Learn about life in a traditional Japanese mountain settlement at the Hida Minzoku Mura Folk Village. This open-air museum features well-maintained cottages from the Hida region and exhibits of tools and other artifacts that would have been used by mountain dwellers.
The museum was built in 1971 to memorialize the lifestyle of farmers who lived in the rugged Gifu prefecture around Takayama. Visit this village today to explore over 30 old-fashioned farmhouses.
As you wander around, try to identify the different types of buildings. These structures, among them shingled houses, shrines and sheds, range in age from between 100 to 500 years old. Walk among the cottages and admire their thatched and shingled roofs, which are typical of the Edo Period.
Most cottages are open for exploration. Enter into the wood-floored interiors and look for crackling fireplaces. Inspect tools, such as ceramics, cooking utensils, spindles and silk worm raises as well as examples of clothing from the period. Read the bilingual information placards for fascinating insights into the everyday lives of farmers here.
Practice traditional skills at the Hida Takayama Crafts Experience Centre. Take part in workshops and find out how to whittle wood and make sarubobo dolls, a good luck amulet popular in the Gifu Prefecture. Other classes taught here focus on tie-dying, weaving and ceramics. Anything you make during the classes is yours to take home. If your own handmade crafts don’t impress, buy key chains or glass wind chimes at the gift store instead.
Stay here until sunset when the village is bathed in golden light. This time of the evening is an ideal time for a stroll around the garden. Look for swans swimming in the tranquil pond and for blooming flower arrangements. Because of its elevated position, the site offers sweeping views overlooking the Takayama Valley. Follow a path leading from the village up to Mount Matsukura, where you'll see the Matsukura Castle ruins.
Hida Minzoku Mura Folk Village is a 10-minute bus ride from Takayama Station. The village is open daily and an admission fee is charged. Consider bringing along snacks as on-site food options are limited.
