Things to do in Hida
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Top 10 attractions in Hida
Hidatakayama Sanmachi Historic District
Hidatakayama Sanmachi Historic District is located on the east bank of the Miyagawa River that flows through Takayama City, and was once a prosperous merchant town. In particular, the area of Kami-Sannomachi, Kami-Ninomachi, and Kami-Ichinomachi, known as "", features well-preserved Edo-period architecture and is a must-visit destination when coming to Takayama. This area is an "Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings". Hidatakayama Sanmachi Historic District features small canals with murmuring water beneath lattice windows, sugidama (cedar balls) hanging in sake breweries, and rows of noren curtains from large merchant houses and old shops. Traditional candy stores, craft shops, and vendors selling signature savory-sweet grilled rice dumplings and Hida beef skewers line the streets, attracting visitors from all over.Takayama City · 12.6km from Hida
Hidakochi
Hidakochi is located in the northern part of Gifu Prefecture, in the heart of the Hida region. It has preserved the form of a castle town and merchant town since the Edo period, which is why it is known as the "Little Kyoto of Hida." In addition, you can stroll through the "Sanmachi" district built during the Meiji and Taisho eras, taste local delicacies such as Hida beef and Takayama ramen, and admire handicrafts that embody the superb skills of Hida artisans. Hidakochi is full of charm everywhere. Since the Edo period, this place has flourished as a central town. Today, lattice windows and hearths create a unique atmosphere. Simply strolling here is a delight, with local restaurants, cafes, sake breweries, and general stores utilizing traditional machiya architecture lining the streets, showcasing a rich and diverse charm. You won't be able to resist tasting local flavors like hoba miso. Additionally, rickshaws travel through the streets of the old town, and listening to the rickshaw pullers' commentary while enjoying the breeze on your face is a pure pleasure. Takayama Festival Takayama holds a large festival twice a year, in the spring and fall. The spring festival is the Sanno Festival held in April, and the fall festival is the Hachiman Festival held in October. These two festivals are collectively known as the Takayama Festival. The Takayama Festival is counted among Japan's three most beautiful festivals, along with the Gion Festival in Kyoto and the Chichibu Night Festival in Saitama. The Takayama Festival originated during the era of the Hida lord Kanamori (1585–1692), and the use of floats dates back to 1718. The ingenious mechanical dolls and floats with special mechanisms are artistic creations that combine traditional Japanese formal beauty with exquisite art and craftsmanship. After nightfall, each float (yatai) is lit with over a hundred lanterns, adorning the solemn and magnificent Takayama night. Old Town On the east bank of the Miya River, which flows through Hidakochi, there is an old street. In the Sanmachi district in the middle of this old street, residences from the Edo period are well-preserved. This old street still clearly outlines the shadow of the castle town "Takayama." When visiting, you can see traditional sake breweries and old houses with protruding lattice doors and windows. This area has been designated as an "Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings." Morning Market Takayama's morning market is one of the three major morning markets in Japan. The morning markets are held along the Miya River and in front of Takayama Jinya. The Miyagawa Morning Market is located along a stretch of approx. 350m of the Miya River, which flows through the center of the town, from Kaji-bashi Bridge to Yayoi-bashi Bridge, and features over 60 stalls. On the riverside near the street, there are open-air shops selling vegetables, fruits, pickles, spices, and more, while the side facing the street mainly features shops selling snacks and handicrafts. In addition to local Takayama handicrafts like Sarubobo and Ichii Itto-bori wood carvings, there are also chopsticks and other small Japanese items. In winter or on rainy days, there may only be about 10 stalls. The other morning market at Takayama Jinya began 300 years ago. It was formed as a market for sericulture farmers to buy mulberry leaves, and even today, only farmers are allowed to operate there. There are stalls selling fruits and vegetables picked early in the morning, as well as dried or homemade pickles. The supplier will even tell you how to eat and store them. It has a scale of approx. 40 to 50 stalls, and you can also see rare ingredients such as taro stems, carrot leaves, and wild vegetables. Both morning markets end around noon. If you are staying in Hidakochi, you can head out around 6:00 AM to take a look and go for a walk. You can see locals wearing "noragi" (traditional work clothes) or "kappogi" (aprons that modern Japanese housewives also wear), and see how they energetically start setting up their stalls. Takayama Jinya A "jinya" refers to the place where the gundai and daikan (official titles) governed during the Edo period; the government office, as well as the residence and warehouse of the gundai (daikan), are collectively called a jinya. The Hida daikan was promoted to Hida gundai in 1777, ranking alongside the three major gundai government offices of the time (Kanto, Saigoku, and Mino), and became an important territory under the direct control of the shogunate. It