Hida Travel Guide: Must-Visit Places, Activities, Food, and Hotels

Discover Authentic Japan in Hida

Hida, a mountainside city just a 15-minute train ride from Takayama, is the perfect destination for those seeking an authentic, non-touristy Japanese experience. Its charming townscape beautifully preserves the ambiance of past centuries.

Hida is well-known for two main reasons: its long-standing tradition of carpentry crafts, which have prospered here since ancient times, and the Furukawa Festival. This annual spring event is a vibrant display of culture, featuring elaborate floats, intricate shrine rituals, and captivating traditional performing arts.

Read on to discover Hida's best places to visit, along with hands-on activities, dining options, and recommended hotels.

Hida Travel Guide

Places to Visit
1. Shirakabe Dozogai Street and the Seto Canal Area
2. The Hida-Furukawa Festival Exhibition Hall
3. Hida Takumi Carpentry Museum (Hida Crafts Museum)
Hands-on Activities and Tours
4. Hida Furukawa Sakura Gift Shop: Kumihimo Experience
5. Watanabe Sake Brewery Tour
6. Rail Mountain Bike Gattan Go!!
7. Michi no Eki Sky Dome Kamioka
Dining in Hida
8. Maeda: Hida Beef Cuisine
9. Ajidokoro Furukawa: Taste Various Hida Dishes
10. OHAKO: Discover Hida's Herbal Cuisine
Hotels and Souvenir Shopping in Hida
11. Where to Stay in Hida: Hotels and Onsen Ryokan (Hot Spring Inns)
12. Gifts and Souvenirs from Hida

1. Shirakabe Dozogai Street and the Seto Canal Area

Shirakabe Dozogai is a charming area featuring a row of white-walled storehouses lining the Setogawa, or Seto Canal. Situated in the central Furukawa district, it's easily accessible near Hida City Hall.

During the Edo period (1603-1868), this canal divided the residential zones of merchants from those of the ruling-class samurai. This beautiful stream is now home to koi fish, and its cleanliness is maintained by local volunteers. The storehouses along the Seto Canal belong to local sake breweries.

Take a walk along the Seto Canal to enjoy the beautiful townscape and see firsthand how residents have skillfully incorporated traditional architecture into their modern livelihoods.

Among the notable structures in this area, Enkoji Temple stands out as majestic. It is one of Furukawa's three major Buddhist sites, along with Shinshuji Temple and Honkoji Temple, all within walking distance. A local custom involves visiting all three temples in a pilgrimage on January 15 to pray for one's heartfelt wishes to be granted.

2. The Hida-Furukawa Festival Exhibition Hall

An intangible cultural treasure, the Furukawa Festival has been a cherished part of Hida's Furukawa district since the early 18th century. This major annual event for Keta Wakamiya Shrine takes place every year on April 19th and 20th.

For a preview of this incredible festival, which is eagerly awaited and deeply woven into the lives of residents, visit the Hida-Furukawa Festival Exhibition Hall.

To begin, watch the 20-minute documentary (shown three times hourly) to understand the festival's history, importance, and main attractions.

This float had just been brought back into the museum after the festival

You'll then see three of the ten impressive festival floats on display. Notice their intricate carvings and the detailed art that decorates them. Each float, representing a unique Furukawa district, has a distinct name and symbol. Some of these floats are over 100 years old.

Get hands-on by trying to maneuver the wooden karakuri puppets, a key feature of the festival. Another interactive area allows you to attempt the "tombo" (dragonfly) acrobatics. These are typically performed during the Okoshi Daiko event, which takes place on the evening of April 19 and serves to rouse the residents for the next day's festival preparations.

With explanations in English, the exhibits provide an excellent introduction to the festival.

Hida-Furukawa Festival Exhibition Hall
Location: Map
Hours: 9:00 - 17:00 (March - November), 9:00 - 16:30 (December - February) *Closed: December 29 - January 3
Admission: Adults (high school students and older) 700 yen, Children 300 yen
Website: https://okosidaiko.com/en/

3. Hida Takumi Carpentry Museum (Hida Crafts Museum)

The Hida Takumi Carpentry Museum celebrates the traditional crafts for which Hida is renowned. This densely forested, mountainous region was the birthplace of ingenious wooden joinery and carving techniques.

