Takayama

A village of gassho-zukuri thatched-roof farmhouses in Shirakawa, Gifu Prefecture. The UNESCO World Cultural Heritage buildings represent concentrated wisdom for mountain life in heavy snowfall regions. Winter illumination creates fantastically beautiful scenes popular worldwide, and the village continues to captivate tourists as an original Japanese landscape.

A historic district in Takayama, Gifu Prefecture, preserving townscapes from the Edo to Meiji periods. Approximately 3 kilometers of old streets feature traditional inns, sake breweries, and craft shops. Attracts about 2 million visitors annually and has become a standard school excursion destination.

A castle town in Gifu known as the 'Little Kyoto of Hida.' The preserved Sanmachi-suji streets, spring and autumn Takayama Festivals, Hida beef, and morning markets offer immersive traditional Japanese life and food experiences, making it enormously popular with international tourists.

Preserved Edo-period town in Takayama, Gifu Prefecture. The 'sanmachi' district features merchant houses and sake breweries on both sides of narrow streets. Designated as a National Important Traditional Building Preservation District. Preserves history as former center of Hida's political and economic power. Attracts over 2 million visitors annually as the heart of Hida region tourism.

Historic district of Takayama, Gifu Prefecture, with townscapes continuing from the Edo period. The Honmachi Street, stretching approximately 2 kilometers, preserves buildings from the Edo to Meiji periods. Demonstrates architectural techniques used by Hida craftsmen. Known for morning markets and four annual Takayama Matsuri festivals, attracting approximately 2 million visitors annually, representing Japan's traditional townscapes.

A district in Takayama, Gifu Prefecture, with approximately 100 Edo-period merchant houses. Both the Kamitown and Shimotown areas are preserved with complete retention of Edo-period architectural styles including earthen walls and latticed windows. Designated as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Historic Buildings in 1999. One of Gifu Prefecture's top tourist attractions with about 2 million annual visitors.

Edo period samurai culture preserved in Takayama, Gifu Prefecture. Historic streetscapes remain intact with samurai residences and merchant houses from the shogunal administrative period. The Takayama Matsuri festivals are designated Important Intangible Cultural Properties. Morning market traditions are equally celebrated. Visiting historic residences allows experience of Edo lifestyle, attracting approximately 2 million visitors annually as representing quintessential Japanese traditional townscapes.