Takayama is a small mountain town in central Japan, located in Gifu Prefecture and surrounded by the Hida Mountains, part of the Northern Japanese Alps. It’s best known for its well-preserved old town, traditional wooden houses, morning markets, and excellent local food, especially Hida beef. Compared to Japan’s larger cities, Takayama moves at a slower pace. It feels calm, local, and closely connected to nature, which is a big part of what makes it such a special place to visit.
Getting there
As a wheelchair user, the easiest way to get to Takayama, unless you’re renting a car, is by train. Highway buses to Takayama, including routes from Tokyo, Kanazawa, and other major cities, are not wheelchair accessible, which makes the train the most realistic public transport option. The JR Hida Limited Express train runs between Nagoya and Toyama, with Takayama as one of its main stops. The ride takes about 2 to 2.5 hours from Nagoya and around 1.5 hours from Toyama, and it’s genuinely one of the most scenic train journeys in Japan. Large windows, mountain views, and a relaxed pace make the ride feel like part of the experience rather than just transportation.
The trains have designated wheelchair-accessible spaces and an accessible restroom, but it’s best to book those seats in advance, especially during busy seasons. We bought our tickets last minute at the station. At that point, wheelchair-accessible spaces could no longer be reserved, so we chanced it by riding in the non-reserved carriage, hoping the wheelchair-accessible spaces there would still be available. They were, so it worked out for us, but I wouldn’t recommend relying on that. One thing to keep in mind is that the train sits relatively high, and the portable ramp used by station staff was a bit steep. It wasn’t a problem, but it’s something to be aware of. Overall, the journey was comfortable, smooth, and very pleasant.
How much time to spend in Takayama
When planning this trip, I noticed that many vlogs and travel guides recommend spending just one quick day in Takayama. Personally, I think that’s selling it short. My recommendation would be to stay two full days. There’s plenty to see and experience in town, and Takayama also works well as a base for easy day trips to nearby towns and villages, such as Hida Furukawa by train or Shirakawa-go by car only, since highway buses aren’t accessible.
Getting around
Takayama is a small town, and that’s part of its charm. It’s compact, relaxed, and surprisingly easy to navigate.
Many of the main attractions are within rolling distance, the streets are smooth, and the sidewalks have lowered curbs everywhere. The city buses are also wheelchair accessible and equipped with ramps.
What surprised me the most was how many shops and restaurants were accessible. For a town that feels historic and traditional, Takayama actually does a pretty good job when it comes to accessibility.
takayama Morning markets
One of the nicest ways to start the day in Takayama is by visiting one of its traditional morning markets.
The one we visited was the Miyagawa Morning Market, which runs along the Miyagawa River in the center of town. Around 60 stalls stretch for about 350 meters, from Kaji Bridge to Yayoi Bridge. On the river side you’ll find vendors selling vegetables, fruits, pickles, and spices, while the shops across the street offer Japanese sweets, food, crafts, and local souvenirs.
You’ll also see some very typical Takayama souvenirs here, including sarubobo dolls and Ichii Itto-bori wooden carvings, along with smaller items like chopsticks and handmade goods.
Black sesame warabi mochi
Tamaten
Gyuman
(Hida beef bun)
For us, it was such a lovely experience. We spent time tasting different foods, supporting local vendors, and simply enjoying the atmosphere. It’s definitely a bit touristy, but still feels authentic and relaxed. When we visited it wasn’t too crowded, which made it a really pleasant way to start the day.
Just keep in mind that the number of stalls can be smaller in winter or rainy weather, sometimes dropping to only a handful of vendors.
Takayama has another morning market called the Jinya-mae Morning Market, located in front of the historic Takayama Jinya building. This market actually started more than 300 years ago, when silk farmers came to sell mulberry leaves. Even today, only farmers are allowed to open stalls there. Vendors sell fresh vegetables, dried foods, homemade pickles, and sometimes unusual local ingredients.
Both markets are typically open from early morning until around noon. If you’re staying nearby, arriving early is a great way to see the stalls being set up and to experience the market before it gets busier.
Hida beef skewer
Coffee in a cookie cup
Market stalls along the Miyagawa River
old town takayama
Takayama’s Old Town, also known as Sanmachi Suji, is probably the most famous part of the city. The streets are lined with beautifully preserved wooden merchant houses from the Edo period, and rolling through the area really feels like stepping back in time.
Today many of these historic buildings are home to small shops, cafés, and sake breweries. It’s a lovely place to wander around slowly, try local snacks, and just take in the atmosphere.
If you enjoy photography, this area is especially beautiful in the early morning. Around 8 AM the streets are still very quiet, which makes it the perfect time to walk around and take photos before the crowds arrive.
