Takayama Local Food & Sake Culture Tour, Licensed Guide
Description
This is more than an ordinary culinary tour—escorted by an experienced licensed local guide, you’ll be introduced to sights that tell of Takayama’s rich culture and history, regaled with fascinating stories, and even meet some of our local food heroes throughout shops that still retain the authentic atmosphere of days long past. Takayama is a town famed for being deeply rooted in its local culture and history, where daily life still revolves around its longstanding traditional shops. This entertaining and informative Takayama cuisine and cultural tour takes lets you stroll down the side streets of a beautiful town, practically unchanged since the Edo period. Note*1: Please select your must-see spots from a list in the tour information to create your customized itinerary. Note*2: The National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter certification is issued by the Japanese government requires a good knowledge and understanding of Japanese culture and history.
Tour Options
Itinerary
The Takayama Jin'ya is a surviving Edo period jin'ya which served as the government headquarters for Hida Province under the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan from 1692 to 1871.
An essential Takayama tradition is called Asa-ichi. Behind this name hides the small morning market where fresh produce and local crafts are found.
The Miyagawa Morning Market has existed in one form or another for more than two centuries, and it's still a hub for fresh produce. The market is located on either bank of the Miya River between two bridges—Kajibashi and Yayoibashi. Every morning, weather permitting, you can buy everything from local fruit and vegetables to dolls and stylish chopsticks. As with all markets, the earlier you get there, the better. The juiciest, freshest products will get picked off first, and the market is a perfect place for people-watching.
The heart of Takayama is Sanmachi, the old town of preserved and restored buildings. During the Edo period (1603-1867), Takayama was a lively hub town bustling with craftsmen, merchants, and farmers from the surrounding area. Today that legacy is preserved in the three main streets and encircling districts of Sanmachi.
OHNOYA, traditional Miso and Soy source brewery and shop was founded 250 years ago in the city of Takayama(HIDA).
Signature brand Sansha is a dry sake with muscular umami. You can buy a small tasting cup and savor more than ten types of sake. The steamed manju buns and cakes, both made with sake, will also leave you with nostalgic memories. **Tasting: Available for an additional charge
Kawashiri specializes in artisanal matured sake. For a small charge, you can taste a trio of fine brews, including Hidamasamune. **Tasting: Available for an additional charge
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
This private tour is a walking day tour. A private vehicle is not included. Public transportation or local taxis maybe used to transfer between sites. Exact transportation costs can be discussed with the guide after a reservation is finalized. Please have Japanese Yen on hand for your transportation costs. If you wish to arrange for a private vehicle, please contact us directly. All Private vehicles must be booked 5 days in advance. Maximum number of passengers: 7.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- Wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- This is a walking tour. Pick up is on foot.
Reviews(20)
Micasa was an excellent tour guide. Very informative and showed us so much of the city. The tour was catered to what we wanted to see and do and was a really good pace.
Thank you very much for your great feedback to the tour. I could also enjoy wonderful time with you. I was very glad to know that both of you have a warm interest about our culture. Anyway, I wish you would have an experience touching your heart in Japan. Have a nice travel! Micasa
An exceptional tour with our guide, Micasa, who enabled us to get a real connection with Japanese culture and history, and proudly showed us his local town. Highly recommended for a full experience of Takayama.
Thank you very much for your nice feedback! That was a wonderful day to me with both of you too. I could enjoy pleasant conversation with you about Japanese culture and your culture. Thanks again for taking the tour! - Micasa
This was an outstanding tour and a great value. Our guide Yoko tailored everything to our interests and energy level, including reading when we were ready for a food break. We saw SO much of Takayama and had a great time tasting sake
Thank you for your kind feedback. I’m pleased to hear that you enjoyed Takayama and its sake. And I know you also loved the food. Thank you again and I hope to see you again in Japan someday! - Yoko
Very good I learned a lot about Takayama and festivals, Buddhism Shintoism, and fire prevention. The meal was good. I enjoyed the sake tasting.
Dear guest Thank you so much for taking your time to post an excellent review and nice comments！ Your nice comments encourage me a lot. I also had a wonderful time with you in Takayama. Takayama has rich culture and so many local folk crafts. Please come to Takayama with your family again. I'm looking forward to seeing you. Best regards, Lily(Yuriko )
Annie was an exceptional tour guide. She was incredibly friending and knowledgeable about Takayama. It was interesting to learn about the areas rich history and to be taken to some of Annie’s favourite places. We particularly enjoyed lunch and visiting the Government building. Thank you for a lovely day.
Thank you very much for your thoughtful feedback about the tour. I’m truly honored to hear that you enjoyed it. I also had a wonderful half day with all of you and really enjoyed our conversations. Please visit Japan again someday. Thank you so much for joining the tour. - Annie
Yuriko (Lily) was very knowledgeable and friendly tour guide. She was flexible and was able to push your tour back as we had travel delays. Tour hit interesting historical and culture sites and was less of a food tour compared to others we’ve done. Tasted one sample miso soup, Sake tasting and she ended the tour by leaving us at amazing steak restaurant.
Thank you very much for your kind feedback! We're glad to hear you enjoyed exploring Takayama’s cultural and historical highlights with Yuriko (Lily), and that she was able to adjust the schedule to accommodate your travel delay. We hope you had a great time at the steak restaurant and look forward to welcoming you again on your next visit to Japan! Japan Guide Agency
We had a fantastic day with Yuriko who took us on a tour around Takayama. She has a lot of knowledge and made the tour fun. Definitely recommend.
We appreciate your kind feedback and our guides do too! We are so happy to hear that you enjoyed the tour with your guide. We look forward to your next visit to Japan! Japan Guide Agency
My wife and I got to tour Takayama with Elvis. He was a great and knowledgeable guide and made sure we got to see everything we wanted to. Elvis was friendly made sure we were always comfortable without feeling rushed.
Thank you for your review. I am pleased that you enjoyed Takaya including Sake breweries. And I was impressed that you like Japanese food including Tofu. It is my happiness if you love Japan more and come back again! Your guide, Elvis
Thanks Tatsuya Ito your private tour was amazing. We got to see some amazing sites in Takayama with a great history lesson on the area. It was great to have a personal tour to stop where you wanted and take the time to see everything.
Thank you for your good review. It was a lovely day in Takayama. We could enjoy Takayama’s beautiful scenery at that time. I explained the history and custom of local city. I was happy to introduce attractive Japanese small town. If you have a chance, please visit more site in Japan. I am happy to introduce you. Tatsuya
Mitsu was an amazing tour guide! My family and I throughly enjoyed her tour of her home town of Takayama. She shared so much knowledge of her history of Takayama. We really appreciated her and the friendly people of Takayama.
Dear guests, Thank you for your participation in our tour and for your high review. I am very happy to have had a pleasant walk with you and your lovely family. I was also very happy that you listened to me to get to know my hometown, Takayama City, and that you were so kind to me with gentle smile throughout the tour. I received a lot of energy from you. Thank you so much. The weather was unusually rainy all day long, but I believe it was a true “blessing rain”. Everything shone even more beautifully and gave the ancient city of Takayama a touch of elegance. I want to show you more places,please come to Takayama with your lovely daughter and all of you. I wish you good health and happiness from the bottom of my heart. I really look forward to seeing you again. Aloha! From Mitsu
