Charming cobblestone street in historic Hida-Furukawa town, Japan.
Enchanting historic street in Hida-Furukawa, Japan, lined with traditional wooden buildings and a weeping willow tree.

In the Alleyways of Hida-Furukawa

This traditional township in the heart of Gifu prefecture comes alive every spring for the hadaka matsuri festival …

Hida-Furukawa is a quietly picturesque small town in Gifu prefecture. As in its (more popular) neighbour Takayama, many timber buildings have been preserved from the Edo period (1603–1867).

Hida-Furukawa
Hida-Furukawa

A township famous for its carpenters

Takayama was built by Nagachika, of the Kanamori clan. Hida-Furukawa is rather like a younger child because it came along later – some 400 years ago – at the hands of Nagachika’s son, Arishige. The town plan was laid out in a chequerboard pattern like the former imperial capital Kyoto.

Hida-Furukawa
Hida-Furukawa

The township of Furukawa has prospered because of its high-quality timber and the incomparable skills of the local carpenters. And it’s thanks to this traditional craftsmanship that the buildings of the historic district have been so well restored.

Hida-Furukawa
Hida-Furukawa

A narrow canal, Setogawa (瀬戸川), runs through the old town for 400 metres. On either side stand old wooden houses and warehouses with immaculate white walls (shirakabe dozo). The delightfully calm atmosphere is only disturbed by the leaping carp: over 1,000 of the fish live in the canal.

Don’t be fooled by its apparent tranquillity, as Furukawa is animated several times a year by frenzied matsuris (festivals).

Hida-Furukawa
Hida-Furukawa

Furokawa’s hadaka matsuri

Every year on 19 and 20  April the Furukawa matsuri takes place, one of the three main hadaka matsuris (festivities where the participants are very scantily dressed, hadaka = naked). On this occasion, nine sumptuous historical floats are manually dragged through the city. Each float represents a district. All the locals take part in this joyful procession, playing music and dancing.

But the star attraction appears on the night of 19 April with the Okoshidaiko. From 9.30pm until dawn, a giant drum (okoshi daiko) is carried through the streets by hundreds of men wearing only loincloths.

Hida-Furukawa
Hida-Furukawa

Seated either side of the instrument, two men beat out the rhythm. Following them, twelve groups representing different neighbourhoods compete for the most prestigious position, closest to the giant drum. These crowds of scantily dressed men enliven the town centre until late at night.

Fun Facts on Hida-Furukawa

  • Legend has it that local carpenters have known how to build timber houses without using any nails since the Nara period (8th century).
  • Hida-Furukawa Station features in the anime Kimi no Na wa (Your Name), about a boy in Tokyo and a girl in the Japanese countryside who suddenly and inexplicably begin to swap bodies. At the top of the platform overlooking the rails is the very spot from which a scene was shot.
Hida-Furukawa
Hida-Furukawa

Small bonus for anyone who’s read this far! If you want to enjoy the atmosphere of the station, with the train arriving and departing, take a look and listen to Sounds of Japan 💕 Tell me what you think!

And for more awesome content about Japan, follow Jordy Meow on Instagram ! 🎵

Who Am I

Jordy Meow
This is me!

I am Jordy Meow, a French photographer based in Tokyo. I explore offbeat places in Japan.

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In whispers of green, A windmill twirls tales untold, Red roofs fade in time. 静かな緑の中で、 風車が語らぬ物語を回し、 赤い屋根が時と共に消えていく。#windmilltales #rusticcharm #natureandcity #urbanserenity #japancontrast #offbeatjapan #japan
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Concrete gray fortress Amidst the blue sea's embrace— Silent echoes speak. コンクリートの城 青い海の抱擁の中で— 静かな声が響く。 #Gunkanjima #HashimaIsland #BattleshipIsland #Nagasaki #Urbex #offbeatjapan #japan
Ancient coaster sleeps, Twilight whispers pinks and blues, Nature reclaims all. 崩れたコースターが眠る、 薄桃色と青の夜明けのささやき、 自然が全てを取り戻す。 #offbeatjapan #japan #abandonedplaces #rollercoaster #twilightbeauty #nostalgia #naturestriumph #forgottenamusement
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Dust veils whispered past, Ghostly echoes cradle dreams, Where silence presides.静寂の中で、 囁かれた夢は、 埃に包まれる。#offbeatjapan #japan #urbandecay #abandonedplaces #hauntingbeauty #forgottenworlds #silenthalls #explorejapan
Yellow noren glow, In a calm, verdant alley— Silent history.---黄色の暖簾、 静かな緑の小路に— 静寂の歴史。---#japanesehistory #traditionaljapan #serenealley #historicdistrict #japanesearchitecture #offbeatjapan #japan