Takayama Old Town

Gifu Prefecture, Japan

---

Takayama Old Town in Gifu Prefecture is a beautifully preserved historic district in the alpine city of Hida‑Takayama, often called “Little Kyoto” for its traditional streets and old‑town atmosphere. The heart of the area is the Sanmachi‑suji district, a cluster of narrow streets lined with Edo‑era wooden merchant houses, lattice‑window shops, and small breweries, where visitors can wander past craft stores, sake shops, and stalls selling local snacks like Hida beef skewers and mitarashi dango. The town also has riverside morning markets along the Miyagawa River, where farmers and artisans sell fresh produce and handicrafts, and it serves as a gateway to larger festivals, mountain hikes, and nearby heritage sites in the Japan Alps region.