Hida-Furukawa
飛騨古川36°14′ N 137°11′ ETownGifu and Hida
Hida-Furukawa suits a slow half day 17 minutes up the line from Takayama, with white-walled sake storehouses along a canal full of carp. In winter the carp are gone, because the town moves them out of the Seto River from late November to early April.
Photo Raita Futo from Tokyo, Japan · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0 and others, credited in the gallery
Who should base here
Stay in Furukawa for an evening walk along the canal once the day visitors have left, then take the 17-minute train to Takayama for the buses the next morning.
Eat in Hida-Furukawa
Drink in Hida-Furukawa
Things to do in Hida-Furukawa
The Seto River is a narrow canal that runs past the white storehouses of the Kaba and Watanabe sake breweries, five minutes' walk from Hida-Furukawa Station. The town's tourism office counts more than 1,000 carp in it, and on 29 November 2026 it holds the yearly move that carries them to winter quarters. Both breweries are registered cultural properties, and Kaba has brewed here for more than 300 years with Hida Homare rice, which is grown in the region.
Furukawa Matsuri Kaikan shows the town's festival on a 4K screen beside three of the real festival floats. On 15 January, Sanji Mairi draws people on foot between Enko-ji, Honko-ji and Shinshu-ji in the snow. From April the hall lends cross bikes for ¥2,000 a day, and the bikes go into storage for the winter.
The local train on the Takayama Main Line takes 17 minutes from Takayama and cost ¥240 in 2026. The limited express Hida stops here as well, about 2 hours 35 minutes from Nagoya for ¥6,140 with a reserved seat.
Worth knowing
- Come between April and late November if you want to see the carp in the Seto River.
- Book ahead at Kaba Sake Brewery if you want to see inside the brewery and taste; the shop is open without a booking.
Quick answers about Hida-Furukawaよくある質問
How far is Hida-Furukawa from Takayama?
The local train on the Takayama Main Line takes 17 minutes and cost ¥240 in 2026. The limited express Hida also stops at Hida-Furukawa.
When can you see the carp in Hida-Furukawa?
From early April to late November. The town moves the Seto River carp to winter quarters from late November, and in 2026 the move is on 29 November.
Is Hida-Furukawa a good place to stay?
Stay in Furukawa for an evening walk along the canal once the day visitors have left, then take the 17-minute train to Takayama for the buses the next morning.
Within 12 km
Places to stay nearby宿
Within 12 km
