We arrived at Takayama Old Town slightly before noon. We alighted our tour bus at the parking area next to Takayama Betsuin Shoren-ji Temple.
The most famous section of Takayama Old Town is known as Sanmachi Suji (三町筋), which includes Ichinomachi, Ninomachi, and Sannomachi streets. From the parking area, we walked along the main road down a gentle slope and few minutes later, we arrived at Sanmachi Suji.
Takayama Old Town is a remarkably well-preserved historical district in Hida-Takayama, Gifu Prefecture. Nestled in the foothills of the Northern Alps, the Old Town exudes a quiet charm with its narrow lanes, traditional wooden townhouses (machiya), sake breweries, and centuries-old merchant shops.
Walking through this area is like stepping back into the
Edo Period (1603–1868), when Takayama flourished as a prosperous merchant town under the direct rule of the Tokugawa shogunate.
The Old Town is one of the best places to sample Hida Beef, one of Japan’s top wagyu varieties. As it was lunch time, we entered one shop that sells both Hida Beef and Takayama Ramen.
With the combination of Hida Beef and Takayama Ramen, this was probably the best meal we had in the entire trip.
After lunch, we continued to walk down the street. The area is lined with dark wooden facades, sliding lattice windows, tiled roofs, and deep eaves, all classic elements of Edo merchant homes.
Flowing gently through the east side of the Old Town, the Miyagawa River (宮川) adds a poetic, natural charm to the historic district.
A scenic riverside promenade runs along both sides of the river, dotted with benches and lanterns. It’s perfect for a slow, reflective stroll.
The riverbanks are lined with stone embankments, cherry trees, and traditional wooden homes with balconies and storefronts facing the water.
Though the cherry blossom season was supposedly over, there were a few cherry trees here still blooming. Time to capture the beautiful moment with the Sakura!
Ducks, koi fish, and even snow herons can often be seen near the water’s edge, creating a peaceful and nature-rich environment in the heart of town.
As we walked down another street, we saw a store selling vanilla honeycomb ice cream which we once again could not resist.
The district has been protected from modern overdevelopment, preserving its historic look and feel. Shops sell everything from Hida woodwork and lacquerware to sarubobo dolls and local snacks.
On an adjacent street from the main shopping street, there was a small store operated by an old lady selling Hida Beef on skewers, dango and other snacks. She sold them cheaper than those stores along the main shopping street and tasted equally good.
It's about time to return to our tour bus. On our way back, we passed by a store selling all sorts of seeds. We bought a "blind box" whereby we do not know what Japanese Bonsai it will grow into until it actually does in a few months' time. :-)
Before boarding our tour bus, we explored Takayama Betsuin Shoren-ji Temple (高山別院照蓮寺). Founded in the 17th century, Shōren-ji is a branch temple of the Nishi Hongan-ji sect based in Kyoto, a major school of Japanese Pure Land Buddhism.
Next to the Main Hall (Hondō), there is a small a temple treasure museum which is free admission.
The bus journey from Takayama to Shirakawa-go takes about an hour, covering around 50 kilometers through forested valleys, winding tunnels, and riverside views.
Shortly after leaving Takayama, the bus begins to ascend gentle hills and follow the curves of the Shō River (庄川), whose emerald waters often sparkle below steep cliffs and tall pines. The route passed through a series of long tunnels, including the impressive Hida Tunnel, over 10 kilometers long, one of the longest road tunnels in Japan.
Emerging from the tunnel, we were suddenly surrounded by a deep valley with the remote charm of Shirakawa-go slowly revealing itself.
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