the different flavors on the sake vending machines. It's a fun and interactive way to try various sakes.
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Funasaka Sake Brewery
Sake brewery · Takayama
4.4 (17)Closed · opens tomorrow 8:30 AM
Creator's voice
Takayama is famous for its sake breweries, and this one offers a unique experience where you can sample different sakes using vending machines.
Funasaka Sake Brewery, 105 Kamisannomachi, Takayama, Gifu 506-0846, Japan
Mini sake cup from gacha machine — Get a mini sake cup from the gacha machine to use for sampling. It's a fun souvenir and part of the experience.
Sake vending machine samples — Sample various sake flavors from the vending machines. It's a great way to discover your favorites.
Experience · 1 place
Time travel at Takayama Showa Kan Museum
My favorite thing in the Old Town was actually the Showa Kan Museum. It doesn't even feel like a museum because everything is interactive! It feels like you actually time traveled to the Showa era. You can play old games and explore recreated scenes from the past.
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Takayama Showa Kan Museum
Museum · Takayama
4.4 (90)Open · until 5 PM
Creator's voice
An interactive museum that recreates the atmosphere of the Showa era (1926-1989) in Japan. It's full of nostalgic exhibits and hands-on activities.
Takayama Shōwa-kan Museum, 6番地 Shimoichinomachi, Takayama, Gifu 506-0843, Japan
Retro classroom — Step into a recreated classroom from the Showa era, complete with old desks, typewriters, and abacuses.
Vintage phone booth — Experience a vintage phone booth, complete with an old rotary phone.
Retro car display — Sit in a vintage three-wheeled car, a common sight during the Showa era.
Retro arcade games — Play classic arcade games from the Showa era, offering a fun, interactive experience.

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Experience · 1 place
Explore thatched-roof houses at Hida Folk Village
An absolute must-see are these village houses with the thatched roof. The closest one is a 10-minute bus ride away at the Hida Folk Village. This is an open-air museum, so the houses weren't originally here, but they've been relocated and preserved, offering a glimpse into traditional Hida life.
- Long daikon radish snack — A unique long daikon radish snack, perfect for trying something local while exploring the village.
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Hida Folk Village
Open air museum
4.5 (8)Closed · opens Friday 8:30 AM
Creator's voice
An open-air museum showcasing over 30 traditional houses from the Hida region, including several gassho-zukuri style thatched-roof houses. It's a 10-minute bus ride from Takayama.
Hida no Sato Folk Village Museum, 1 Chome-590 Kamiokamotomachi, Takayama, Gifu 506-0055, Japan
Gassho-zukuri thatched-roof houses — These distinctive houses with steep thatched roofs are a highlight, designed to withstand heavy snow and provide space for silkworm cultivation.
Experience · 1 place
Visit the living village of Shirakawa-go
If you want to go to an actual village where people still live, then go to Shirakawa-go. It'll take you about 50 minutes from Takayama. I went in summer, but I regret not going in winter because it looks like a real-life winter wonderland with all the snow.
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Shirakawa-go
Heritage preservation · Shirakawa
4.5 (3,900)Open now
Creator's voice
A UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its unique gassho-zukuri farmhouses, some over 250 years old. It's an actual living village where people reside, about a 50-minute bus ride from Takayama.
Shirakawa-go, Ogimachi, Shirakawa, Ono District, Gifu 501-5627, Japan
Shirakawa-go winter wonderland — The village transforms into a stunning winter wonderland when covered in snow, making it a magical sight.
Experience · 1 place
Hike the trails of Kamikochi in the Japanese Alps
If you go in winter, you won't be able to go to Kamikochi, which is only open from mid-April to mid-November. But this is one of my favorite places in Japan! The walking trail is so chill, offering stunning views of the Japanese Alps and crystal-clear rivers. From Takayama, it's only a 2.5-hour bus ride.
- Soft serve ice cream — Enjoy a refreshing soft-serve ice cream after your walk, a perfect treat with mountain views.
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Kamikochi
Scenic spot · Matsumoto
4.8 (5,636)Closed · opens tomorrow 8 AM
Creator's voice
A stunning mountain resort in the Japanese Alps, known for its pristine natural beauty, clear rivers, and scenic hiking trails. It's only open from mid-April to mid-November and is a 2.5-hour bus ride from Takayama.
Kamikōchi, 上高地 Azumi, Matsumoto, Nagano 390-1516, Japan
Kamikochi river and mountains — Enjoy breathtaking views of the turquoise river flowing through the valley, surrounded by majestic mountains.
Kamikochi wildflowers — Admire the vibrant wildflowers blooming along the trails, adding splashes of color to the alpine landscape.
Kamikochi walking trail — The walking trails are very chill and well-maintained, making it easy to explore the beautiful scenery.
Bear Bell — Ring the bear bell along the trail to alert any wildlife to your presence, a common practice in bear habitats.