A one-day tour of ancient Japanese towns: Hida Highlands + Gunjo Hachiman + Shirakawa-go Gassho-zukuri Village Day Tours

Bookings must be made by 4:00 PM (local time), 1 day before your trip.
A member of staff will contact you by 8:00 PM (local time), 1 day before your trip.
Please provide your full name at the designated meeting point on the day of your trip.

Located in the heart of the Hida region in northern Gifu Prefecture,Hidakochi is known as the "Little Kyoto of Hida," preserving its castle town and merchant town architecture from the Edo period. Furthermore, visitors can stroll through the "three-town" districts built during the Meiji and Taisho eras, savor local delicacies like Hida beef and Takayama ramen, and admire crafts crafted with the skill of Hida artisans. Hidakochi is filled with charm. Since the Edo period, it has flourished as a central town. Today, lattice windows and hearths create a unique atmosphere. Simply strolling through the area is a delight, with local restaurants, cafes, breweries, and general stores all lining the streets in the machiya style, showcasing its diverse charm. Local flavors like hoba miso are a real treat. Rickshaws crisscross the streets of the old town, and listening to the drivers' explanations while enjoying the gentle breeze is pure pleasure. Takayama holds two major festivals each year, spring and autumn. The Sanno Matsuri is held in April, and the Hachiman Matsuri is held in October. These two festivals are collectively known as the Takayama Matsuri. Along with Kyoto's Gion Matsuri and Saitama's Chichibu Night Festival, the Takayama Matsuri is considered one of Japan's three most beautiful festivals. The Takayama Matsuri originated during the reign of the Hida lord Kanemori (1585-1692), and the use of yatai dates back to 1718. The ingenious mechanical puppets and specially designed carriages are artistic creations that combine traditional Japanese formal beauty with exquisite art and craftsmanship. After dark, each "yatai (float)" will light up more than a hundred lanterns, decorating the solemn and magnificent Takayama night.

Ancient Street

On the east bank of the Miyagawa River that flows through the Hidakochi, there is an ancient street. In the middle of this ancient street, three towns, the Edo period houses are well preserved. This ancient street still clearly outlines the shadow of the castle city "Takayama". When you visit here, you can see with your own eyes the traditional sake breweries and old houses with protruding lattice doors and windows. This area has been designated as an "Important Traditional Buildings Protection Area".

Morning Market

Takayama's morning market is one of the three largest morning markets in Japan. The morning market is held in front of the Miyagawa River and Takayama Jinya. The Miyagawa morning market is located from the "Kaji Bridge" to the "Yayoi Bridge" on the Miyagawa River that flows through the center of the town. There are more than 60 stalls in an area of about 350 meters. There are open-air shops selling vegetables, fruits, pickles, spices, etc. on the river bank close to the street, while the opposite side of the street is mainly composed of shops selling snacks and handicrafts. In addition to handicrafts such as monkey babies and one-knife carvings, which are special products of the mountains, there are also chopsticks and other small Japanese items. If it is winter or rainy, there may be only about 10 stalls.

The morning market of Takayama Jinya in another place started 300 years ago. It was formed as a market for silkworm farmers to buy mulberry leaves, and now only farmers can operate it. There are stalls selling fruits and vegetables picked early in the morning, and dried or homemade pickles. The shop owner will also tell you how to eat and preserve them. There are about forty or fifty stalls, and you can also see From the stems of sweet potatoes to the leaves of ginseng and wild vegetables, there are rare ingredients.

The morning market in any place will not end until almost noon. If you live inHidakochi, you can go out and take a walk from around 6 o'clock in the morning. You can see the locals wearing "nora-saki" which was worn when doing agricultural work in the past, and "kappo-saki" which is a substitute for aprons that modern Japanese housewives also wear, and see how they set up their stalls with enthusiasm.

Takayama Jinya

The so-called Jinya refers to the place where the magistrate and the magistrate (official title) governed during the Edo period. The government office and the residence and warehouse of the magistrate (magistrate) were collectively called Jinya. The Hida magistrate was promoted to Hida magistrate in 1777, and was the same as the then Miide magistrate (Kanto, Saigoku, Mino) ) and established an important direct jurisdiction of the shogunate. It is said that of the more than 60 magistrate and daikan offices that remained throughout the country at the end of the shogunate, only the Takayama Jinya remains. As one of the few remaining ruins in Japan, it was designated a National Monument in 1939. The Hida no Sato outdoor museum relocates and restores precious, ancient Hida-style houses, particularly Gassho-zukuri. Inside, there's a hands-on corner where you can experience traditional seasonal rituals and embody travel memories to take home. We recommend making a samoboshi, a Hidakochi specialty. Samoboshi means "little monkey that brings happiness." In the past, mothers would hand-sew samoboshi for their children to wish them happiness.