Takayama has some great restaurants serving both Japanese and international cuisine. Here’s a list of my favorite restaurants in Takayama.
Japanese style barbecue
Takayama has a good variety of restaurants that welcome foreign visitors. The local specialty is Hida-gyu, which is a type of wagyu (Japanese beef) from central Japan. You can also find tasty ramen, soba and udon, as well as various foreign cuisines. Most of the restaurants in the city are in Central Takayama or the Sanmachi Suji district. You can find all these places to eat on our Takayama Google map.
Takayama Station Area
Heianraku (Chinese and Japanese home-style cooking, vegetarian-friendly)
This super friendly restaurant is a short walk from the station serves home-style Chinese and Japanese fare, with plenty of choices for vegetarians. This is a good lunch or dinner option and there’s an English menu. Highly recommended!
Japanese name: 平安楽
Japanese address: 天満町6-7-2
English address: 6-7-2 Tenman-machi
Telephone: 0577-32-3078
Opening hours: 11:30am-1:00pm, 5:00pm-9:00pm, closed Tuesday
Nearest Transport: 3min walk from Takayama Station
District: Takayama Station Area
Website: Official Website
:: Read Reviews of Heianraku on TripAdvisor
Maruaki (Hida-gyu beef, sukiyaki, shabu shabu)
This relatively upscale restaurant near the station specializes in Hida-gyu beef cooked a variety of ways, including grilled and served as sukiyaki or shabu shabu. There’s a useful picture/English menu and the seats with sunken wells for long legs makes it a comfortable place to dine.
Japanese name: 丸明
Japanese address: 天満町6-8
English address: 6-8 Tenman-machi
Telephone: 0577-35-5858
Opening hours: 11:00am-9:00pm (L.O. 8:30pm)
Nearest Transport: 5min walk from Takayama Station
District: Takayama Station Area
Website: Official Website
:: Read Reviews of Maruaki on TripAdvisor
Central Takayama
Menya Shirakawa (ramen)
This is my favorite ramen restaurant in Takayama and I eat here every time I visit the city. The shoyu ramen here is awesome. There’s really only one choice to make here when ordering: name (regular) or dai (large). Oh, and you can get a flavored hard-boiled egg if you want (it’s called an aji-tsuke tamago). Delicious!
Japanese name: 麺屋 しらかわ
Japanese address: 相生町56-2
English address: 56-2 Aioi-machi
Telephone: 0577-77-9289
Opening hours: 11:00am-1:30pm, 9:00pm-1:00am, closed Monday night and Tuesday
Nearest Transport: 7min walk from Takayama Station
District: Central Takayama
Website: Official Website
:: Read Reviews of Menya Shirakawa on TripAdvisor
Bistro Kanzo (Hida-gyu beef, French)
This smart little restaurant in Central Takayama serves Hida-gyu with a French touch. In addition to beef, you can choose from other things like well-prepared fish dishes. The sets are written in English on the menu out front to help you decide. Highly recommended!
Japanese name: ビストロカンゾ
Japanese address: 有楽町46 シングビル1F
English address: 1F Sing Building, 46 Ura-machi
Telephone: 0577-34-2363
Opening hours: 11:30am-2:00pm, 5:00pm-9:00pm, closed Wednesday
Nearest Transport: 10min walk from Takayama Station
District: Central Takayama
Website: Official Website
:: Read Reviews of Bistro Kanzo on TripAdvisor
Blue Penguin Bakers (bakery)
For some seriously tasty bread and pastries to power you through a day of sightseeing in Takayama, try this cool little located on the way to the Sanmachi Suji district. A few of their pastries and a can of coffee would make a good “on the run” breakfast.
Japanese name: ブルーペンギンベイカーズ
Japanese address: 有楽町38
English address: 38 Ura-machi
Telephone: 0577-35-2515
Opening hours: 10:00am-5:00pm, closed Tuesday and Wednesday
Nearest Transport: 10min walk from Takayama Station
District: Central Takayama
Website: Official Website
:: Read Reviews of Blue Penguin Bakers on TripAdvisor
Kitchen Hida (Hida-gyu beef)
This is another great place to sample some of the local specialty: Hida-gyu beef. It’s an unfussy and non-descript place, but the meat is great and the sets are a decent value.
Japanese name: キッチン飛騨
Japanese address: 本町1-66
English address: 1-66 Hon-machi
Telephone: 0577-36-2911
Opening hours: 11:30am-3:30pm, 5:00pm-8:30pm, closed Wednesday
Nearest Transport: 10min walk from Takayama Station
District: Central Takayama
Website: Official Website (English)
:: Read Reviews of Kitchen Hida on TripAdvisor
Sanmachi Suji Area
Center4 Hamburgers (hamburgers, fries and shakes)
This funky little shop looks like some kind of curio shop, but the burgers here are awesome, as are the milkshakes and fries. If you want to try Hida-gyu as a hamburger or cheeseburger, this is the place for you. Just writing about it makes me hungry!
Japanese name: センターフォーハンバーガーズ
Japanese address: 上一之町94
English address: 94 Kamiichino-machi
Telephone: 0577-36-4527
Opening hours: 11:00am-2:30pm, 6:00pm-9:30pm, closed Wednesday
Nearest Transport: 15min walk from Takayama Station
District: Sanmachi-suji Area
Website: Official Website (Japanese and English)
:: Read Reviews of Center4 Hamburgers on TripAdvisor
Sakurayama Hachimangu Area
Kyoya (Hida-gyu beef, fish, other local specialties)
I love this rustic and homey restaurant on the north edge of town (near the heritage houses etc). They serve some great Hida-gyu beef, but don’t stop there: the local fish and the hoba miso are also excellent.
Japanese name: 京や
Japanese address: 大新町1-77
English address: 1-77 Oshin-machi
Telephone: 0577-34-7660
Opening hours: 11:00am-10:00pm, closed Tuesday
Nearest Transport: 15min walk from Takayama Station
District: Sakaurayama-Hachimangu Area
Website: Official Website
:: Read Reviews of Kyoya on TripAdvisor
Where Are These Places Located?
See these places on our Takayama Google map:- Open the Takayama map
- You will see the list of places on the left hand side. (Click the 3-line icon in the top left corner if not). Scroll down or use the map search (the magnifying glass icon) to find the place you want.
- Click the name of the place in the list. Its location pin will be highlighted on the map.
- Map pins are color coded - BLUE: Hotels | VIOLET: Ryokan | PINK: Places to Eat | YELLOW: Things to See and Do
- If you're using the map on your phone, open the map and then search for the name of the place. The map will then zoom in on its location.
Takayama Travel Guide:
- Takayama Travel Guide Overview
- Things To Do In Takayama
- Best Places To Eat In Takayama
- Takayama Itineraries
- Takayama Cherry Blossoms
- Takayama Fall Foliage
- Takayama Ryokan
- Takayama Hotels
- How To Get To Takayama
- Getting Around Takayama
- When To Go To Takayama
Other Japan Travel Guides:
Kyoto Vacation Checklist
- For all the essentials in a brief overview, see my First Time In Kyoto guide
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- Need tips on where to stay? See my one page guide Where To Stay In Kyoto
- See my comprehensive Packing List For Japan
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- Compare Japan flight prices and timings to find the best deals
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- Do you want help planning your trip? Chris Rowthorn and his team of Japan experts at Japan Travel Consulting can help
