Traditional Village Lost In Japan
Only a 15 minute train ride from Takayama, Hida Furukawa is a historical town in Hida city that’s worth visiting. When compared to Takayama, Hida Furukawa is relatively smaller and less popular, it takes only two or three hours to walk around the old city area. It is especially suitable for tourists who would like to stroll along the Japanese old streets quietly to observe Hida’s traditional architecture by master craftsmen in this area, which is known as Hida Takumi. Despite the population in Hida Furukawa is only 23,000, Japanese traditional festivals, crafts, food culture, handmade products are well preserved.
Whilst it does pose many similarities to Takayama, both being stunning historic towns with wonderfully ambient atmospheres, surrounded by breathtaking mountains and valleys, home to some of the coldest winters in Japan, and boasting some of the country’s best timber craftsmen, Hida Furukawa does have its own charm and character. For example, like Takayama, it’s known for its timber and carpenters, but more specifically, their resources boast the likes of cedar, cypress bamboo, and pine. Also, did you know that the town hosts a picturesque canal that runs through its centre which is home to thousands of carp fish? Many visitors cite carp fish watching as one of the main reasons why they ensure that 15-minute train ride, but when you step off the train to this charming little town, you’ll realise there are a lot more reasons to stay – peace and quiet without the crowds being one of them.
Hida Furukawa becomes well-known mainly because of the animated movie ‘Your Name’ by Makoto Shinkai in 2016. Lovers of the movie from all over the world visit Hida Furukawa to check on the iconic scenes as well as taking the pictures in the same spots. Nevertheless, the Hida Furukawa Festival, one of Japan's three great“Naked Festivals”, is also famous and attracts nearly 50,000 visitors every time.
Whilst it does pose many similarities to Takayama, both being stunning historic towns with wonderfully ambient atmospheres, surrounded by breathtaking mountains and valleys, home to some of the coldest winters in Japan, and boasting some of the country’s best timber craftsmen, Hida Furukawa does have its own charm and character. For example, like Takayama, it’s known for its timber and carpenters, but more specifically, their resources boast the likes of cedar, cypress bamboo, and pine. Also, did you know that the town hosts a picturesque canal that runs through its centre which is home to thousands of carp fish? Many visitors cite carp fish watching as one of the main reasons why they ensure that 15-minute train ride, but when you step off the train to this charming little town, you’ll realise there are a lot more reasons to stay – peace and quiet without the crowds being one of them.
Hida Furukawa becomes well-known mainly because of the animated movie ‘Your Name’ by Makoto Shinkai in 2016. Lovers of the movie from all over the world visit Hida Furukawa to check on the iconic scenes as well as taking the pictures in the same spots. Nevertheless, the Hida Furukawa Festival, one of Japan's three great“Naked Festivals”, is also famous and attracts nearly 50,000 visitors every time.