Hida's carpenters were historically employed in building temples and palaces for Nara and Kyoto when those cities served as Japan's capitals.

Upon entering the museum, you'll find a hands-on area showcasing intricate wooden joinery that uses no nails. This clever joinery is often used in pillars and ceilings, and you'll find some techniques so inventive they're simply breathtaking.

The displays continue on the second floor, offering a great view of the Seto Canal. The exhibits showcase carpentry tools, masterful carvings, and miniature models of structures built by Hida's renowned carpenters. This museum provides invaluable insights into the depth of traditional Japanese culture.

Hida Takumi Carpentry Museum
Location: Map
Hours: 9:00 - 17:00 (December - February: until 16:30) *Closed on Thursdays
Admission: Adults 300 yen, Children 100 yen, free for children under 6
Website: https://hida.travel/destination/hida-crafts-museum/27

4. Hida Furukawa Sakura Gift Shop: Kumihimo Experience

At the Hida Furukawa Sakura Gift Shop, you can try your hand at kumihimo, the traditional silk-thread braiding featured in the internationally acclaimed animated film "Your Name."

Though kumihimo is traditionally crafted for obijime (the cord that secures a kimono's obi), this workshop lets you create your own bracelet or keyholder accessory. The activity typically lasts 30 to 45 minutes and the fee is 1,800 yen.

With six braiding stands and a wide array of thread colors, you're free to select your favorite combination. The staff will demonstrate the technique and walk you through the initial steps. You'll quickly find the process deeply engaging. As you work with the thread, you may even sense a connection to the craft's ancient history and the countless individuals who mastered it before you.

Explore the shop's impressive selection of local handicraft items and delicious food products, which serve as wonderful souvenirs from Hida.

Hida Furukawa Sakura Gift Shop
Location: Map
Hours: 10:00 - 16:30 (December - March 10:00 - 16:00) *Closed on Thursdays

5. Watanabe Sake Brewery Tour

Watanabe Sake Brewery is one of the Furukawa district's two leading sake breweries. They offer a broad selection of sake catering to various preferences, notably their premium "W" brand, which features top-quality rice from throughout Japan.

Horai is their signature sake, famously used as an offering during the Furukawa Festival. This celebratory sake is known for enhancing enjoyable conversations and brightening any occasion.

Visitors can enjoy a simple tasting of several sake varieties for free. However, to truly understand Hida's sake traditions, consider taking a brewery tour. This exclusive experience offers a profound look into wider Japanese culture.

You'll discover how Watanabe Sake Brewery expertly blends tradition with modernity. For instance, you'll see advanced machinery meticulously controlling the temperature and environment—critical for producing high-quality sake. At the same time, the brewery maintains a small inner shrine dedicated to the guardian deity of sake. The staff's strong belief in gratitude leads them to surround fermentation tanks with expressions of thanks and positive intentions.

You'll discover all this and more during the inspiring brewery tour, which thoughtfully includes tastings of freshly made sake. To secure your spot, please make a reservation in advance by email at event@sake-hourai.co.jp, specifying your desired tour date and number of participants. The tour takes about one hour and the fee is 2,000 yen/person (*the tour is performed in Japanese only, every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 10:30 AM).

Watanabe Sake Brewery
Location: Map
Hours: 9:00 - 16:00
Website: https://www.sake-hourai.co.jp/en/

6. Rail Mountain Bike Gattan Go!!

Rail Mountain Bike Gattan Go!! is a unique activity in Kamioka, a mountainous district of Hida. This attraction repurposes a disused railroad line, allowing visitors to pedal custom-built "rail bikes" along the tracks.

Each rail bike consists of two mountain bikes fixed to a metal frame, accommodating two pedaling riders. There are also additional seats for up to six passengers, with special options for children and even pets. On the Town Course, you can select the most suitable rail bike setup based on your group size.

