Sake Breweries Galore at Sanmachi-suji, Old Town Takayama

If you are traveling through the Gifu Prefecture in Japan, you’ll definitely want to visit the Sanmachi-Suji district in the city of Takayama. This area has been given the lovely nickname of “Little Kyoto” due to it’s gorgeous Edo-style architecture and vibes. Plus if you enjoy getting a little boozy with Sake, oh boy this is the place to be :)

This is my first time exploring Sanmachi-suji and I am so excited to share my experiences and recommendations with you in old town Takayama!

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Little Kyoto in Old Town Takayama

sanamchi suji old town takayama little kyoto — *If everyone was dressed in Kimonos, it’s basically like time traveling*

Sanmachi-suji consists of 3 main streets:

Kamiichino-machi
Kaminino-machi
Kamisanno-machi

These streets are lined with traditional Edo-style wooden buildings and paved with cement roads. From the pictures I took, you’ll definitely notice the dark, black/brown/grey colors of the streets. while it does look gloomy, I think it adds to the atmosphere.

Nearby is the Miyagawa river that separates the the Old town from the rest of Takayama. A red bridge connects the two districts, and is also a popular tourist spot for taking photos.

Best Hotels in Takayama

If you are looking for a place to stay here are some of the best hotels and roykans in Takayama that I recommend.

Fav Hotel Takayama - Newly built, luxurious hotel right in the center of Takayama, not too expensive for the quality as well.

Mercure Hida Takayama - A stylish hotel with fun colorful architecture and furnishings.

Takayama Ouan Hotel - A comfortable and high quality ryokan with a onsen overlooking the gorgeous city.

Strolling Through Sanmachi-Suji

sanmachi suji old town takayama little kyoto — *A shop selling local specialty snacks and food items*

Sanmachi-suji used to be a merchant district so, you’ll definitely notice a lot of shops selling local specialty snacks as well as restaurants and cafes serving up your typical Japanese street foods like grilled wagyu skewers and Japanese soft cream.

While there are 3 streets for you to explore, they do sort of offer the same sort of things with not much variation between them. That’s not to say you should only walk through one of Sanmachi-suji’s streets.

The shops here consists of mainly cafes where you can sit down, chill, ad enjoy the old town Takayama aesthetic.

sarubobo monkey baby — *It’s like he wants a hug*

If you’ve been in Gifu for a while of you’ve been to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Shirakawa-go, you might have noticed these red plushie looking guys.

These guys are called Sarubobo, which means monkey baby and are the mascot of this region. You can buy little versions of Sarubobo in keychain or plushie form, and they come in different colors meaning different charms. you can read more about these cute Sarubobo guys at this website.

japanese soft cream — *No joke, Japanese people like eating ice cream during the winter to balance their body temperature*

What I do recommend you seek out in Sanmachi-suji is soft cream, usually you’ll be able to find soft cream everywhere in Japan, but it just feels different to eat when you are walking through an Edo-style district.

There are dozens of shops selling soft cream, and they’re pretty much the same, so just take your pick.

hida beef skewer — *Sorry for the blurry picture but this was delicious*

Another food item you should look out for is anything wagyu or beef like grilled skewers, sushi, croquettes, etc..

That’s because this region is especially famous for their variant of Wagyu known as Hida Beef, recognized as Japan’s best beef and from the highest quality of black cattle that is bred in the Gifu prefecture.

I got a Hida beef skewer, and to be honest it tastes similar to any other high quality wagyu you might find in Japan, I’m no wagyu expert so I couldn’t discern any difference from the other wagyu beef out there.

That’s not to say it’s average, oh no, sorry for any misunderstanding but Hida beef still tastes amazing and you should definitely have a taste whenever you are in Sanmachi-suji or any other parts of Gifu.

Old Style Rickshaw Rides

japanese pulled rickshaw — *Guys I think they’re lost*

As you are walking through Sanmachi-suji you might also notices these old pulled rickshaws, you can definitely ride on yourself, I understand that it can be tiring walking through the 3 streets.

I didn’t get the chance to ride them, but if you do, I bet you’ll feel like royalty as you’re being pulled down the old town streets.

You can also rent a Kimono to wear as you are exploring Sanmachi-suji! If you really want to get into the vibe, be sure to wear a Kimono while riding the rickshaws ;)

Please note though, that renting a Kimono can be expensive but for you Instagram models out there, it’s definitely worth it.

Sake and the Yoshijima Heritage House

takayama yoshijima heritage house sake brewery — *So many different varieties of sake to try!*

The district of Sanmachi-suji is well known for it’s many Sake breweries. Being a former merchant district it makes sense, you can imagine back in Edo Japan, travelers would take a rest in this area and enjoy a few drinks before heading off again.

There are many shops to check out, with each one of them allowing for taste tests of their Sake. Some places even offer workshop activities or tours through their brewing facilities, such as this Tour and Tasting activity at Takayama’s oldest Sake brewery.

japanese empty sake barrels — *Empty sake barrels can be seen all over the street*

The Yoshijima Heritage House is a national cultural treasure, and it was the home of the Yoshijima family as well as their brewery. The building itself is quite old being constructed during 1908, with the architecture showcasing an old yet elegant design with various woodworks and the Yoshijima family crest being on display.

While certainly a location you should check out, I will warn you that it is quite touristy, so just a quick stroll through the house will do.

Takayama Jinya Old Government Building

This building, the Takayama Jinya was a former government office building during Edo Japan. The district of Sanmachi-suji was actually built surrounding this building.

Of course, in this modern day and age, the Takayama Jinya no longer serves its original purpose, instead it is now a history museum for tourists and locals alike.

If you go in you’ll see great halls, conference rooms, residential areas, offices, and even an interrogation room.

Plus a fun fact is that Takayama Jinya’s main hall used to be considered as one of the biggest rice storehouse in Japan.

The entrance fee is 440 JPY for adults, for high school children and younger ages, the admission price is totally free.

Details About Sanmachi-suji

Sanmachi-suji, better known as Old Town Takayama, is a district in the city of Takayama that is lovingly referred to as “Little Kyoto”.

During peak tourism season, the 3 streets can be crowded and full of tourists. While the district is open 24 hours a day, most shops and cafes close at around 4:30PM.

Location: 20 Kamisannomachi, Takayama, Gifu 506-0846, Japan

Opening Hours: 24 Hours | Mon - Sun

Looking for Things to Do in Takayama?

Takayama and Shirakawa-go Day Tour - Tour Takayama and a UNESCO World Heritage site
Oldest Sake Brewery Tasting Tour - Sample some of Takayama’s oldest and best sake
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