2.5-Hour Private Walking Tour of Takayama Old Town and Shrines

The journey

Trip highlights

• 01 Stroll through Takayama's traditional Old Town streets
• 02 See unique wooden houses with low second floors
• 03 Cross a picturesque red bridge to the remnants of a former wooden castle
• 04 Spot more than 60 tiny shrines built to pray against fire
• 05 Learn about Takayama's 300-year-old float tradition honouring Ebisu San and the God of Fisheries

Discover the enchanting town of Takayama on a private walk through its timeless Old Town. Stroll past unique wooden houses with low second floors, learn about the town's open water drains and heated chimneys, and hear the story of revered floats honouring Ebisu San and the God of Fisheries in a tradition that spans more than 300 years. Cross a picturesque red bridge to see the remnants of a once-wooden castle, pass tiny shrines built to pray against fire, and end at a serene Shinto shrine where you can offer prayers.

End the tour at the Shinto shrine and offer prayers.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 2 Hours

Tour type Private

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Not included

Transport Not included

Wheelchair access Not applicable

City Takayama

Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

1

Day 01

Walk Through Takayama's Traditional Old Town

• Meet your tour guide and start the tour in the Old Town, which feels like a step back in time. Learn why the town has open water drains and heated chimneys. See unique sights such as wooden houses with low second floors and floats that revere Ebisu San and the God of Fisheries through a tradition that is more than 300 years old. This tradition is unique to the town, and you will hear all about it.
• Take a stroll across a picturesque red bridge to see the remnants of a castle that was once made of wood.
• You will see more than 60 tiny shrines around the city where people pray against fire. The city is prone to many fires because the houses are made of wood. You will also pass by the town museum and the place where the townspeople hold their morning markets.
• See the dumpling shops and warehouses where the floats are stored before moving into the modern part of town. End the tour at the Shinto shrine and offer prayers.

The route

Where you'll travel

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

• English-speaking tour guide

What's Not Included

• Tips and gratuities
• Personal expenses
• Entrance tickets, if any

Know before you go

• Takayama was established by the family of Kanamuri. It is a town of 90,000 people located between Tokyo and Osaka, but it hosts many guests; last year, it welcomed 4.7 million visitors.

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point

22 Kamininomachi, Takayama, Gifu 506-0845

Tour start

Takayama, Gifu, Japan

Tour ends at the same location as the start point.