Hida has no shortage of natural beauty and traditional charm. In Hida Furukawa, quaint alleyways act as gateways to the past where you feel a sense of nostalgia for a time you never lived. Beyond the townscape, the area’s forests and mountains create a refreshing natural getaway. Picturesque scenes are as ubiquitous as the breeze, making Hida a perfect place to snap photos and enhance your Instagram feed. Below are a few spots in Hida that are sure to have your followers slamming that “favorite” button.
Fans of anime will not want to pass up the opportunity to visit Miyagawa Ochiai Bus Stop. This unassuming spot is rumored to be the inspiration for a bus stop that appeared in the anime movie, Your Name (君の名は). Although it is no longer in service, you can still visit the station. The structure’s simple gray facade and red roof perfectly complement the surrounding foliage no matter the season, and its location beside the Miyagawa River creates ample opportunities for photos. Take some photos of the stop itself and then pose inside of it to live out your anime dreams!
Miyagawa Ochiai Bus Stop is about a 5-minute walk from Tsunogawa Station. As you walk to the stop, admire the surrounding nature-covered hillsides along the Miyagawa River.
As bus stops in Japan go, this might be one of the more famous ones. Looking like something from a Ghibli film, this bus stop beside the Miyagawa River is allegedly known to inspire a similar ...
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Food bloggers, this spot is for you. Located a convenient 5-minute walk from Hida-Furukawa Station, Hineno Art Museum & Café is an architecturally beautiful facility that epitomizes traditional Japan. The museum portion of the building displays Japanese paintings, ceramics, and maki-e lacquerware from the 16th through 20th centuries, and the first floor is home to a special cafe.
With tatami floors at your feet, gaze out the cafe’s windows and admire the museum’s Japanese garden. The expertly balanced trees, azaleas, and stone lanterns are guaranteed to put your mind at ease. Inside, the cafe’s traditional woodwork and lattice doorways envelope you in a sense of warmth. The cafe’s simple menu of matcha, black tea, coffee, sweets, and cheesecake perfectly complement the tranquil scene and are served on eye-catching dishes. Be sure to try the handmade cheesecake, which the cafe crafts using a 50-year old recipe! Needless to say, the cafe’s ambience and beautifully plated dishes are ideal for a one-of-a-kind food photoshoot.
Hineno Art Museum & Café is a true cultural experience and is conveniently located a short 5 minute walk from Hida-Furukawa Station. The museum is located in a traditional wooden townhou...
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Continue your journey through historic Hida with a visit to a medieval samurai residence at Ema Family Residence Ruins Park. This structure once belonged to the warlord Ema who ruled over the Hida region from the Muromachi to the Sengoku period. Today, the site is designated as both a National Historic site and a National Scenic Spot. The structure’s main hall, gate, and Japanese rock garden are beautifully preserved and create an atmosphere where history and nature stand in harmony.
Wander the greenspace and find inspiration in the traditional architecture and surrounding mountainscapes. On a sunny day, the juxtaposition of the blue skies, greenery, and natural-toned structures make for stunning photos. Explore the inside of the residence as well where tatami floors and traditional woodwork are on full display. For a photo that truly embodies the past era, take a photo of the rock garden from the inside of the hall. Then, stand or kneel in front of the window and look out at the landscape for a uniquely pensive portrait.
Ema Family Residence Ruins Park is about a 30-minute drive from Hida-Furukawa Station.
Hida Furukawa and the surrounding areas of Gifu Prefecture are packed full of history and intriguing tales and myths. The Ema Family Residence Ruins Park (Emashitateato Koen) is home to a medie...
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Travel into the wilds of Hida on rail mountain bikes with Gatton-go! The electric-assist mountain bikes are secured to formerly used train tracks and provide unique perspectives of the surrounding scenery. Thanks to the electric nature of the bikes, you can enjoy light physical activity and still have enough energy to take scenic videos and photos to your heart’s content.
Gattan-go offers two courses that wind you through Hida’s lush forests, mountains, rivers, bridges, and tunnels. Snap photos and videos from unique vantage points that you rarely have access to, and enjoy the balance of nature and manmade structures.
Gattan-go is a unique attraction created by Hida locals that combines mountain biking and formerly used railway tracks. Feel the speed and sounds of the rail as you travel through forests...
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Capture the beauty of the changing seasons with a stroll along the Fujinami Hatcho Footpath. This earthen path is about a 30-minute drive from Hida-Furukawa Station and follows the western bank of the Takahara River, in Hida’s Kamioka region. During summer and spring, the greenery provides a shady haven from the sun and acts as a lush backdrop for photos. In autumn, the area transforms into a dazzling display of reds and yellows. On sunny days, light filters through the overhead canopy and illuminates the fallen red leaves, creating a flawless image of the season.
Grab your camera and test different perspectives of nature along the path. Whether the foliage is green or red, try playing with colors and choose an outfit that pops against the background. Add some accessories like a cute hat, and you are good to go!
Enjoy a calming stroll wrapped in the verdant, lush serenity of nature. The Fujinami Hatcho walking path lets visitors marvel at the beauty of valley foliage during the changing seasons. Walk al...
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A list of photogenic spots in Hida would be incomplete without mentioning the renowned Shirakabe Dozogai Street. This historic street is synonymous with Hida Furukawa’s charm and features koi-filled canals and cobblestone streets lined with traditional buildings. In the distance, Hida’s mountains fill the background, creating an all encompassing atmosphere of tranquility.
For unforgettable photos, don a kimono to match the traditional landscape. Since Shirakabe Dozogai Street is primarily white, brown, and gray, choose a kimono with vibrant colors that pop against the natural tones. With the picturesque scenery, you are guaranteed to take your next favorite photo—perhaps even your next profile picture!
Hida Furukawa's Shirakabe Dozogai Street is a charming and non-commercial heritage site which reflects, perfectly, the culture and history of the area. The Seto Canal runs through it an...
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One of Hida Furukawa’s biggest annual events is the Furukawa Festival, held in April every year, which sees beautifully decorated floats (yatai) paraded through the city — but what happens to them during the rest of the year? There are 10 storehouses (屋台蔵, yatai-gura) aroun...
This little unassuming store along a Hida Furukawa backstreet is well worth seeking out on your Hida travels. If not to chance your luck by observing a live demonstration of Mishima-san making his Japanese candles (Wa-rousoku) inside the entrance, then just to meet and admire his incredible passi...