The Takayama Traditional Heritage Street is one of those must-see attractions in Takayama. Every guided tour hits this one – so you do need to make sure this is in your itinerary. So if you’re planning to visit Heritage Street – this is the perfect guide for you. We will share all of the important practical info you need to plan your trip – along with some details to give you context.
As a family, we loved exploring Takayama and the Traditional Heritage Street is definitely one of the highlights. We have used our own experience and research to pull this article together. We really hope you have a lovely time exploring this beautiful and unique townscape.
If you’re planning to stay in Takayama – then we recommend staying at the Hostel Murasaki Ryokan. This is cozy, sociable and affordable. It is that beautiful traditional Japanese style – they even have an Irori fire that you can rent to try indoor cooking.
KEEP IT SIMPLE – Why not just book a tour from Nagoya? We are particularly impresed with this Takayama and Shirakawa-go tour from Nagoya. It includes the Heritage Street and much more – and it is better value that taking a train and going independently!
Traditional Heritage Street
- Cost: FREE
- Location: Kamisannomachi Street – central Takayama
- Highlights: Cafes, shops, water puppet & miso store
- Visiting time: 20 – 40 minutes
Is there only one traditional heritage street?
Yes officially Takayama has just one traditional heritage street which is situated right in the heart of Takayama town. The street’s name is Kamisannomachi Street – but don’t generally refer to it by this name: Generally it is just referred to as “The Takayama Heritage Street”. To give you some context it is situated to the south of the Miyagawa Morning Market and on the east bank of the Miyagawa river; it runs parallel to the river but one street away.
Although there is officially only one Traditional Heritage Street – Takayama does have a lot of quiet and tranquil streets with old Edo-Style Heritage buildings. So in a sense the whole town has a kind of Japanese heritage feel. Here are a few other beautiful streets with a lovely old town feel – and they are quieter too, so it’s easier to snap some photos:
- One street east of the Traditional heritage street you can see a very similar heritage street (Kamininomachi Street)
- One street west of the Traditional heritage street you can see a lot of beautiful old buildings (this is called Kataharamachi Street)
- If you’re looking for a hidden gem check out the beautiful Shimoichinomachi Street which follows the Enako River (in the picture above)
What can you see and do on the Takayama Traditional Heritage Street?
Along Heritage street, you can see traditional Edo-period Japanese buildings. Many of the buildings are used as shops and cafes. Don’t miss the Cha-No-Me Cafe – the desserts here are particularly delicious and decadent. Watch out for the Japanese water puppet on the Takayama Heritage Street. We also recommend a stop at Ohnoya Homemade Miso and soy sauce, where you can learn about traditional miso making and try samples of traditional homemade miso.
It is important to recognize that the Takayama Traditional Heritage Street is a very popular attraction and tends to be very busy throughout the day. If you’re hoping to get some beautiful empty shots of this street, you will need to arrive quite early (ideally around 7:00 AM or earlier). The heritage street is normally crowded with tourists but it is also open to traffic so watch out for cars and bikes as you explore.
If you’re visiting the Heritage street make sure you also check out the Miyagawa Morning Market (daily, free and runs from 8am – 12pm).
