Takayama Group Tours

Step into the past as you stroll through Sanmachi Suji, the heart of Takayama’s Old Town. This historic district is lined with traditional wooden merchant houses, many of which have been preserved from the Edo period. Here, you’ll find family-run sake breweries, quaint cafés, and artisan shops selling handmade crafts. Many buildings have latticed windows and dark wood facades, creating a timeless atmosphere.

A rare glimpse into Japan’s feudal administration, Takayama Jinya is a former Edo-period government outpost and the only one of its kind still standing in Japan. Inside, you can explore tatami-matted rooms, interrogation chambers, and offices where local officials once worked under the Tokugawa shogunate. The storeroom, which once held rice collected as tax, is now a museum showcasing historical documents and artifacts. Right outside, the Jinya-mae Morning Market sells fresh produce, handmade souvenirs, and local specialties.

A short 10-minute bus ride from central Takayama, Hida Folk Village is an open-air museum that transports you to Japan’s rural past. More than 30 gassho-zukuri and traditional thatched-roof farmhouses from the Hida region have been relocated here and preserved. You can step inside these houses to see how people lived centuries ago, with hearths, tools, and furniture still intact. Seasonal hands-on workshops let visitors try their hand at Hida crafts, including lacquerware and woodcarving.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Shirakawa-go is a picturesque mountain village famous for its gassho-zukuri farmhouses—traditional homes with steeply sloped thatched roofs designed to withstand heavy snowfall. Just an hour’s bus ride from Takayama, this village offers a stunning view in every season, from snow-covered roofs in winter to lush greenery in summer. The Wada House, one of the largest farmhouses, is open to visitors, showcasing historical tools and daily life in a remote village.

For those looking to explore Takayama’s spiritual and scenic side, the Higashiyama Walking Course offers a tranquil 3.5 km trail through temples, shrines, and lush forests. Modeled after the Higashiyama district in Kyoto, this route passes by Teramachi, a cluster of historic temples, as well as Shiroyama Park, where you’ll find the ruins of the once-mighty Takayama Castle. The peaceful surroundings make this an ideal morning or late-afternoon stroll.