1 Day Tour of Shirakawa Go A Historic Village in Hida Takayama

"In the center of Takayama City, located in the northern part of Gifu Prefecture and the heart of the Hida region, the original layout of castle towns and merchant towns from the Edo period has been completely preserved. For this reason, Takayama is known as the 'Little Kyoto of Hida.' Visitors can stroll through the 'Sanmachi' (three historic districts) built during the Meiji and Taisho periods, savor local specialties such as Hida beef and Takayama ramen, and admire traditional crafts that showcase the exceptional skills of Hida artisans. Every corner of Hida-Takayama is full of charm."

Hida Kotte Ushi is a Hida beef nigiri sushi specialty shop located in the historic district of Takayama. It uses A5-grade Hida beef and serves freshly made sushi on a rice cracker plate, perfect for eating while strolling. The most popular menu is the "Three Flavors Assortment," which includes bamboo charcoal salt, ginger soy sauce, and gunkan with quail egg yolk.

Established in the Meiji era over a century ago, Sakaguchiya is a renovated traditional townhouse. It serves top-grade Hida beef, including its signature Hida beef nigiri sushi on a senbei cracker and the special beef heart set meal. A must-visit to experience the local cuisine and history of Hida-Takayama.

"Surrounded by mountains and crisscrossed by rice paddies with gentle streams flowing through, Shirakawa-go is known as the 'Kingdom of Forests and Streams.' Among the three villages registered as UNESCO World Heritage sites (Shirakawa-go, Ainokura in Gokayama, and Suganuma), the Ogimachi district in Shirakawa-go has the largest number of households, totaling 152. The name 'Shirakawa-go' (White River Village) originates from the Ōshirakawa River, which flows down from the sacred peak of Mount Haku and turns a muddy white when it joins the Shō River. Located in the northeastern part of the Ogimachi Gassho-zukuri village, Shiroyama Observatory offers a panoramic view of the village and the sweeping Mount Hakusan range."