Takayama, Japan: Hida no Sato

Hida no Sato

We woke-up at 4am watching the snowfall.  Until the time that we went outside at 7am, and the streets went white.

At the bus station, we bought a combination round-trip bus ticket and Hida no Sato entrance for 800 yen. This saved us 100 yen.

As the bus starts to move, the scene is too overwhelming.  It was still fine the day before, but everything turned white.  The snow accumulated that it covered the roof, streets, plants and the trees.  We were totally shocked then, and we were not able to capture any photos.

Upon arrival at the site, we took the bus schedule back to the town proper.

Hida no Sato is an open-air museum featuring Edo-period farmhouses, known for their thatched roofs & wood construction.

We suggest that you take the boots available near the entrance, as the hike will be wet during the snow fall.

There are activities showing traditional toys and games.  It's fun to try and have fun. I also collected multiple stamps around the complex. 

It's a fusion of autumn and winter.  Where the brownish orange crispy leaves are covered in powdery white snow.

We came across a couple, mentioning that we are lucky during our visit because snow is falling.  And that was the first snowfall in the area during that season. 

Upon checking the news for this post, that's true.  It mentioned, "Due to the strengthening of the winter pressure pattern, snow fell in the mountainous areas of Gifu Prefecture on the 8th, and snowfall was observed in the city of Takayama for the first time this season."

You can actually get inside some of the buildings as they are museums.  However, remember to remove your shoes when you enter. 

As we moved along, and reached the upper area of the hill, we already saw garden guides putting up safety signs. 

Were lucky and thankful enough that we took the first bus for the day and was able to cover a lot before they closed some sections. 

There was unending snowfall during our visit.  Be careful as you pass by the trees, as a bigger chunk of snow can fall over.  It happened multiple times.  Also, always remove the snow on your cap or jacket, as it will get wet and cold if you do not clean it up immediately.  

We did not find a restaurant inside the garden.  There's a rest area that has a vending machine for drinks.  As a reminder, please ensure that you have some snacks wherever you go, so you can munch something before getting a formal meal.

We have been in Shirakawa-go in 2019.  We are torn if we should revisit Shrirakawa-go or visit Hida no Sato.  We are happy we chose this place as it's closer to Takayama.  You can spend more time at the destination than the travel time.  It has  a smaller crowd.  The visit is more tranquil, full of excitement as we had snowfall. You own the place, no need to rush. 

Before taking the next bus back to the city, we drop by a snack bar for ramen and potato croquette. You can also buy souvenirs at the shop.

Travel Date: 08 December 2024

 

How to get to Hida no Sato

1 Chome-590 Kamiokamotomachi, Takayama, Gifu 506-0055, Japan

Take a bus from Takayama bus center.