Experiences

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 Japanese satoyama (areas where foothills and farmlands overlap), unchanged from its past. Look forward to cycling through rows of cherry trees decked out in vibrant pink blossoms in spring, lush greenery and swimming through crystal clear waters in summer, vivid leaves of red and gold in autumn - there's so much natural beauty to take in no matter the season. Savor local sweets and tea over a break along the way. Exclusive to this course - enjoy a delicious lunch of homemade soba (buckwheat noodles) at a local restaurant with a picturesque garden.​

Grab an e-bike and ride into a refreshing and exhilarating exploration of Japan's satoyama (areas where foothills and farmlands overlap) and the roots of its thriving. Swing by wellsprings before enjoying a delectable lunch of Hoba-zushi, a local Hida cuisine, at Sakurano 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. 

Immerse yourself in the grand outdoors of Hida Takayama through this gentle, leisurely summer hike through sparkling clear waters, flowing over massive rocks formed from volcanic activity thousands of years ago. Savor and learn all you can about nature's wonders, stopping for a break to enjoy hand-dripped gourmet coffee and tasty baked goodies personally prepared for you by a professional barista. Look forward to a wholesome lunch of sandwich and soup made from ingredients locally sourced. You will be accompanied by a main guide - an experienced nature guide and member of the Japan Mountain Guides Association with Wilderness Advanced First Aid (WAFA) and Leave No Trace (LNT) qualifications, a supporting guide, and a barista, as you journey through the Soredani mountain stream, tucked away in the area between Nyukawa Town and Kamitakara Town in Takayama City. Guides are fluent in English so you can freely chat and banter about along the way. Equipment rental is also available.

Go beneath the surface, right into the heart of the lesser known gems of the Hida Region, from Takayama City, to Hida City, to Shirakawa-go, and finally, Gero City in this special tour, made convenient and very accessible by car. 

Enter the sanctuary of the Hakusan Shinko (Hakusan Faith), originating from Mount Hakusan, one of Japan's Three Holy Mountains. Discover its history at the Hakusan Culture Museum, before moving on to the Nagataki Hakusan-jinja Shrine, the most important of all Hakusan shrines in Japan. A guide will show you the ins and outs of correct etiquette when visiting a shrine, and walk you through powerspots and local sites of Important Cultural Properties of Japan. You will also receive blessings from the chief Shinto priest during your visit. Goshuin (red seal) featured in a Taiga (historical) drama included.

Take on this very special hands-on tour of the factory behind the wildly popular (to the point it's especially hard to buy before it's sold out), high-grade, cemented carbide kitchen knives - a first in Japan! Watch the production process, help with sharpening and testing blades. After the tour, create your very own original pocket knife by affixing the cemented carbide (said to be the hardest material next to diamond) blade to the handle, made in Gifu Prefecture. You can also buy knives and sharpening stones. Lunch will be miso sukiyaki made with delicious Hida beef and salad, sliced and diced with KISEKI: knives at Hana, a restaurant in a traditional Japanese house.

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).

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 about a 30-minute car ride from popular destination, Takayama. 

Enter the sanctuary of the Hakusan Shinko (Hakusan Faith), and encounter the spiritual culture of Japan from ancient times as you make your pilgrimage in honorable shiroshozoku (white robes). Discover the rich history between faith and nature at the Hakusan Culture Museum, then move to the Nagataki Hakusan-jinja Shrine, where a guide will show you the ins and outs of correct etiquette when visiting a shrine and praying. Be astounded by an afternoon visit to the dynamic Amidaga Falls, one of Japan‘s top 100 waterfalls and a subject of a majestic ukiyo-e piece done by Katsushika Hokusai, a leading artist in Japan's Edo period. Next, draw close to the spiritual grounds of the Hakusan Faith at the Hakusan Chukyo-jinja Shrine, the main place of worship for Hakusan followers, before treading stone steps that will lead you to the Itoshiro Osugi - a great, sacred cedar tree of 1800 years said to mark the beginning of the trail made by Taicho Daishi, the founder of Mount Hakusan. Enjoy a refreshingly delightful lunch of delicious nagashi somen near Amidaga Falls.

Take your very own awe-inspiring photo of Gifu Castle atop Mount Kinka with a supersized full moon as a magnificent backdrop, using only a smartphone at a photography course supervised by Gifu's expert photographer, Atsushi Kobayashi! Enjoy lunch and then, a soak in a private rotenburo (open-air bath) while you take in the grand scenery of nearby Gifu Castle and Mount Kinka from a different viewpoint at Hotel Park, a ryokan with an illustrious history of 130 years. Look forward to a special menu highlighting local specialties and Gifu’s history such as the prized salt-grilled sweetfish and sarasa salmon, with dishes inspired by the cuisine that the local fishermen dined on and more! (Optional) There are also riceballs and the Shokado refreshments available for those who prefer a lighter meal.