From a wheelchair perspective, the streets are mostly flat and smooth, but many of the shops are tiny or have a step at the entrance. That said, there are plenty of takeaway options and food stalls, so you can still enjoy the area even if you can’t enter every store.
One place we absolutely loved was Hida Kotte Ushi, a small stand selling Hida beef sushi. It’s quite viral, so we were a bit skeptical at first, but it’s truly very good. We ended up going back twice during our stay.
Takayama is also known for its sake breweries, and several of them are located right in the Old Town. Some are accessible, and stopping for a quick tasting is a fun way to experience a bit of local culture.
Not far from the Old Town you’ll find Hida Kokubunji Temple, which is home to a massive ginkgo tree that is more than 1,200 years old. The main temple building is also the oldest structure in the city, built during the Muromachi era about 500 years ago.
hida no sato folk village
Hida no Sato is an open-air museum just outside Takayama that recreates a traditional mountain village from the Hida region. The site features more than 30 historic houses, many of them built during the Edo period and later relocated here to preserve them.
The buildings are spread across a hillside around a small pond and surrounded by nature. Many of the houses are traditional gassho-style farmhouses, recognizable by their steep thatched roofs designed to handle the heavy snowfall typical of this region.
Walking or rolling through the village gives you a glimpse into what life in rural Japan looked like centuries ago. Many of the houses can be entered (though not in a wheelchair), and inside you’ll see tools, household items, and exhibits showing how people lived and worked in the region. Not all of the paths are paved, but the main routes are. There is a universal restroom, and wheelchair rental is available onsite (it’s best to check in advance whether a reservation is required).
The village is about a 10-minute bus ride from Takayama Station or roughly a 30-minute walk from the city center. We actually rented a bicycle and I rolled alongside in my wheelchair. It worked well for us, but it’s worth noting that the road leading up to the village is steep, so renting an electric bicycle would make the ride much easier. Bicycle rentals are available in many places around Takayama Station.
Another reason we decided to visit Hida no Sato is that it can be a good alternative to Shirakawa-go, the famous UNESCO-listed village not far from Takayama. While Shirakawa-go is beautiful, it’s not the easiest place to reach in a wheelchair since the highway buses are generally not wheelchair accessible, which means renting a car is often the only practical option. Although Hida no Sato isn’t a living village like Shirakawa-go, it’s still a great wheelchair-accessible alternative.
The village is also very photogenic. The pond in the center reflects the traditional houses beautifully, especially on a calm day, and there are plenty of scenic corners throughout the site.
most memorable dining experiences
Takayama is known for its excellent food, especially Hida beef. During our stay we tried several places, but these three were our favorites.
Matsuki-Ushi was one of our highlights. The restaurant has a flat entrance and offers both counter seating and regular tables. They serve sushi, Hida beef, and many other seafood dishes. Everything we tried was delicious, and the sushi chef is the nicest man. If you can, sit at the counter. During busy times it’s best to reserve in advance.
熟成飛騨牛焼肉 GYU-SUKE, a Hida beef yakiniku restaurant. When we made our reservation, we mentioned that I use a wheelchair, and when we arrived a portable ramp was already set up for me. The meat here is really delicious and it’s a great place to try Hida beef.
Hida Kotte Ushi, mentioned previously. A small stand in the Old Town that serves Hida beef sushi. The stall itself is outside, but there’s also an indoor area where you can eat, and the entrance there is step-free.
accessible accomodation suggestion
During our stay in Takayama, we stayed at Mercure Hida Takayama, located about three minutes from Takayama Station.
We booked the universal room. It includes several accessibility features such as an automatic door, a roll-in shower (which is quite rare in Japan), a roll-under sink, and grab bars in the bathroom.
The room itself was on the smaller side and not the easiest to maneuver in with a wheelchair. To turn around the bed I actually had to remove my wheelchair footrests.
The hotel also has both a public and a private onsen, and guests staying in the universal room can use the private onsen for free (the regular rate is 4,500 JPY for 45 minutes). The bath itself isn’t accessible since there’s no lift to get into the water, but I could still roll all the way to the edge of the bath and dip my feet in the hot spring, which was really nice after a long day of exploring.
Overall, it’s a beautifully designed hotel in a very convenient location.
A Few More Things Worth Mentioning
There were also a few small things in Takayama that don’t really fit into a specific category but were still worth mentioning.
One of them is an outdoor foot onsen located in front of Takayama Ouan Hotel. You can just sit, soak your feet in the hot water, and relax for a few minutes while exploring the city.
Another place we ended up enjoying was Frespo Hida Takayama – a small commercial center a bit outside the main tourist area. It had several shops, a large laundromat, and a few places to eat. The weather wasn’t great that day, so we decided to go there to do some laundry, walk around the shops, and grab lunch. It turned out to be a really nice and unexpected break from sightseeing.
Sometimes these little everyday moments end up being just as memorable as the main attractions.
