Sanmachi is the best-preserved area of Takayama, where you can see its architectural heritage, built by the talented craftsmen who worked not only here but in many of Kyoto's temples. The streets that run alongside the Miya River are lined with hands..

If you miss the parades held in Takayama in honour of Hie-Jinja and Sakurayama, the goddesses who protect the city, you can visit Takayama Yatai Kaikan instead and see on display some of the sumptuous floats ( yatai ) that take to the streets for the..

The regional government office for the former province of Hida (1692-1868), the Takayama-jinya played a prominent role in the life of the citizens. It was a tax collection centre but also a courthouse, where people came to air their grievances and pl..

This open-air museum showcases rural living. Hida-no-Sato gives an insight into the traditional architecture of thatch-roofed, wooden farmhouses that were inhabited by peasants and mountain people in the 18C and 19C. Note in particular the gassho-zu..

More than 800 lion masks used in the traditional dances at Japanese festivals are exhibited in this small museum. The purpose of the dances is to purify the path of the procession before the altars bearing the deities pass along it. More interesting ..