Cycle around Pastoral Hida

Bike through the countryside to explore the natural beauty and lifestyle of a farming village

Hida Furukawa is a charming small town in the mountainous region of Gifu Prefecture. Visitors are welcomed by the quaint white-walled storehouses along the Setogawa Canal. Its main attractions are largely accessible on foot, but they are certainly not everything that the town has to offer.

To truly appreciate the lives of the locals, who cherish their unique heritage and culture, join a bike tour hosted by local experts. As you cycle away from the lovely streets of Hida Furukawa, you will come across satoyama, agricultural villages in harmony with nature. Beautiful rice fields, an essential part of the satoyama landscape, are one of the most popular attractions of the tour. The tour also showcases many other aspects of pastoral village life, including a market selling locally produced vegetables, preserved historical residences, and crystal-clear spring water filtered through the mountains of Hida. Along the way, your knowledgeable guide will amuse you with stories from the old days that even the locals may not know. By the end of the tour, you will have fallen in love with this laid-back, charming farming village and also enjoyed a healthy dose of exercise at the same time.

You can choose from different options, including the Standard Course (3.5 hours) and the Half Course with no serious climbs, which is more suitable for beginners (2.5 hours). Tours are held from mid-March to the end of November/mid-December (depending on the course).?

Access: From Nagoya Station, take the Hida limited express train to Takayama Station (about two hours 39 minutes), then transfer to the Takayama Line and take a local train to Hida-Furukawa Station (about 16 minutes).

Contribution to Sustainability

For generations, locals in the area have practiced Satoyama (mountain village) culture, a unique, sustainable way of life that encourages them to live harmoniously with nature.　A local resident will guide you on your cycle tour of the area. With a vast knowledge of the traditions and culture of the region, you’ll be treated to a learning experience while taking in stunning sights.