It might sound strange that only now, more than a decade after visiting the city for the first time, I’m publishing my guide to things to do in Takayama. But there’s a good reason for this—hear me out.
The short answer? I thought I’d already written one. I have several articles about Takayama (which is officially known as Hida-Takayama, or 飛騨高山) in my larger Japanese Alps itinerary; I simply assumed there was already a cut-and-dry guide to the region’s most famous city in there. Trust me, I was as shocked as you are now!
Of course, embedded in this contradiction is a clear win for you: I’m writing this “new” post with 11+ years of insight and experience, which means it will likely be the most useful Takayama itinerary you can find online.
Where to Stay in Takayama
Whether you are looking for a luxurious Takayama ryokan or a simpler hotel, I’ve got many amazing properties in my rolodex after so many years exploring Takayama. On the former front, higher-end travelers may prefer an opulent option such as Machiyado Ichiryu, which is one of the top-rated traditional properties in Japan. Oyado Koto no Yume is much more basic, but has an authentic and homey feel nonetheless.
In terms of proper hotels, you can enjoy a similar range of choice. The Machiya Hotel, for example, boasts many visual and esoteric elements of a ryokan, in spite of having the convenience and comfort of a proper hotel. On the other hand, while Tokyu Stay Hida-Takayama is decidedly an urban business hotel, its fair price and closeness to Takayama Station make it a compelling place to stay.
The Best Things to Do in Takayama
Cross Takayama’s many bridges
Whether during one of the annual matsuri (more on those in a minute) or on any ordinary day, the bridges over Takayama’s Miya River are a sight to behold. In particular, I like the southward-looking view of the vermillion Nakabashi Bridge; the key is to position yourself slightly north on Ikada Bridge in order to be able to take the best pictures.
Eat your way along Sanmachi Suji
Once you cross the bridge into the Old Town, you’ll be able to visit your next stop on my Takayama itinerary: The Sanmachi Suji Old Street. Here, there are a few things you should keep in mind. First, it’s more than one street; the entire area around its official entrance is picturesque and worth exploring. Secondly, it’s as much an area for peeping architecture as it is eating, in particular the local specialty pictured above: Beef sushi. (Don’t worry—its high-quality; and it’s seared slightly).
Do the Higashiyama Walking Course
Like Sanmachi Suji, the Higashiyama Walking Course is somewhat amorphous; you can do as much or as little of it as you walk. There are definitely notable temples (and shrines) along this “old temple trail”; I usually like to go at least to the Higashiyama Hakusan Shrine, and all the way to the Sakurayama Hachiman-gu shrine if at all possible. But again, this is very much a choose-your-own adventure thing.
Attend one or both annual matsuri
The Takayama Matsuri is deservedly near the top of most lists of what to do in Takayama, but there’s a bit of a catch. You see, while there are two editions (spring and autumn), the spring one tends to feel more like…well, spring. It usually happens on April 14-15 when cherry blossoms are in full bloom, and when the weather is just starting to get warm. The autumn one, by contrast, occurs up to a month before the city’s leaves change colors, on October 9-10, when weather can still be quite warm as well.
Take a day trip to Shirakawa-go, Gokayama, Gero or Gujo Hachiman
I neglected to include the Hida Folk Village in my recommendations, and there’s a reason. Namely, that the Gassho farmhouse villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama are a much better representation of this architectural style, even if they require a longer day trip from Takayama. Other amazing excursions from Takayama include onsen towns like Gero (better if you’re going by train) and Hirayu (more easily accessible by bus or rental car) and the riverside castle town of Gujo Hachiman.
How to Get to (and Around) Takayama
Takayama is relatively close to major Japanese cities like Tokyo and Kyoto as the crow flies, but the journey can be long and/or tedious. There are technically direct buses from Tokyo, for example; however, these take around 5-6 hours en route. I personally prefer the indirect train route (a Shinkansen Nozomi to Nagoya, and a Hida Limited Express train from there) in spite of the transfer, as it can take literally half the time.
In terms of getting around, central Takayama is completely navigable on foot. And in fact, having driven there myself, I’d advise against driving in town, even if you do rent a car at some point. And I do suggest renting a car if you can, as this will make all the day trips above much easier. In fact, in the particular case of Gokayama, having your own set of wheels is the only realistic way to visit the villages of Ainokura and Suganuma.
Other FAQ About Visiting Takayama?
Is Takayama worth visiting?
Takayama is absolutely worth visiting, with incredible historical architecture, beautiful Alpine scenery and great food. With this being said, Takayama can get very crowded; hotels and other accommodation can sell out weeks or even months in advance. I suggest planning your trip as soon as possible.
When is the best time to visit Takayama?
Takayama is beautiful in all seasons and 365 days per year. If you can, however, I suggest being there on April 14 and 15, for the spring edition of the Takayama Matsuri festival. This tends to coincide with full bloom of the cherry blossoms in most years, and in doing so creates an intersection of many singular Japanese experiences in the span of a single day.
How many days do I need in Takayama?
You can see most of what’s worth seeing in Takayama in a day or two. Where you need extra time here is if you plan to take any day trips, whether these are more common ones like to the Shirakawago Gassho farmhouse village, or slightly less popular options, such as to the onsen towns of Gero and Hirayu.
The Bottom Line
Searching for things to do in Takayama? First and foremost, allow me to apologize: You should’ve been able to find one on my site much more recently than now. Thing is, I’ve written so many articles about Takayama at this point, I simply assumed I had already created a “main” Takayama travel guide. (In reality, I have posts about how to reach Takayama from Tokyo, or whether it’s better or worse than Kanazawa—whoops!) At any rate, I think you’ll find that the wait has been worst it, given the breadth and depth of experience I now have as I put (digital) pen to (virtual) paper. Speaking of experience, the best way to leverage mine is to hire me to plan your trip to Japan.
