Is Takayama worth visiting?
Takayama was another stop on our route through the Japanese Alps and somewhere we were looking forward to exploring.
What a beautiful place, it’s a small city surrounded by mountains, but the centre feels more like an old Japanese town and quite easy to explore by foot. Think traditional wooden buildings, tiny streets, sake breweries and lots of places selling hide beef.
We stayed at a hotel next to the train station, so that it was easy for our onward journey, we were still able to walk around and explore very easily. We did even go on a hike part the way up one of the mountains, although there were quite a few bear signs so we decided to not go too far. Takayama is home to Asiatic black bears, we were there in spring and this is when they start becoming more active after hibernation.
You will see many bear signs in the city and around more rural and wooded walking routes. You will probably also see or hear people carrying bear bells, these are key for letting the bears know you’re coming and reducing the chance of accidentally surprising one.
Getting to Takayama from Matsumoto
We travelled to Takayama from Matsumoto by highway bus, it was very simple and straight forward, it was mainly Japanese people on the bus, there was two elderly ladies sat near us, they were living their best life; they had can of local alcoholic soda and lots of snacks. You could just hear them chatting away and giggling. We made a stop half way for restrooms and refreshments, I decided to get a can of the soda they were drinking…my gosh it was strong!!
Our bus left Matsumoto at 10:05am and arrived at Takayama Nohi Bus Centre at 12:28.
Takayama Old Town - Sanmachi Suji
This is probably what most people picture when they think of Takayama. Sanmachi Fuji is the historic heart of the city, with streets lined by beautiful preserved wooden merchant houses dating back to the Edo period.
But this isn’t an area that feels like it has been turned entirely into a museum. Many of the old buildings are still being used as shops, cafes, restaurants and sake breweries. We didn’t really follow a route here, it’s compact enough that you can just wander around. You’ll also come across little shops selling local food and Hida beef, we found this amazing steamed bun place that had the best hide beef, they were so delicious we kept going back (it’s just by the bridge over the river).
You have to try Hide beef!
If there’s one food you’ll see absolutely everywhere in Takayama, it’s Hida beef. This type of beef is local wagyu from Gifu Prefecture and is known for its heavy marbling and incredibly tender meat.
You can spend a lot of money trying it in one of the restaurants, but you don’t have to, there are many small businesses selling skewers, steamed buns, and many other small tasty bites.
Takayama’s Sake Breweries
Another thing we hadn’t realised before coming here was just how much sake is produced in Takayam. I mean, we had seen the very large empty bottles outside bars and restaurants in Tokyo, where the finance bros and city workers let off steam after a very long day in the office. But we didn’t realised where exactly it was made.
The city has been brewing sake for more than 300 years, helped by the cold mountain climate, local rice and the healthy supply of fresh water from the mountains. Unlike many vin-yards, you don’t need to travel outside the centre of Takyama to find them, several of the historic breweries are right in the Old Town.
Fun fact: look above the entranced for a large ball made from cedar leaves called suigidama - traditionally breweries hang fresh green sigidama outside when new sake is being made, as the leaves gradually turn brown, this indicates the sake maturing through the year.
Quite a few of the sake breweries offer tasting, you can try just one or a flight of a few different varieties.
Hiking into the hills above Takayama
After exploring the Old Town, we decided to head away from the streets and follow one of the walking paths up into the wooden hills surrounding Takayama. It doesn't take long before the town disappears behind you and you’re walking through the forests and looking out over the town.
The Higashiyama Walking Course is around 3.5km and takes you through Takayama’s quieter temple district before heading into the wooded hills of Shiroyama Park, where Takayama Castle once stood.
Along the way you pass more than a dozen temples and shrines, the old castle ruins and some much quieter parts of Takayama.
The walk takes around 1 -3 hours and we would definitely recommend if you want to explore further than the Old Town.
Please be aware that these areas are bear habitat.
Walk the old streets again at dusk
Takayama’s Old Town is lovely during the day, but we highly recommend you go back once the day visitors start disappearing.
The shops were honestly great, we managed to get some lovely gifts to take home for family at very reasonable prices. With this being a little off the usual tourist route, you will find the prices of most things a little better and less inflated.
Some of the restaurants do get very busy, so it would be work making a reservation if there is a specific place you’ll like to try out.
Overall, our time in Takayama was
Where we stayed in Takayama
We stayed at Hida-Takayama Musubi no Yu.
Its location worked well for our short stay as everything was very walkable.
TOKYU STAY Hida-Takayama Musubi no Yu is a modern onsen hotel located at 4-301 Hanasatomachi, Takayama-shi, Gifu
2-minute walk from JR Takayama Station
Sanmachi Suji Old Town: 11-minute walk
Takayama Jinya: 10-minute walk
Price is around £70 - £80 per night.
We were given the exact same map when we got to the hotel however this image taken from HERE the Tokyo Files.
