Hida-Furukawa
Hida Furukawa, A Small Old Merchant And Sake Town In Gifu Beside Takayama, With White Walled Storehouses On A Canal Full Of Carp And A Spring Festival With Floats And A Night Drum Parade. Quieter Than Takayama Itself. · Hida, Gifu
Hida-Furukawa is a small old town in Gifu, about 20 minutes north of Takayama on the JR Takayama Line. Its centre is a short stroll of white-walled storehouses along the Seto River canal, where hundreds of carp swim in the clear water. There is a traditional candle shop, sake breweries and quiet lanes of wooden houses, and few tour buses. In April the Furukawa Festival, with the Okoshi Daiko drum parade and men in loincloths, fills the streets. The town also appears in the animated film 'Your Name', and fans often come to see the station and bridges. It suits visitors who find Takayama too busy and want a calm morning walk, and it pairs well with a day around Takayama or a night in a local inn. Allow two to three hours. It is worth the detour for the canal, the quiet and the festival. It is not worth it if you want big sights, because the town is small and there is little to do after an hour. Winter brings snow, which makes it more beautiful but colder. Takayama and Shirakawa-go are separate stops.
Furukawa-cho, Hida, Gifu, a short walk from Hida-Furukawa Station on the JR Takayama Line, a few minutes north of Takayama, Hida, Gifu, Japan
The town is open to walk at any hour, and the canal and lanes need no ticket. Shops, cafes and the candle shop usually open mid-morning and close by late afternoon, many closing on one weekday or irregularly - confirm. Sake breweries may offer tastings and short tours in set hours, often with a small fee, and some close in busy brewing periods. From Takayama, take the JR Takayama Line to Hida-Furukawa Station, about 20 minutes, and walk five to ten minutes to the canal; IC cards may not work on this rural line, so carry cash. Nothing needs booking, except festival-day accommodation, which fills months ahead. Check the festival date if you plan to visit in April.