Sanmachi Suji Old Town
三町
The most representative Edo-period merchant district in Takayama, with black-lattice wooden houses, sake breweries and Hida beef snacks. It is a national Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings.
Sanmachi Suji refers to the Kami-Ichinomachi, Kami-Ninomachi and Kami-Sanno-machi streets on the east bank of the Miyagawa River. It has been a merchant district since the Edo period and was designated an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings in 1979. Lining the streets are low, dark wooden machiya townhouses with fine lattice windows and fire-prevention water channels. Shops with cedar balls (sakebayashi) hanging at the entrance are sake breweries. The old town still has around six breweries, most of which offer tastings, some for a fee. Kami-Sanno-machi is the liveliest street. Recommended treats include Hida beef nigiri sushi served on a rice cracker as a plate (from about ¥800–1,200 for two pieces), Hida beef skewers and croquettes, mitarashi dango (grilled dango glazed with soy sauce), handicraft shops, and a shop with single-stroke wood carvings. Nearby you can visit the Kusakabe Folk Craft Museum and the Yoshijima House, a Meiji-era merchant residence and a national Important Cultural Property. For the best experience, first browse the Miyagawa Morning Market, then cross Nakabashi (the red-railed Miyagawa bridge, famous for cherry blossoms) into the old town. Access: about 10 minutes on foot from JR Takayama Station. Notes: the old town is crowded, so finish eating in front of the shop where you bought the food. Most shops are open about 09:00–17:00.
Opening hours
Open all day (shops about 09:00–17:00)
Nearby sights
- Nakabashi Bridge
- Jinya-mae Morning Market
- Takayama Jinya
- Takayama Museum of History and Art
- Miyagawa Morning Market
- Hida Takayama Showa-kan
- Shiroyama Park (Takayama Castle Ruins)
- Kusakabe Folk Museum