Hida Minzoka Mura Folk Village (Hida no Sato)
Gifu Prefecture · Japan
After a stroll through the charming old town, you will head for the Hida Folk Village. Spread out among the hills, the folk village has recreated the traditional mountain village scenery of the Hida district. The park has many thatched-roof houses where you can experience the lifestyle of olden-day Hida. All kept in their original condition, you can see various kinds of daily tools and objects from the past inside, making it easy to imagine how they used to live. Several of the houses contain workshops where you will find artisans carrying out their trade that has been cultivated over the centuries. These include Hida quilting, straw crafts, wood carving, weaving, making ceramics and making shingles for roofs.
Contents
8 sections · tap a section for its opening lines1Orientation
Welcome to Hida no Sato, the Hida Folk Village, an extraordinary open-air museum located just outside the historic city of Takayama. As we step into this valley, we are effectively traveling back in time to the Edo period. …
Listen in the app2The Go-jun-ike: The Pond of Dreams
Our tour begins at the edge of the Go-jun-ike, the large central pond that anchors the village layout. While it serves an aesthetic purpose today, reflecting the thatched roofs in its still waters, in a traditional village…
Listen in the app3The Tanaka House: A 17th-Century Masterpiece
We now approach the Tanaka House, a designated Important Cultural Property dating back to the year 1600. This is one of the oldest structures in the village and serves as a prime example of early Hida residential architecture. …
Listen in the app4The Art of the Gassho Roof: Thatch and Toil
Standing before any of the larger houses, one cannot help but be awed by the 'Gassho' roof. These roofs are constructed at a 60-degree angle to prevent the heavy, wet snow of the region from collapsing the structure. …
Listen in the app5The Irori Hearth: The Soul of the Home
Step inside and gather around the 'Irori.' In every Hida house, this sunken hearth was the social and functional center of life. It was used for cooking, heating, and lighting, and its placement was strictly governed by social…
Listen in the app6The Farming Tools and Silkworm Rearing
Many of the houses in Hida no Sato feature extensive displays of traditional tools and machinery. The upper floors, often accessible by steep wooden ladders, were traditionally used for sericulture—the rearing of silkworms. …
Listen in the app7The Bell Tower and Strongman Rocks
Near the upper edge of the village, we find the giant bell tower and a collection of 'strongman rocks.' The bell was used to mark the time or signal emergencies, and today, visitors are invited to strike it. The proper ritual is…
Listen in the app8Closing
As we conclude our tour of Hida no Sato, we leave behind a world of wood, thatch, and fire. This village is more than a museum; it is a repository of the collective wisdom of generations of mountain dwellers. …
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What is Hida Minzoka Mura Folk Village (Hida no Sato)?
Hida Minzoka Mura Folk Village (Hida no Sato) is a place in Gifu Prefecture · Japan with 8 story sections on Tellby. You can read the opening of each section on this page; the sound plays in the app.
| Location | Gifu Prefecture · Japan |
|---|---|
| Type | Activity |
| Story sections | 8 |
| Text language | English |
| Coordinates | 36.1326, 137.2350 |
| Last updated |