A thirty-minute walk from Takayama Station, Hida Folk Village is nestled on a gentle hill. It makes for a nice, long stroll while soaking in the local vibe. I truly believe this village is a hidden gem that doesn’t get as many tourists as it deserves.
Gifu Prefecture is home to its iconic, world-famous tourist spot, “Shirakawa-go.” Compared to it, Hida Folk Village is way less popular, quieter, and smaller. It’s a bit of a shame, but honestly, that’s exactly why I love it. I like to call it “Compact Shirakawa-go.”
The best part is that you can see actual Gassho-style houses up close and even experience traditional techniques taught by local craftsmen. I spent an hour and a half just strolling around and relaxing in the tranquil atmosphere. Here are three things that especially impressed me during my visit.
1. Goami Pond: The Serene Beauty Reflected on the Water
Created in 1931 to supply water to the Takayama Basin, Goami Pond is still used for agriculture today. The water’s surface beautifully reflects the serene snow-covered houses and mountain trees. It has a nostalgic, minimalist beauty that you can just stare at forever.
In February, the village gears up for the winter season and gets illuminated. Winters here can be so freezing that you might not even want to bother heading out. I know I hesitated! Still, I really want to come back and see how magical the village looks in full winter mode sometime soon.
There is a food stall near the pond that sells warm Amazake (sweet sake). I highly recommend buying a cup and taking your time drinking it while gazing at the pond. That was my favorite moment here.
2. Seiro-gura (Log Storehouse): The Weight of “The Real Thing”
In the Hida region, old storehouses built by stacking square logs are called Seiro-gura.
When I looked inside and saw the straw rice bags (kometawara), I just thought, “Wow.” Since I didn’t grow up on a rice farm, I had never seen them in real life, only in school textbooks. I was deeply moved to see the real thing for the first time.
Generally, one rice bag weighs about 60 kg, producing around 54 kg of polished white rice. In the Edo period, a feudal lord’s wealth and domain size were measured in Kokudaka. One koku equaled about 150 kg of rice, which is equivalent to 2.5 rice bags. This was considered the amount of rice one adult consumed in a year.
When you think about it that way, you realize just how many lives were sustained by the rice packed into a single storehouse. You can almost feel that history through its sheer weight.
3. Exploring the Houses: Imagining Life in the Past
Stepping inside the houses, you can easily notice how the layouts differ depending on the family business. For example, the Former Tomita House belonged to a wholesaler who transported goods and livestock.
The irori (sunken hearth) and the maya (a stable space where horses were tied) allow you to vividly imagine what daily life was like back then.
One thing to keep in mind: the floors are incredibly cold in the winter, making it a bit challenging to take your time exploring. If you aren’t wearing thick socks, the chill creeps up from your feet and quickly becomes hard to bear. Still, the exhibits and explanations in each house are fascinating, so I highly recommend bundling up in your warmest clothes and allowing plenty of time to look around. Also, don’t miss the traditional Hida folk tales posted in various spots inside the houses. They are a wonderful read!
Conclusion
Not having grown up in a snowy region, it was a striking realization for me that lifestyles could differ so drastically within the same country. In the Kanto region, just 5 cm of snow paralyzes transportation and causes total chaos, but here, people live in perfect harmony with the snow. I was deeply impressed by the resilience and strength of the people of Hida.
The peaceful, warm countryside landscape is something you can never encounter in a daily life surrounded by grey concrete buildings. Just being there felt like it was clearing away all my distracting thoughts. Perhaps our hearts naturally find peace in landscapes that feel instinctively familiar. The village was so quiet that I found myself reflecting on many things as I walked.
While downtown Takayama, bustling with international tourists, is incredibly charming, Hida Folk Village is the perfect escape if you want to leave the crowds behind, relax, and still deeply experience the authentic essence of Takayama. I highly recommend paying it a visit!
