Sampling local cuisine is one of the best ways to experience Japan when traveling. Some dishes like sushi are easily recognizable, while other dishes may be new to travelers.
Takayama City in Gifu Prefecture has a variety of local dishes and foods, but where to start? For a more casual experience, head over to Takayama Old Town or the Miyagawa Market! Besides the beautiful wooden Japanese architecture, you can also find many delicious street foods to sample.
Our local staff at MACHIYA INNS & HOTELS have picked out six must-try street foods in Takayama Old Town. Read on to discover amazing Japanese sweets and savories!
Takayama is famous for the delicious Hida Beef, a Japanese wagyu which is a specialty of the Hida region (which Takayama is a part of). Tender and delicious, Hida Beef is of an incredibly high quality and a dream for meat lovers visiting Japan.
You can’t visit Takayama without trying Hida Beef, but what if you want just a quick taste or to enjoy it in a more casual way? No problem — go for the street food version!
Here are two options to consider:
・Hida Beef Sushi: Delicious sushi with a beef twist available at Hida Kottegyu! You can pick from a variety of sauces and cuts of beef to suit your tastes. Even the plate is edible, as it’s served on a shrimp cracker!
・Hida Beef Kushi-yaki: Hida beef kushi-yaki, or beef skewers, are available at Jugemu. It’s the perfect way to enjoy Hida Beef on the go while you explore beautiful Takayama Old Town. Choose from marbled, loin, or lean meat.
LOCATION: If you’re heading over to Takayama Old Town from the Takayama Jinya (historical, restored government building) area, cross the Miyagawa River at Nakabashi Bridge, then head north on Sanmachi Suji. You’ll find Hida Kottegyu just a couple minutes up the street, nestled between a tofu restaurant and souvenir shop to your left. A little further down the street, across from an information center for tourists, is Jugemu. Just follow the smell of delicious beef!
Takoyaki is a tantalizing ball-shaped snack containing diced octopus, tempura, green onion, and pickled ginger prepared in a specially molded pan. This is a popular street food with Japanese locals, and you’ll know why as soon as you bite into one of the savory treats!
The takoyaki at Takoyaki Sago are made with ingredients native to the area, including Hida Green Onion and octopus from nearby Ishikawa Prefecture. Stop by to pick up some takoyaki, and sample this Japan street food delicacy while you wander around Takayama Old Town.
LOCATION: Takoyaki Sago can be found at the Miyagawa Morning Market, a little to the north of Takayama Old Town. Be sure to check their Instagram for their location and hours!
Soft serve ice cream may not seem like the obvious Japanese street food to recommend. After all, you can eat ice cream all over the world. But Japan is home to some of the most unique ice cream flavors in the world, and even Japanese tourists line up to sample Takayama’s own spin on soft serve ice cream.
Head to Takayama Pudding-tei, one of Takayama City’s most popular sweet shops. It’s based in a building dating back to the Taisho era (1912 – 1926), and is rich with old-fashioned charm.
Choose from three flavors of irresistible soft serve ice cream:
・Purin (Japanese custard pudding)
・Ramune (a popular carbonated Japanese soft drink)
・Yuki-guni (“snow country”), a blend of pudding and Ramune soft serve
The yuki-guni soft serve is made in the image of the stunning snowy views you can expect to see if you visit the Hida area during winter.
LOCATION: Like when heading to Hida Takayama Kottegyu and Jugemu, take Sanmachi Suji north. Once you hit Sanmachi Street, take a right. Takayama Pudding should be the 3rd shop on the right side of the street.
Taiyaki is a fish-shaped cake named and modeled on tai fish (red sea bream). You can find taiyaki throughout Japan, enjoyed as a delicious snack by locals and tourists alike.
Unlike regular taiyaki, which average about 15 cm or 6 inches, the taiyaki at Cyanome in Takayama, Japan is bite-sized, perfect for on-the-go. The owners aim to offer innovative sweet treats, with various seasonal menus to keep things interesting.