is said that among the more than 60 gundai and daikan offices that remained across the country at the end of the shogunate, only Takayama Jinya preserves the original architecture. As a rare historical site in the country, it was designated as a national historic site in 1929. Hida Folk Village This open-air museum has relocated and restored old and precious folk houses from the Hida region, including gassho-zukuri houses. It features an experience zone where you can feel the seasonal rituals passed down from ancient times, allowing you to concretize your travel memories and take them home. Highly recommended is the experience of making "Sarubobo," a specialty that represents Hidakochi. Sarubobo means "little monkey that brings happiness." In the past, mothers would hand-sew a Sarubobo for their children to wish for their happiness and growth.Takayama City · 17.6km from Hida
Okuhida Onsengo
Okuhida Onsengo is the collective name for five hot spring areas scattered throughout the Northern Alps, including Hirayu Onsen, Fukujionsenokuhi Da Hot Spring, Shinhirayu Onsen, Tochio Onsen, and Okuhida Onsen Shin-Hotaka Onsen Town. Each of the five hot springs has its own unique character, with water qualities ranging from simple thermal springs to bicarbonate, sulfur, and chloride springs. The water colors vary from colorless and transparent to brownish and cloudy white, making them perfect for hopping between springs to compare the experiences. The hot spring town boasts over 100 sources, with a discharge volume that ranks among the highest in Japan. The hot spring town is located at an altitude of approximately 800–1,300m, making summer cool and pleasant—an ideal time for escaping the heat and hiking; in the fall, the mountains are covered in vibrant foliage, and viewing the autumn leaves from an open-air bath is a unique experience here; in winter, the area is covered in white snow, offering a special charm to bathing in the snow.Takayama City · 33.8km from Hida
Hida Hoonokidaira Ski Resort
Located in Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture, Japan, Honokidaira Ski Resort is a ski resort featuring high-quality snow and diversified ski slopes, suitable for players of different levels from beginners to advanced skiers. The ski resort has many ski slopes of different difficulty levels, from the beginner slopes with gentle slopes suitable for beginners to practice basic sliding skills, to the intermediate and advanced slopes with excellent snow quality and extremely challenging, which can fully meet the needs of ski enthusiasts of different levels. The ski resort is 1,350 meters above sea level, with a total length of about 3 kilometers. The ultra-long ski slopes have a long continuous sliding distance, allowing skiers to enjoy the thrill of speeding on the snow. In addition to the excellent skiing conditions, the surrounding ecological environment of the ski resort is ideal and the scenery is magnificent. The ski resort is well-equipped with comfortable rest areas, equipment rentals, and restaurants that provide authentic Japanese cuisine. After skiing, visitors can taste hot ramen and delicious Japanese food to restore their physical strength. Whether you want to experience the fun of skiing or feel the tranquility and beauty of the Japanese mountains in winter, this ski resort is a good choice.Takayama City · 28.4km from Hida
Mont Deus Hida-kuraiyama Snow Park
Mont Deus Hida-kuraiyama Snow Parkhas a variety of slopes of varying difficulty, suitable for skiers of all levels. It also has a hot spring area and a restaurant.Takayama City · 20km from Hida
Star Spur Ryokufu Resort Hida Nagareha
Ryokufu Resort Hida Nagareha features multiple ski trails and hot spring facilities, where you can also enjoy magnificent views of the Northern Alps.Hida · 9.3km from downtown
Takayama Jinya
Takayama Jinya was built in 1615 and is a well-preserved remnant of a shogunate administrative office from the Gundai period in Japan. This building not only showcases Takayama's historical status as a shogunate-controlled territory under the Tokugawaen Garden, but also, with its rustic appearance and restored interrogation room, has become an important attraction in Takayama City, possessing profound historical and cultural value. Visitors can explore traditional Japanese architectural styles here, admiring its exquisite wooden structures, elegant tatami rooms, and delicate garden design. The Jinya features multiple exhibition halls displaying administrative documents, tools, and daily necessities from that time, vividly recreating the administrative operations and daily life of the Edo period. These exhibits not only enrich visitors' historical knowledge but also provide a more intuitive understanding of the social operations of that era. Takayama Jinya is conveniently located. Whether you are a history enthusiast or an ordinary traveler, Takayama Jinya offers a great window into the lifestyle of Japan during the Edo period.Takayama City · 12.7km from Hida
Shirakawa-go
