Experiences

Nestled in the mountainous outskirts of Gero in Northern Gifu, lies one of Japan's most beautiful villages - the idyllic Maze (pronounced mah-zay) Village. Hop on an e-bike for a leisurely ride and take in its gorgeous sights of nature in abundance from stunning, soaring mountains, lush green forests, and the crystal clear waters of the Maze River, one of the top 100 waters of the Heisei Era. Stop for a break amidst the grand outdoors as you enjoy a delicious meal put together from the freshest of local ingredients, fruits of life lived in deep connection with the surrounding natural environment. The wondrous view of the satoyama landscape - rural areas where foothills and farmlands overlap, and the rustic charm of Maze await! Pickup and dropoff from JR Gero or Hagiwara Stations also included in this tour, making your trip that much more convenient.

Chop, simmer, and boil your way to making tasty seasonal culinary delights in the local way using ingredients such as Hida beef, Hida vegetables and seafood from the Hokuriku region, with a huge Japanese machiya (townhouse) built 200 years ago in an old merchant town as a very special setting. Tour the townhouse and and observe its elegant architectural styles and furnishings, featuring prized Takayama crafts such as Shunkei lacquerware and Shibukusa-yaki ware. Listen to stories of the rich history behind these traditional crafts while you are served food piping hot on fine tableware lovingly passed down from many generations prior. Enjoy friendly chats and banter with the owners of the townhouse while they share tales about Japanese traditions and the local history as everyone digs into the delicious meals prepared together, just like a Japanese home party - truly a priceless moment of connection to be had on your Japan travels.

Welcome to the tasty culinary world of Hida Takayama! Featuring the mouth-wateringly rich and earthy flavors cultivated deep in the heart of the mountains, prepared using the very best of nature's bounty. Start with a refreshing serving of complimentary Hida apple juice, before cooking and making delicious regional dishes and onigiri (riceballs) with the guidance of a local cook, using fresh ingredients from the Hida region and other areas in Gifu Prefecture. While certain ingredients may be sourced from other prefectures depending on seasonal and weather conditions, the unique flavors of the regional dishes will be maintained. End your cooking and dining session with dessert, featuring tochimochi - traditional sweets made from Japanese horse chestnuts and ricecakes. As you finish your course, hear of tales behind the history and setting of how the bitter Japanese horse chestnut found its place on the dining table of Japanese households, along with other stories highlighting the natural features of Hida, as well as its illustrious past. If requested beforehand, Hida beef can be swapped out for substitutes like Hida pork and buri (Japanese yellowtail) from Toyama. This fish has been long enjoyed as a delicacy in the area along the Etchu Highway - so much so it's also called the Buri Highway. 

Unravel the threads of Hida Takayama's culture steeped in history and cultivated in centuries of relative isolation, as you visit its key locations accompanied by a local guide in this popular walking tour. Begin from the famous Takayama Historical District, with its traditional architecture made from the artisanal carpentry skills of the Hida master craftsmen, with streets that retain the look and feel of a time from centuries past, then walk across the prominent vermillion Nakabashi Bridge - part of a well-loved and known part of Hida Takayama. Moving on, you'll be encounter the venerable Takayama Jinya (also known as the Takayama Historical Government House), established as the center of politics in the Hida region during the Edo period and the only remaining facility of its kind in Japan, and the Jinya-mae Morning Markets in front selling a variety of folk crafts, local produce and sweets, with opportunities to mingle with the locals. Try delicious local Takayama snacks like "midarashi dango", before walking towards the Hida Kokubun-ji Temple and beholding for your very own eyes a place reputed to be the finest ancient temple in the Hida region. 

Rediscover fine dining done the way of the samurai with the Sowaryu Honzen Kuzushi and the Sowaryu-style tea ceremony still thriving well even to this day in Hida Takayama, a town famous for its well-established traditional crafts and historical districts. The Sowaryu-style tea ceremony was founded about 400 years ago by Shigechika “Sowa” of the Kanamori family that ruled the Hida-Takayama domain and passed down primarily through temples in Takayama. It left an indelible mark on the culture of Kyoto as a warrior-style tea ceremony practiced in various places from the gardens of Ohara Town's Sanzenin Temple to the tea rooms of Kinkakuji. Prepared in the refined spirit of the tea ceremony is the Sowaryu Honzen, a kaiseki course said to date back from the late Edo-period, popular with the samurai class, and a rare luxury that very few restaurants continue to offer nationwide. While it originally features a staggering array of 30 dishes, the Sowaryu Honzen Kuzushi (simplified) course lunch instead showcases a selection of 11 dishes expertly put together from an abundance of fresh, local ingredients with a profound sense of aesthetics reflected in its presentation, tableware, and dining ettiquette. After finishing your sumptuous meal, you will then be transported to the long-established Nobato Chaho where you will learn about the differences between the tea ceremonies held by the merchant class and that of the samurai class, and enjoy Japanese sweets with usucha ("thin tea" - usually used for tea ceremony). Taste and see the beauty in the silence and ceremony through the way of the samurai.

