Weekend in Takayama

A well-preserved area of old merchant houses, sake breweries and craft shops from the Edo period. The streets are lined with traditional wooden buildings and canals.

Tip: Go early morning (around 7-8am) to see it without crowds and the morning light on the old facades. Sake breweries often do free tastings of their seasonal brews.

A daily riverside market running for about 350 metres along the Miyagawa River. Local farmers sell fresh produce, pickles, preserves and handmade crafts.

Tip: Buy the small grilled gohei-mochi (rice cakes) from the stalls near the bridge for about ¥150 each. They're a local specialty and taste best hot.

A 5.7km walking trail that passes over 20 temples, shrines and a small cemetery with mountain views. It starts at the Kusakabe Folk Museum and ends at the Shiroyama Park.

Tip: The full walk takes about 2 hours. Start from the Sakurayama Hachimangu Shrine end for a slightly downhill route. The temple gardens are free to enter and peaceful.

A former government outpost from the Edo period, and the only one of its kind still standing in Japan. You can see tatami mat rooms, a courtroom, granaries and treasure houses.

Tip: The entry fee is ¥440 for adults. Visit on a weekday to avoid queues. The English audio guide costs ¥500 but adds significant detail to the exhibits.

An open-air museum with over 30 traditional Gassho-zukuri thatched farmhouses moved from across the Hida region. Demonstrations of craftwork like woodcarving and papermaking.

Tip: Admission is ¥700. The bus from Takayama Station takes 10 minutes and costs ¥210. Give it 1.5-2 hours. Try the free miso soup sample at the village café.