Neighbourhood in Takayama
Sanmachi old town
三町
Takayama's preserved merchant town of dark wooden houses and sake breweries, with morning markets by the river and the old government office.
- places to see
- 8
- walk past the highlights
- 1.4 km
- Gifu
- Takayama
Sanmachi is the merchant quarter of the castle town laid out by Kanamori Nagachika in the Edo period. Its streets of low, dark wooden houses were selected in 1979 as a national preservation district. Many are still shops, cafes and sake breweries, marked by a ball of cedar leaves hanging over the door.
Takayama has morning markets near the river in the centre of town, the best known along the Miyagawa. Takayama Jin'ya, a historic government house and National Historic Site, is on the south side, and the Kusakabe Folk Museum shows an old merchant's home. More of the city is in our Takayama guide.
Don't miss in Sanmachi old town
Start with these, then wander the side streets.
1. Takayama Jinya
高山陣屋The Edo-period government office, with its tatami halls, storehouses and a morning market out front.
2. Miyagawa Morning Market
宮川朝市Morning market along the Miyagawa river with local vegetables, pickles and crafts.
3. Kusakabe Folk Museum
日下部民藝館Grand merchant house with heavy wooden beams, now a folk craft museum.
4. Sakurayama Hachimangu
桜山八幡宮Shrine at the north end of the old town that hosts the autumn Takayama Festival.
5. Takayama Festival Float Exhibition Hall
高山祭屋台会館Hall in the shrine grounds showing some of the festival floats all year round.
Walk Sanmachi old town in order
The highlights as one easy walk, about 1.4 km in all.
Stop 1
Takayama Jinya
Start here
Stop 2
Miyagawa Morning Market
10 min walk
Stop 3
Kusakabe Folk Museum
3 min walk
Stop 4
Takayama Festival Float Exhibition Hall
5 min walk
Stop 5
Sakurayama Hachimangu
1 min walk
More around Sanmachi old town
Other places within walking distance. Each shows its Japanese name for maps and taxis.
Takayama City Archives Museum
高山市政記念館A museum in Gifu Prefecture, Japan.
Yamazakura Shrine
山桜神社A Shinto shrine in Gifu Prefecture, Japan.
Great Ginkgo of Hida Kokubun-ji
飛騨国分寺の大イチョウA notable old tree in Gifu Prefecture, Japan.
Sanmachi old town on the map
Every place on this page. Tap a pin for directions.
Questions
What is Sanmachi in Takayama?
The preserved merchant quarter of Takayama's old castle town, a national preservation district of wooden houses, shops and sake breweries.
When are the Takayama morning markets?
Every morning, roughly from 7 am to noon, along the Miyagawa river and in front of Takayama Jin'ya.
Sources
We checked the facts on this page against these sources.