Surrounded by dramatic mountain ranges and blessed with a supply of some of the purest water in Japan, Watanabe Sake Brewery (established in 1870) is leading the way in promoting Gifu's long-standing relationship with sake.
Located in Hida's Furukawacho district, Watanabe Sake Brewery is steeped in history and creates some award-winning nihonshu such as the Hourai brand which has attracted customers and acolytes the world over. With a sake tasting plan in place for visitors to sample, the brewery is a must-visit destination when in Hida Furukawa.
Now in its ninth generation of owners, Watanabe Sake Brewery exports its sake around the world in addition to, naturally, having a loyal fanbase in Japan. The beautiful and historic brewery building is also a registered tangible cultural property.
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...
Hiking Mount Anbou
If you’re staying in the Hida area for a couple of days, a hike up to the top of Mount Anbou is well recommended. Suitable for hikers of all levels, the summit can be reached in about 1–1.5 hours and is a fairly leisurely climb, with plenty of nature to admire along the way.
The trailhead is a...
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