Gattan Go!! offers two distinct courses:
- The 5.8-km Town Course is ideal for beginners and families.
- The 6.6-km Canyon Course is recommended for experienced adult riders.

Please note that Gattan Go!! operates seasonally, from approximately mid-March to late November.

For 1,000 yen, you can have your photo taken by a professional and receive a physical and digital photo.

During our visit, we chose the Town Course, which offered a unique journey through Kamioka. This town once thrived as a mining community, evident in its distinctively elongated houses built closely together due to the high population density of its past.

The scenery along the Gattan Go!! route changes beautifully with the seasons. For instance, a late April visit offers a stunning display of cherry blossoms and vibrant yellow daffodils blanketing the hills.

To make the most of your Gattan Go!! experience, we highly recommend booking a package deal that includes a bus ride from Takayama or Hida-Furukawa. This combined ticket offers excellent value and convenience. Reservation page: https://www.nouhibus.co.jp/hida/bustrip/?lang=en#gattango

Rail Mountain Bike Gattan Go!!
Website: https://rail-mtb.com/en/

7. Michi no Eki Sky Dome Kamioka

Michi no Eki Sky Dome Kamioka is an essential stop for science enthusiasts! This facility features KAMIOKALab, a free-admission museum dedicated to the research conducted at the Super-Kamiokande, along with a souvenir shop.

The Super-Kamiokande, the world's largest water Cherenkov detector, is built upon the Kamioka mine. It is operated by an international collaboration including the Institute of Cosmic Ray Research, a division of the University of Tokyo.

At KAMIOKALab, visitors can dive into the world of neutrino research through fun, interactive exhibits. You'll learn how this pivotal research dramatically changed our understanding of neutrinos and brought Nobel Prizes to two Japanese scientists.

A dedicated area within the museum offers a unique glimpse into the Super-Kamiokande, showing how its enormous photosensors detect neutrinos. These detections are crucial for gathering information about the universe carried by these elementary particles.

KAMIOKALab makes learning enjoyable and accessible, with all explanations provided in English.

At the souvenir shop, you can find gifts related to space research as well as a variety of local Hida products.

Michi no Eki Sky Dome Kamioka
Location: Map
Hours: 9:00 - 17:00 *Closed on Wednesdays
Admission: free
Website: https://www.city.hida.gifu.jp/site/kamiokalab-en/12056.html

Dining in Hida

Hida boasts delicious local specialties you simply must try, including Hida beef, soba noodles, and gohei-mochi (skewered glutinous rice snacks). We highly recommend the following three restaurants.

8. Maeda: Savor Delicious Hida Beef Cuisine

Maeda is celebrated for its exquisite Hida beef dishes, served in grand lacquered vessels that transform any meal into a lavish feast.

We highly recommend the Hida Beef Gyoza and Hida Beef Steak set (2,300 yen). This generous meal allows you to savor the best of local flavors, featuring succulent slices of grilled Hida beef, flavorful gyoza dumplings also filled with Hida beef, and a medley of delicious vegetables.

Another excellent choice is the Hida Beef Roast Beef Set (2,300 yen), which is highly recommended for those who want to fully savor the rich flavor of Hida beef.

You'll find Maeda conveniently located right in front of Hida-Furukawa Station.

Maeda
Location: Map
Hours: Lunch 11:30 - 14:00, Dinner 17:30 - 20:00 *Closed on Mondays and Thursdays
Website: http://j47.jp/maeda/

9. Ajidokoro Furukawa: Taste Various Hida Dishes

Hoba Miso cuisine. Picture courtesy of Hida City Hall, Department of Commerce and Tourism

Ajidokoro Furukawa is conveniently located next to Festival Square and Shirakabe Dozogai Street.

Gohei-Mochi. Picture courtesy of Hida City Hall, Department of Commerce and Tourism

This restaurant offers a wide array of Hida's diverse cuisine, including local delights such as Hoba Miso Hida Beef (tender Hida beef cooked in a miso-based sauce, traditionally wrapped in a magnolia leaf, or hoba), Hida Beef Curry Rice, Soba Noodles, Gohei-Mochi topped with wild sesame (egoma) paste, Hida Furukawa Ramen, and others.

