Things to Do in Hida (飛騨市), Gifu: Sights, Train Access & Travel Guide

Last reviewed: October 27, 2026 · Prices are approximate and for orientation only.

Overview & City Profile

Hida (飛騨市) in Gifu Prefecture (Chubu, Japan) is anchored by local sights including Hida-Furukawa Setogawa Canal & White-Walled Storehouses (瀬戸川と白壁土蔵街), Hida Folk Crafts & Festival Floats Hall (飛騨古川まつり会館), Honko-ji Temple (本光寺) and served by Hida Furukawa Station (飛騨古川駅) (0.4 km) via the regional hub at Gifu Station, Gifu-Hashima (Shinkansen) & Takayama Station. Set at 486 m elevation (36.2381°N, 137.1862°E), Hida offers travelers a base for sampling regional Hida wagyu beef (nigiri, skewers, and hoba-miso (朴葉みそ) on magnolia leaf), Takayama ramen, Gohei mochi (walnut-miso grilled rice cakes) cuisine and exploring neighboring Takayama (高山市) (11.8 km), Shirakawa-go (白川村) (26 km), Nanto (南砺市) (45.6 km), Gero (下呂市) (48.3 km).

The official kanji for the city is actually 飛驒, which uses the old rendering of the 騨 character. Hida is the northernmost city in Gifu Prefecture, and is located in the northern part of the Hida Highlands bordering on Toyama Prefecture to the north. The majority of the area of the city is forested, with many mountains exceeding 1,000 meters within the city borders. During the Edo period, the whole Hida province was tenryō territory under the direct control of the Tokugawa shogunate. During the post-Meiji restoration whole Japan was under a massive westernization and new reforms, the area was organised into Yoshiki District, Gifu. Within Gifu Prefecture, Hida (飛騨市) serves as a city in Gifu Prefecture (municipal incorporation: 2004-02-01) and pairs naturally with wider prefectural highlights such as Preserved Edo streets of Takayama, UNESCO thatched farmhouses of Shirakawa-go, Gero Onsen (one of Japan's Three Famous Springs), Gifu Castle, Gujo Hachiman, and Magome-juku.

What to See & Do in Hida (飛騨市): Landmarks & Sights

Visitors exploring Hida (飛騨市) from Hida Furukawa Station (飛騨古川駅) (0.4 km) at 486 m elevation (36.2381°N, 137.1862°E) can visit these nearby shrines, temples, parks, and geographic landmarks (with straight-line distances from central Hida):

• Hida-Furukawa Setogawa Canal & White-Walled Storehouses (瀬戸川と白壁土蔵街) — local sightseeing landmark near Hida (飛騨市).
• Hida Folk Crafts & Festival Floats Hall (飛騨古川まつり会館) — local sightseeing landmark near Hida (飛騨市).
• Honko-ji Temple (本光寺) — local sightseeing landmark near Hida (飛騨市).
• Kamioka Castle (神岡城) — local sightseeing landmark near Hida (飛騨市).
• Jinzū River — local sightseeing landmark near Hida (飛騨市).
• Primary Rail Gateway for Hida: Hida Furukawa Station (飛騨古川駅) (0.4 km) (connecting to Gifu Station, Gifu-Hashima (Shinkansen) & Takayama Station).

Closest Neighboring Municipalities to Hida

When planning a regional rail or driving loop around Hida (飛騨市) and Hida Furukawa Station (飛騨古川駅) (0.4 km), consider pairing your stop with the 5 closest neighboring municipalities across Gifu Prefecture and Chubu:

• Takayama (高山市) — 11.8 km from Hida (Gifu Prefecture)
• Shirakawa-go (白川村) — 26 km from Hida (Gifu Prefecture)
• Nanto (南砺市) — 45.6 km from Hida (Toyama Prefecture)
• Gero (下呂市) — 48.3 km from Hida (Gifu Prefecture)
• Tateyama (立山町) — 48.4 km from Hida (Toyama Prefecture)

Getting to Hida & Getting Around

Train & hub access to Hida (飛騨市) via Hida Furukawa Station (飛騨古川駅) (0.4 km): 20m from Nagoya Station to Gifu on JR rapid trains; 2h 25m from Nagoya to Takayama on the scenic JR Limited Express Hida. From Gifu Station, Gifu-Hashima (Shinkansen) & Takayama Station, transfer to local JR or private rail lines serving Hida Furukawa Station (飛騨古川駅) (0.4 km) to reach central Hida (36.2381°N, 137.1862°E).

