Takayama is famous for its well preserved Edo period style, with its cobbled lined streets and traditional shop fronts. It is one of the most well preserved ancient towns in Japan, only rivalled by Kanazawa.
This small market town has some wonderfully preserved ancient wooden houses, small artisan shops and a few sake breweries, which are happy to let you taste their wares. The Hida Folk Village is a traditional mountain village that has been turned into an open air museum. It is well worth spending a couple of hours wandering around here. The Spring and Autumn Festivals are a big highlight in the region, with massive floats parading through the town to the sounds of traditional Taiko drumming and singing.
