Experiences

Take the road less traveled - dotted with fresh, gushing springs and paved in epic history blending seamlessly into the present here in Ogaki. Stroll around this city of deep, understated beauty, which flourished as both a post town and a castle town on the Tokaido Highway during the Edo period, and you‘ll be quick to find vestiges of a bygone era sketched into its visage - from the boats ambling down in its river canals, to the sturdy remains of an old lighthouse and port, and the large storehouses that house elaborate festival floats. One can also easily find numerous, famous sites of natural spring water around the area, living up to its name, the “City of Water” from days of old. Delight in the fresh verdure of the cherry trees lining the banks of the Suimon River, the sight of the iconic red Sumiyoshi Bridge, the soughing of the lone weeping willow gently swaying in the wind as ducks and black carp swim idly by while you follow the footsteps of unparalleled haiku poet, Matsuo Basho at the final stop of his major journey on foot, and a setting from his masterpiece - Oku no Hosomichi, (often translated as The Narrow Road to the Deep North).

Try your hand at traditional crafts like mizu-manju (sweet water mochi) making and masu (wooden box) making, with steps inspired by techniques used in tasks like water transportation and sake brewing from the past, cultivated by the region’s abundance in water. Experience it all for yourself here, where folk tales are born of, that speak of the intimate connection between the lives of the local people and the sustenance afforded by water. Let your worries drift away as you soak in the goodness of life here at the Water Capital, rivers undulating like poetry in motion.

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 as they share tales about Japanese traditions and the local history as everyone digs into the delicious meals prepared together - 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.* If requested beforehand, adjustments can be made for those who cannot have beef, which will be swapped out for 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. 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.

* Due to unforeseen circumstances depending on seasonal and weather conditions, certain ingredients may be sourced from other prefectures.

Fish for Gifu's renowned ayu (sweetfish) using a method tried and tested by time! Presenting the tomozuri (live decoy fishing) style, which you will be introduced to through training videos in a lesson before putting it to practice while standing in the Nagara River with support from a professional guide. Then, dig in to the freshly caught sweetfish, salted and grilled. Enjoy its mouth-watering taste and compare it to that of the locally farmed ayu. Ayu rice will also be served. Discover the goodness of "Ayu of the Nagara River System," a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS).

Step into the shoes of a sake brewer! Get an exclusive taste of the magic that goes into the sake brewing process and how it differs to that of beer and wine with the help of a knowledgeable kurabito (brewery worker). With guidance from them, put rice through steps like polishing, steaming, molding, pressing, and more until it transforms into the liquid ambrosia recognized and valued worldwide for its sublime tastes. A local guide will also be with you to ensure that nothing gets lost in translation, making the very most of your sake brewery experience. There are slight variations in course content depending on the season. This course takes place during the sake brewing season from October to March.

Invigorate your senses as you experience the way of life in the mountains of Hida Furukawa, and how it connects and blesses people across generations. Visit the Hida no Takumi Bunkakan (Takumikan Craft Museum) and learn of the exceptional skills and works of the local master craftsmen, walk around the old town of stone temples and great white-walled storehouses with a canal, home to 1,000 brilliant carp of many colors, join a local sake brewery tour, try out a herb-mixing activity and feast on a tasty, healthy meal made with local herbs. This place of hidden treasures is only a 30-minute car ride from popular destination, Takayama.