• Local rail & IC cards at Hida Furukawa Station (飛騨古川駅) (0.4 km): JR regional trains and private commuter lines link Gifu with Hida (飛騨市) and neighboring Takayama, Shirakawa-go, Nanto. Nationwide IC cards (Suica, PASMO, ICOCA) work at major urban gates; for rural branch stations or local buses around Hida, carry ¥1,000 bills and ¥100 coins for the onboard fare box.
• Luggage & station coin lockers: Travelers exploring Hida and continuing toward Takayama can store bags at major transfer stations or check suitcase dimensions in our Luggage & Locker Checker and ship large bags ahead via Takkyubin.
• Driving & car rental around Hida: While Hida Furukawa Station (飛騨古川駅) (0.4 km) anchors public transit for Hida, picking up a rental car at Gifu Station, Gifu-Hashima (Shinkansen) & Takayama Station makes it easy to link Hida-Furukawa Setogawa Canal & White-Walled Storehouses (瀬戸川と白壁土蔵街) and Hida Folk Crafts & Festival Floats Hall (飛騨古川まつり会館) with nearby Takayama (高山市) (11.8 km), Shirakawa-go (白川村) (26 km), Nanto (南砺市) (45.6 km), Gero (下呂市) (48.3 km). See our Renting a Car in Japan Guide.

What to Eat in Hida (飛騨市) & Gifu

Dining near Hida Furukawa Station (飛騨古川駅) (0.4 km) and across Hida (飛騨市) highlights the regional food culture of Gifu Prefecture and Chubu. Look for these local specialties at station restaurants, family-run shokudo, and markets in Hida:

• Local specialty & terroir of Hida (飛騨市): traditional soy sauce brewing (shōyu) and river-port commerce alongside traditional sake brewing fed by pure mountain spring water and local rice.
• Hida wagyu beef (nigiri, skewers, and hoba-miso (朴葉みそ) on magnolia leaf) — regional specialty enjoyed across Hida (飛騨市) and Gifu Prefecture.
• Takayama ramen — regional specialty enjoyed across Hida (飛騨市) and Gifu Prefecture.
• Gohei mochi (walnut-miso grilled rice cakes) — regional specialty enjoyed across Hida (飛騨市) and Gifu Prefecture.
• Ayu (sweetfish) from clear rivers — regional specialty enjoyed across Hida (飛騨市) and Gifu Prefecture.

If you are dining in Hida (飛騨市) with food allergies or dietary restrictions, use our Japanese Phrasebook & Allergy Show-Cards at restaurants around Hida Furukawa Station (飛騨古川駅) (0.4 km).

Where to Stay in Hida (飛騨市)

Visitors staying overnight in Hida (飛騨市) can look for business hotels, traditional ryokan, or family-run minshuku near Hida Furukawa Station (飛騨古川駅) (0.4 km), or base at major rail hubs in Gifu (Gifu Station, Gifu-Hashima (Shinkansen) & Takayama Station) or neighboring Takayama, Shirakawa-go, Nanto for quick train access into Hida. Compare hotel tiers and ryokan etiquette in our Japan Accommodation Guide.

Best Time to Visit Hida & Seasonal Highlights

Seasonal guide for Hida (飛騨市, 486 m elevation at 36.2381°N, 137.1862°E): April 14–15 & October 9–10 for the Takayama Festival; May–October for Gujo Odori & Nagara River cormorant fishing (ukai); Jan–Feb for snow-draped Shirakawa-go.

Wider sightseeing across Gifu Prefecture that pairs well with visiting Hida-Furukawa Setogawa Canal & White-Walled Storehouses (瀬戸川と白壁土蔵街) in Hida (飛騨市) includes: Preserved Edo streets of Takayama, UNESCO thatched farmhouses of Shirakawa-go, Gero Onsen (one of Japan's Three Famous Springs), Gifu Castle, Gujo Hachiman, and Magome-juku.

Practical Travel Tips for Hida (飛騨市)

• Tourist information (観光案内所) for Hida: Stop by the Kankō Annaijo desk at Gifu Station, Gifu-Hashima (Shinkansen) & Takayama Station or Hida Furukawa Station (飛騨古川駅) (0.4 km) for local bus schedules to Hida-Furukawa Setogawa Canal & White-Walled Storehouses (瀬戸川と白壁土蔵街) and walking maps of Hida (飛騨市).
• Cash & ATMs in Hida: Convenience stores and major hotels around Hida Furukawa Station (飛騨古川駅) (0.4 km) accept international cards, while smaller eateries and shrines near Hida-Furukawa Setogawa Canal & White-Walled Storehouses (瀬戸川と白壁土蔵街) often prefer yen cash; 7-Eleven (Seven Bank) and Japan Post ATMs in Hida accept foreign debit cards.
• Local dining hours in Hida: Around Hida Furukawa Station (飛騨古川駅) (0.4 km) and neighboring Takayama, Shirakawa-go, Nanto, lunch service typically runs 11:30 AM–2:00 PM and dinner spots open around 5:30 PM with last orders between 8:00 PM and 9:00 PM.