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The tour buses start to arrive at Shirakawago at around 10:00am, so if you can get a good start on the day and arrive early, you’ll be in for a much more authentic and peaceful visit to the UNESCO Heritage listed site. If you do find yourself facing crowds, and feel a little disappointed in the experience because off it, I highly recommend stopping by the also UNESCO listed Gokayama afterwards, it’s lesser known, so not as crowded, and a lot of locals still live there, so it’s a great chance to see a farming town such as these in action.
Miyagawa Morning Markets
550m / 5 minutes on foot from Hotel Wood Takayama - directions
Nearby Parking - ¥300 per hour - directions
Open: 8:00am ~ 12:00pm
Closed: No Closures
The Miyagawa Morning Market (Miyagawa Asaichi) is a popular traditional market held along the Miyagawa River in Kanazawa. This lively market is famous for its fresh local produce, seafood, and handicrafts, attracting both locals and tourists.
Via Takayama Jinja - Historic Government house
directions
Open: 8:45am ~ 4:30pm
Closed: No Closures
Takayama Jinya is a historic government office in Takayama, Japan, dating back to the Edo period. Once the administrative center for the Tokugawa shogunate’s officials in the Hida region, it is the only surviving building of its kind in Japan.
Cost: ¥450
Jinya-mae Morning Markets
directions
Open: 8:00am ~ 12:00pm
Closed: No Closures
The Jinya-mae Morning Market is a historic and charming open-air market located in front of Takayama Jinya. Visitors can explore a variety of stalls offering fresh seasonal produce, homemade pickles, flowers, and traditional crafts such as sarubobo dolls and Ichii Itto-bori wood carvings. The market provides an authentic glimpse into local life, with friendly vendors often sharing stories and offering samples of their goods.
Via Hida Kokubun-ji - 1200 year old Ginko Tree
directions
Open: 9:00am ~ 4:00pm
Closed: No Closures
Hida Kokubun-ji is the oldest temple in Takayama, founded in 746 CE as part of Emperor Shōmu’s nationwide network of provincial temples. Highlights include a 1,200-year-old ginkgo tree, a beautifully preserved three-story pagoda, and a Muromachi-period main hall—Takayama’s oldest building.
HIDA
25 minutes by car from Hotel Wood Takayama to Hida City Hall Free Parking Lot - directions
Hida City is renowned for its picturesque landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and traditional crafts. Nestled in the Hida Mountains, the city features stunning natural scenery, including rivers, forests, and hot springs.
Explore Historic Setogawa and Shirakabe Dozou Streets
Setogawa Street is known for its scenic canal that runs alongside beautifully preserved wooden merchant houses, some dating back to the Edo period. The area is characterized by its quaint atmosphere, featuring traditional architecture, craft shops, and tea houses.
Shirakabe Dozou Street is famous for its white-walled storehouses (dozou) with distinctive thatched roofs. This street showcases the unique architectural style of the region and is lined with shops selling local crafts, sake, and traditional sweets.
Hida Furukawa Festival Exhibition Hall
140m / 2 minutes on foot from Hida City Hall - directions
Open: 9:00am ~ 5:00pm
Closed: No ClosuresThe Hida Furukawa Festival Exhibition Hall showcases the region's traditional festival culture, particularly the Hida Furukawa Festival, which is celebrated every spring and autumn. The hall features beautifully crafted festival floats, known as "yatai," which are adorned with intricate decorations and often include elaborate puppetry.
Cost: Adult ¥700
Okadaya - Souvinier Shop and Dango
directions
Open: 9:30am ~ 4:30pm
Closed: No ClosuresOkadaya is renowned for its tasty on‑the‑go treats, including Hida‑beef skewers, mitarashi dango, and gohei‑mochi—grilled sticky rice glazed with savory‑sweet sauce. After enjoying local delicacies, visitors often browse its small collection of Hida‑themed souvenirs, some inspired by the anime film Your Name, making it a charming, authentic culinary stop in the old town
Mishima Japanese Candleshop
directions
Open: 9:30am ~ 5:00pm
Closed: WednesdaysMishima Japanese Candleshop is a small, family-run candle shop in Hida‑Furukawa, Gifu Prefecture. Founded over 240 years ago, it’s currently operated by seventh-generation master Junji Mishima alongside his son. The shop’s signature wa‑rōsoku (traditional Japanese candles) are handcrafted using entirely plant‑based wax—making them vegan, slow-burning, breeze‑resistant, and drip‑free.
Santera Meguri Farmer's Market
directions
Open: 8:00am ~ 3:00pm
Closed: TuesdaysThe Santera Meguri Farmer's Market, located in Hida City, Gifu Prefecture, is a vibrant marketplace that celebrates local agriculture and crafts. The market features a variety of fresh produce, including seasonal fruits and vegetables, as well as artisanal foods, handmade goods, and crafts produced by local artisans.
Big Gingko on Fukuzenji temple ruins
directions
The Big Ginkgo tree at the ruins of Fukuzenji Temple in Hida City is a remarkable natural landmark known for its impressive size and age. Estimated to be over 1,000 years old, this ancient tree is considered a symbol of resilience and longevity. The Fukuzenji Temple itself, which was established in the Heian period, has long since been in ruins, but the ginkgo tree remains as a testament to the temple's historical significance.Koi feeding Station
directions
The canals along Setogawa Street in Hida Takayama are home to vibrant koi fish, which add to the picturesque charm of the area. These colorful fish are often seen swimming gracefully in the clear waters, attracting both locals and tourists who enjoy observing them. There are designated feeding stations along the canals, this being on of them, where visitors can purchase special koi food to feed the fish.Hineno Museum & Cafe
directions
Open: 11:00am ~ 5:00pm
Closed: No ClosuresHineno Museum & Café is a beautifully preserved machiya‑style townhouse converted into a compact art gallery and tearoom, just a 5‑minute walk from Hida‑Furukawa Station. Inside, you’ll find traditional shoin‑style woodwork, tatami floors, and a curated collection of Japanese paintings, ceramics, and maki‑e lacquerware dating from the 16th to 20th centuries
Hida Mori no Megumi - Herbal Medicine Tea Ceremony
directions
Open: 10:00am ~ 4:00pm
Closed: No ClosuresHida Mori no Megumi is a shop offering locally sourced herbal teas, candies, spices, and natural health remedies, many crafted from over 245 wild-grown herbs native to the surrounding forests.
‘Tea Ceremony’
Pick and blend your personal mix of up to four herbs for tasting, and you can also try making shichimi spice blends, herb-infused bath salts, ince