Choose from fillings like:
・Azuki red bean paste
・Chocolate
・Sweet potato
・Custard
・Cheese
・Sausage
If you’re traveling with a group, we recommend getting several flavors of taiyaki to share, so you can try a bit of everything!
LOCATION: Find Cyanome in Takayama Old Town just across from Hida Takayama Kottegyu!
Japanese pudding, or purin, is a beloved custard-based dessert that evokes nostalgia for many in Japan. Similar to crème caramel found in other cultures, it is a simple yet delightful treat.
You can find it almost anywhere, from convenience stores to cafes and restaurants, but take our word and try the pudding at Noix De Coco when in Takayama. Besides the regular options, if you visit during the winter months, they have a special hot pudding, which is sure to warm you up.
Noix De Coco prepares its pudding with the utmost care. It contains only eggs, milk, vanilla, fresh cream, and sugar. Their Japanese sweets specialists use locally sourced, specially selected eggs and fresh milk in their creations.
With such careful selection of ingredients and preparation methods, the pudding boasts a wonderfully rich flavor and creamy texture. One taste is all it takes to fall in love with Noix De Coco’s purin.
LOCATION: Pudding from Noix De Coco can be purchased at their stand at the Miyagawa Morning Market.
Tomato for dessert? Tomato juice is definitely not something that comes to mind when searching for Japanese street food on this list. But we’re absolutely serious: one drink of Maruori’s tomato juice and you won’t be able to go back to to any other!
What makes it so worth your yen? This irresistible juice is 100% tomatoes only — nothing else. That’s not the case with most other tomato juice drinks, though, which often contain salt.
Pure tomato and pure flavor, the company created its tomato juice to increase awareness that you can eat tomatoes raw, and to highlight the delicious taste of tomatoes grown in the Nibukawa area. They’re watered with melted snow from the Northern Japanese Alps, which adds to their purity.
Maruori’s tomatoes have a natural sweetness, as farmers harvest them between September and November when their sweetness is at its peak. It’s certainly different from the other Japanese sweets we’ve listed, but this tomato juice packs plenty of powerful flavor, while being a healthy snack!
LOCATION: Head over to Hida Takayama Marutto Plaza to grab a bottle or two of the delicious tomato juice from Maruori. You can also find other local souvenirs here too. It is on the west side of the Miyagawa River on Honmachi Dori, a little north of Yanagibashi Bridge.
Since you’ve snacked on street food throughout the day, make your dinner in Takayama a memorable experience with a traditional Kaiseki Ryori!
Elevate your culinary journey in Takayama with a traditional Kaiseki ryori, a highlight of Japanese fine dining. This exquisite multi-course meal features a variety of flavors, from tender Hida wagyu beef to crispy tempura, fresh sashimi, and seasonal local specialties.
MACHIYA LOCALS makes it easy to plan an unforgettable dining experience. This platform helps travelers book reservations without language barriers, ensuring everything goes smoothly. Whether you want an 8-course Takayama-style meal or a special vegetarian kaiseki, they’ll assist you in finding the right spot.
Worried about dietary restrictions? Don’t worry! MACHIYA LOCALS will share your needs with the restaurant, ensuring a personalized dining experience just for you. Whether you prefer a restaurant in a traditional architecture or cozy, intimate settings, your kaiseki dinner will surely be one of the best parts of your time in Takayama.
Book your kaiseki dinner through MACHIYA LOCALS here.
Consider reserving a private traditional Japanese house during your visit to Takayama, Japan, instead of opting for typical hotels!
MACHIYA RESIDENCE INN offers private holiday homes, known as machiya, which are uniquely designed to provide an immersive local experience while ensuring modern comforts. Perfect for couples, families, and groups, these rentals allow you to enjoy both the charm of traditional architecture and the convenience of modern amenities.