Delve deep and engage with two integral practices of bushido, the way of the samurai, thriving well even to this day in Hida Takayama, a city well-known for its traditional crafts and historical merchant districts. The first featured through this course is the Sowaryu-style of tea ceremony, founded about 400 years ago by Shigechika “Sowa” of the Kanamori family that ruled the Hida-Takayama domain. Passed down primarily through temples in Takayama, this warrior-style left an indelible mark on the culture of Kyoto, influencing the tea ceremonies held in various locations from the gardens of Ohara Town's Sanzenin Temple to the tea rooms of Kinkakuji. Discover what it's like for yourself by joining a Sowaryu-style tea ceremony, and enjoy Japanese sweets with usucha ("thin tea" - usually used for tea ceremonies) while you learn about the differences between the tea ceremonies held by the merchant class and that of the samurai class. After that, it's time for a change of clothes and pace for iaido! You'll put on kimono and hakama, before moving to the Emaden (shrine building where votive picture tablets are hung). Calm and steady your heart as a hanshi (master instructor) of the Muso Jikiden Eishin-ryu Iaido, one of the two most widely practiced schools of iaido in Japan, guides you through a series of kata (form, movement), such as battou (sword-drawing), kobo (attack and defense), noto (sword-sheathing). You will receive a certificate of completion upon finishing the iaido activity. From the calm and graceful steps of the tea ceremony, to the swift and powerful moves of iaido, walk the paths of righteousness the way the samurais did in the spirit of bushido.

Savor the wonder of Gifu's grand outdoors throughout the seasons, with picturesque sights and opportunities to encounter local wildlife as you e-bike your way for about 90km from Takayama City to Gujo Hachiman. E-biking means no worries about requiring the stamina to go to distance. Move at your own leisurely pace in this exclusive, private tour to areas hard to reach by public transport. This course is recommended for those staying overnight in Takayama City and are planning to travel southwards the day after. Luggage will be delivered separately to your destination, further adding to your convenience with light and easy travel. 

Set forth on a thrilling e-bike adventure highlighting the very best of North Gifu's nature and tradition. Race towards the headwaters of the Miyagawa River and discover not only this fountainhead of Takayama, but also the regional way of life that preserves it. Cycle through endless panoramas of rural landscapes in Hida, with local trains running by the rice paddies and wheat fields of the Japanese satoyama (rural areas where foothills and farmlands overlap), unchanged from its past. From vibrant pink blossoms in spring, lush greenery in summer, vivid leaves of red and gold in autumn - there’s an abundance of natural beauty to take in no matter the season. Savor local sweets and tea over a break along the way. Enjoy a delicious lunch of homemade soba (buckwheat noodles) at a local restaurant with a picturesque garden. Tours are limited to one group per day. A part of the fee from this course will be donated to the communities overseeing the conservation of the local culture heritage. 

Grab an e-bike and ride into a refreshing and exhilarating exploration of Japan's satoyama (rural areas where the foothills and farmlands overlap), the roots of its thriving in history, nature and community. Swing by wellsprings before enjoying a delectable lunch of Hoba-zushi, a local Hida cuisine, at a local park. The blossoms of the approximately 300 cherry trees are especially magnificent in spring. Next is Ankoku-ji Temple (northern Gifu’s only national treasure, a storehouse preserving ancient Buddhist scriptures), having tea at a traditional Japanese house, then taking in the vistas along the Araki River while cycling. The rare opportunity of spending time to chat with and connect with the locals, whether in the cozy atmosphere of a traditional Japanese home or during your cycling adventure, will surely be a memorable part of your journey. A part of the fee from this course will be donated to the communities overseeing the conservation of the local culture heritage. 

Wander into the winter wonderland wilderness of Hida Takayama through this private trekking tour in snowshoes, with the great Hida Choshi Falls (named after its likeness, a choshi - sake bottle) in its semi-frozen state, as a journey highlight. Once you've arrived at this magnificent, frosty sight, savor the hand-dripped gourmet coffee and tasty baked goodies personally prepared for you by a professional barista. You will be accompanied by a main guide - an experienced nature guide and member of the Japan Mountain Guides Association with WAFA and LNT qualifications and a supporting guide who is also a barista as you safely journey through and learn all you can about the flora, fauna, and snow-covered landscapes of Nyukawa Town, Takayama City. Guides are fluent in English so you can freely chat and banter about along the way. Equipment rental is also available. Course difficulty can easily be adjusted to your preferences and experience, from first-timers to winter sports enthusiasts. Venture forth into Hida's snowy grand outdoors, soak up your natural surroundings and relax as you sip your hot coffee while beholding the gorgeous wintry sights laid bare before your very own eyes.