Shirakawa-go is located in the northwestern part of Gifu Prefecture and was listed as a "World Cultural Heritage" in 1995. The "gassho-style" style residential roof has a triangular shape, which is an architectural form created by local residents to resist the severe cold and heavy snow, which is suitable for large families to live in. The shape of the house is very pointed, like a co-authoring hand, hence the name. In this snowy area, one of the few in Japan, the gassho buildings can withstand the severe weather and heavy snow, and the villagers still live in such villages to this day. With the centuries-old gassho architecture, the nature that nurtured village life, the long history and modern life harmoniously coexist here. It can be described as a "living world cultural relic". Shirakawa-go Lighting Ceremony Shirakawa-go holds a light-up ceremony every weekend from mid-January to late February. When the color of the sky gradually darkened, the icy snow and the warm lights began to interweave a soft scene, and the silver-clad thatched roof was gradually surrounded by orange light, and the scene in the dream slowly emerged. Main Attractions 1. The Hotan House (an important cultural property designated by the state) has a long history of 400 years. 2. The gassho-shaped house of the four-story building of the Kanda family. The first floor is a tea drinking room, the second and third floors are displays of winemaking, daily utensils, and sericulture utensils, and the fourth floor is an observation room. 3. The five-story building of the Nagase family's gassho-shaped house. The first floor is a display of Buddhist altars from 500 years ago. The third and fourth floors are the display of the previous daily utensils. 4. The Shiroyama Observatory overlooks the panoramic view of Shirakawa Township and is a good location for photography. 5. There are 25 thatched cottages in the shape of gassho palms, 9 of which are designated as important cultural properties by Gifu Prefecture. You can also visit the inside of the Gassho Thatched Cottage.Shirakawa Village · 25.2km from Hida
Miyagawa Morning Markets
Takayama's morning markets are one of the three major morning markets in Japan. The morning markets are held along the Miyagawa River and in front of Takayama Jinya. The Miyagawa Morning Markets are located along an approx. 350-meter stretch of the Miyagawa River, which flows through the center of town, from Kaji-bashi Bridge to Yayoi-bashi Bridge, with over 60 stalls. On the riverbank side near the street, there are open-air stalls selling vegetables, fruits, pickles, spices, and more, while the opposite side, along the street, features shops selling snacks and crafts. In addition to Takayama specialty crafts such as Sarubobo and Ichii Itto-bori, there are also chopsticks and other Japanese-style trinkets.Takayama City · 12.2km from Hida
Hida Kawai Ski Resort
This is a small ski resort with excellent snow conditions, featuring ski lifts and sleds, making it a great place to ski.Hida · 9.3km from downtown
Experiences you can't miss in Hida
Featured Culture & history in Hida
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Free things to do in Hida
Hidatakayama Sanmachi Historic District
Takayama City · 12.6km from HidaHidakochi
Takayama City · 17.6km from HidaOkuhida Onsengo
Takayama City · 33.8km from HidaShirakawa-go
Shirakawa Village · 25.2km from Hida
Hie Shrine
Takayama City · 13.5km from Hida
Sakurayama Hachimangu Shrine
Takayama City · 12km from Hida
Mount Fuji
Japan · Fujinomiya
Sensō-ji
Japan · Tokyo
Shibuya
Japan · Tokyo
Jinya-mae Morning Markets
Takayama City · 12.7km from Hida
What travellers say about Hida
翱翔的大鲨鱼2 March 2022
4.0
This is the ancient street of Takayama City in Gifu. It is very charming and looks like a small Kyoto. This area is full of old-style buildings, Ebisudaigumi-machi, all of which are wooden old buildings.
I am very lucky to see this rare beauty. However, no matter how beautiful it is, I might freeze to death if I live in such a cold place all the time.
Hidatakayama Sanmachi Historic District
_TI***j022 January 2025
4.0
nice view and quiet unexpectedly, relaxing to wandering about the town and as a middle stopping point for some great eating
Hidakochi
Cherry_wyh2 June 2020
5.0
Okuhida Onsen Village is composed of five hot spring villages, including Hirayu, Fukuchi, and Shinhotaka. The transportation is not particularly convenient and you need to take a bus from Takayama to get there. The whole hot spring village is very quiet and is especially suitable for visiting in winter. You should stay for at least 2-3 days, experience various hot spring hotels, and enjoy the beautiful scenery of the snow-capped mountains up close. It is definitely worth a visit.
Okuhida Onsengo
王DuduMaggie2 March 2023
5.0
Gaoshan is a small town... I got up around 5 o'clock last night and it was very quiet... I had to pay attention to the time... but if you want to take some real travel photos, it's very good...
Takayama Jinya
amasing19 August 2026
4.0
Shirakawa-go in August is undeniably hot; a ten-minute walk under the sun will leave your back drenched in sweat.
Sunscreen is a must; it's unbearably hot.
The houses in the Gassho-zukuri style are cool inside, with thick thatched roofs like a quilt, but there are plenty of insects outside, so bring plenty of mosquito repellent.
The village is small; the main street is packed with people at midday, making it difficult to take photos without squeezing in. It cools down in the evening; the path to the observation deck has less shade, but it's a ten-minute climb up, and you don't have to wait for the shuttle bus. The observation deck is truly invigorating.
Shirakawa-go
闲看日月6 December 2019
4.0
We didn't have any goals or plans for this trip, so we had plenty of time to wander around. We walked around here almost three times. Although there were many kinds of things on the market, we only went there to eat. What we didn't eat in the first round, we ate in the second round, and then there was a third round.
Miyagawa Morning Markets
Trip Moments in Hida
