Kusakabe Folk Museum

The basics

The historic home's architecture is enough to merit a visit, with its large exposed beams of Japanese cypress and its elegant latticework accents. There's also a solid collection of Japanese folk art inside. The house is a popular stop on half- and full-day tours of Takayama, including tours focused on arts and crafts. While you can visit the museum house independently, it's worthwhile to go with a tour guide, particularly if you don't speak Japanese.

Things to know before you go

• The museum is a must-see for anyone interested in Japanese history or architecture.

• It has a lounge where you can enjoy tea and snacks at the end of your visit.

• While much of the museum is wheelchair accessible, some areas are only accessible by steep staircases and are challenging to navigate for some visitors.

• You can reserve the museum for weddings and other special events.

How to get there

The Kusakabe Folk Museum is located in Takayama, about a 15-minute walk or 10-minute bus ride from the JR Takayama Station. Takayama, in the Hida region, is well-connected to the rest of the country by train and is about a 2.5-hour ride from Nagoya on the Hida 2 Limited Express.

When to get there

The museum is open every day of the week except for Tuesdays. If Tuesday happens to be a national holiday, the museum closes on Wednesday instead. Special events are staged at the space throughout the year, including a doll festival and a boys' festival. More information is available on the museum website.

Sannomachi Street (Sanmachi Suji)

While in Takayama, make sure to spend some time wandering along historic Sannomachi Street in Takayama's old town. Here you'll find beautifully preserved Edo-period houses and businesses, including many of the oldest sake breweries in the city, where visitors go for tastings. A sake brewery is easy to spot even if you don't speak Japanese—just look for a large ball of Japanese cedar branches suspended above the front doors.