During sweetfish season, a famous Gifu specialty, you can also enjoy freshly grilled sweetfish here. This restaurant is an excellent spot to experience a variety of authentic local dishes.

Ajidokoro Furukawa
Location: Map
Hours: 10:00 - 14:00
Website: https://ajidokoro.jp/index.html

10. OHAKO: Discover Hida's Herbal Cuisine

OHAKO is a cafe managed by the same family behind Busuitei, a renowned ryokan in Hida celebrated for its exceptional cuisine.

At OHAKO, you can savor dishes infused with herbs. Hida, being a densely forested region, is rich in these herbs, which have been utilized in local households for centuries.

The carefully crafted menus are not only healthy and delicious but also beautifully presented. We highly recommend dining here for anyone seeking a wellness and health-oriented culinary experience.

OHAKO
Location: Map
Hours: 11:00 - 16:00

11. Where to Stay in Hida: Hotels and Onsen Ryokan (Hot Spring Inns)

Hida offers a wide array of accommodation options, from entire guesthouses available for rent to traditional hot spring ryokans (Japanese inns) and convenient business hotels.

For international guests seeking a truly unique immersion in Hida's culture and cuisine, we highly recommend Yatsusankan. This hot spring ryokan is housed in a historic building dating back to the Meiji period (1868-1912), offering a glimpse into the past while providing a luxurious stay.

The entire ryokan is a work of art, showcasing Japanese art and decorations inspired by Hida's local culture, including the famous Furukawa Festival.

Yatsusankan features 18 uniquely designed rooms, each varying in size and layout. The rooms on the upper floor provide sweeping views of Hida's townscape.

Picture courtesy of Yatsusankan

Guests can enjoy a large communal bathing area with natural hot spring water, along with several comfortable lounges and relaxation areas. These spaces are perfect for unwinding amidst a collection of cultural artifacts from Hida.

We especially recommend staying at Yatsusankan in April, when guests are invited to attend rehearsals for the lion dance and karakuri (puppet) performances ahead of the Furukawa Festival.

Please be aware that there is a three-year waiting list for stays on April 19th and 20th, the specific dates when the famous Furukawa Festival is held.

Busuitei is another highly recommended ryokan. Beyond a relaxing stay in a Japanese-style room, guests can also indulge in the inn's celebrated cuisine, which is infused with herbs.

For those who wish to experience the incredible Okoshi Daiko event of the Furukawa Festival directly from their guestrooms as it parades through the streets of Hida, we recommend Notoya, a centrally located inn in the city.

12. Gifts and Souvenirs from Hida

Before your trip ends, you'll surely want to pick up some souvenirs and local products from Hida!

The Hida-Furukawa Sakura Gift Shop offers a wide selection of Hida's handcrafted items and edible products.

For a delicious sweet treat, look for Miso Senbei. These famous local crackers are made from miso (fermented soybean paste) and come in various rich flavors. You can purchase them directly from their maker, Miso Senbei Hompo Inohiro, or at larger gift shops like Sakura.

For those who enjoy alcoholic beverages, be sure to try the products from Hida-Furukawa's two major sake breweries: Watanabe Sake Brewery and Kaba Sake Brewery. You can purchase their sake directly at their headquarters, both conveniently located near the center of the Furukawa district.

Alternatively, visit the Goto Liquor Store. They carry representative products from both breweries, as well as other locally made liquors like Hida Craft Beer.

Enjoy Exploring Hida

We hope this guide provides a helpful introduction to Hida's many charms. The best way to truly experience this captivating mountainside city is by exploring it leisurely on foot.

Beyond the main attractions we've highlighted, keep an eye out for the town's everyday delights. You'll witness the calm daily lives of residents, discover objects that evoke the spirit of the Furukawa Festival—like the large storehouses where the festival floats are kept, or the Kasumi Bridge adorned with taiko drums related to the Okoshi Daiko event—and immerse yourself in the seasonal scenery that beautifully reconnects you with nature.