Experiences

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.

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 recommended for first-time visitors. Begin from the famous Takayama Historical District, with its traditional architecture made from the artisanal carpentry skills of the Hida master craftsmen, with streets retain the feel and look 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. Try delicious local Takayama snacks like "midarashi dango", before walking towards the Hida Kokubun-ji Temple and behold 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 Sowaryu Honzen Kuzushi and the Sowaryu-style tea ceremony in Hida Takayama, a town famous for its well-established traditional crafts and historical districts. The Sowa style of tea ceremony, which 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, was founded about 400 years ago by Shigechika “Sowa” of the Kanamori family that ruled the Hida-Takayama domain. It is said to be have been passed down mainly among Buddhist temples in Takayama. 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. After your sumptuous meal at the two Michelin stars' Ryoutei Susaki, 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).

Delve deep into the culture of Hida Takayama, a town famous for its well-established traditional crafts and historical districts. The Sowa style of tea ceremony, which 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, was founded about 400 years ago by Shigechika “Sowa” of the Kanamori family that ruled the Hida-Takayama domain. 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). After that, it's time for a change of clothes and pace! You'll put on kimono and hakama, before moving to the Emaden (shrine building where votive picture tablets are hung) of the Sakurayama Hachimangu Shrine. Calm and steady your heart as an 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), nattou (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 but deadly moves of iaido, walk the paths of righteousness the way the samurais did, in the spirit of bushido.

Harvest tea leaves and stroll through the lush, verdant tea fields of the Kamigare Tea Plantation in Kasuga Village, Ibigawa Town, a little-known region dubbed "Gifu's Machu Picchu". Take home tea leaves with a gentle, sweet aroma ready for brewing, as souvenirs after completing your tea plucking activity.* Next, head to Kegon-ji Temple, a destination Japan’s oldest pilgrimage with around 1,300 years of history, and said to grant spiritual gains. Try out "kaidan meguri" (the practice of going down to the basement of the main hall of the temple to search for a lock in complete darkness) for yourself! For lunch, look forward to a delicious and wholesome meal made from Ibi medicinal herbs cultivated at the foot of Mount Ibuki from days of old and local Mino vegetables  - fresh produce proudly grown in Gifu Prefecture. 

*Please note that due to time constraints the tea leaves you will be bringing home are different to the ones from your harvest.

Savor the lush greenery of Gifu's grand outdoors as you e-bike the approximately 90km course from Takayama City to Gujo Hachiman. There's also a chance of meeting the local wildlife on your way too! 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. 

The Suigetsugama Kiln was built in 1946 on a vast plot of leased land from Eiho-ji Temple by Living National Treasure and highly-acclaimed potter, Toyozo Arakawa. It was named after "Suigetsudo", another title belonging to the temple, also a renowned National Treasure. The ties between the temple and pottery date back centuries, from when Zen monk Muso Soseki who opened the temple in 1313 encountered the latter on his path of enlightenment and nature through tea, an important feature of Zen. Seek and find peace as the monks did, before further renewal as you focus on your creation of Minoyaki pottery through rokuro (the potter's wheel). Unearth calm repose through the stillness of your heart. 
 

Ride the waves of time, back into the Sengoku and Edo period with this tour jam-packed with the many highlights of Ena and Imamura - from art at the museum of Hiroshige ukiyo-e prints, legendary tales at the Iwamura Castle Ruins and tales of the “Onna Joshu” (lady castle lord), history of the Sengoku cuisine and sake, and culture of the Kakeuchi (sake store where you can drink at). 

Spellbinding stories of Lady Otsuya, one of Japan's few lady castle lords and the aunt of warlord Oda Nobunaga, rare opportunities to observe the constructive wonders in the three different ways stones were stacked to build the impenetrable walls of one of Japan's  three greatest mountaintop castles, time for strolling around an ancient castle town with distinctive features and Kakeuchi in the refined setting of a reputable sake brewery await! Take a trip through this multifaceted gateway into Japan's exquisite past. 

Unfold the rich tapestry of culture and tradition at the heart of Gifu City through this illuminating course. Learn all about ukai (cormorant fishing) at the Nagara River Ukai Museum before visiting the home of a Cormorant Fishing Master, who will show you around and explain the ins and outs of his work, recognized by the Imperial Family of Japan. Alternatively, choose an option highlighting the artistry of one of Gifu City's beloved traditional crafts, Gifu lanterns, by visiting world-renowned artist, Isamu Noguchi's AKARI Gallery, displaying his "sculptures of light". After a delightful teatime at the Gifu Grand Hotel lounge, enjoy a splendid dinner of grilled ayu (sweetfish) aboard a chartered luxury observation boat. Witness the ukai from a vantage view as it begins at sunset, transporting you back in time with its subtle yet profound beauty.

Uncover the multifaceted beauty of Gujo-Hachiman in this e-bike cycling tour that starts and ends at Gujo-Hachiman Station. Spend the morning surrounded by nature's wonders, before moving on to the satoyama (areas where foothills and farmlands overlap), catching a glimpse into the idyllic life of the locals spent in the Japanese countryside. Pass mountainstreams of pristine clarity, and in the noontime, the historical castle town of Gujo-Hachiman. There will be opportunities to enjoy times of serenity in the traditional Japanese garden of Jionzenji Temple, and teatime to look forward to! The course distance is about 30km.