Overview

This tour is called "Kinkotsu-meguri" which means exploring the narrow back alleys of Hida-Kanayama village. You will see the highlight of a small town with historic buildings and will enter plenty of local shops.

Highlights

• Discover the hidden treasures of Hida-Kanayama village
• Walk through the labyrinth of small back streets
• Enter an old bath house and a silk cocoon factory
• See a variety of local food shops
• Visit a traditional sake brewery

Description

Hida-Kanayama is a small village in Gero prefecture whose central area can be easily explored on foot on the peculiar "Kinkotsu-meguri" tour. You will walk with a knowledgeable guide through a maze of narrow back streets that have always been used as public pathways by the local people.

Along the way you will see many unique sights, such as wells and canals of running valley water, some of which are used as public washing places, while others are storing freshwater eel waiting to be delivered to high-class restaurants around Japan.

You will also enter several of the village's historical buildings, such as the former bath house and the former silk cocoon factory, where you will discover how people from the past lived in the old days.

Among the highlights of this guided walk are the visits to plenty of local food shops, including a tofu factory, a shop for Japanese sweets and a nostalgic tempura restaurant. The tour will end with a visit to a traditional sake brewery that will fascinate you with its collection of antiques and delicious sake for trying!

This tour takes about 1 hour and a half to complete on foot. The tour is available until 15:00 pm.

Meeting Point

In front of Drive-in Hizan restaurant (about 15 minutes walk west of JR Hida-Kanayama Station)