Hida no Sato Folk Village Museum — Attraction in Takayama

Best to buy the bus ticket combo with the entrance at Nohi terminal counter, this saves you 100yen. So total 800yen 2way bus including the entrance ticket. The museum opens until 5pm but the last direct bus from there to the bus terminal is at around 4.50ish so it’s best to leave from the terminal, at the latest at 3pm. That way you have more than 1h to explore. The bus pattern is 9, 9.45, 10, 10.45, 11, 11.45. time it correctly that way you don’t have to wait for 45mins. Beware that the bust platform 1 is shared with other bus routes! When we were there waiting with other tourists, the bus driver didn’t stop for more than 5seconds and take off without signalling to us that it’s the bus to hida, that pisses all of us as the next bus was 3.45pm, we only had less than 1h to explore, because of this slack bus driver and we needed to wait for another 45mins for the next bus.

Hida village can be covered within 1h at a faster pace if you don’t go in and out of the houses, but ideally 1.5h at least, to give you time to enjoy the scenery, take pictures, use the stamps, going in and out of the houses, take off and put back your shoes (if you go to every house it will take about 2h). As you need to take off shoes when you enter the wooden area of the house, you want to wear thick socks. Some upper rooms are opened too, so you can go upstairs and see the architecture of the roof. It can be slippery during winter hence many routes are closed for walking but this does not affect the experience. They were doing it for safety reasons, although it feels like we didn’t get to see some areas. Overall it’s worth it, especially if you only have a day or two in Takayama, saving you from going to shiragawago. Since the place is not that big, it’s best to check the crowd level using google map, it wouldn’t be nice having too many tourists there especially inside those...

Very happy with my decision to go here away from the crowds at Shirakawago where there is not enough infrastructure to support all the tourists. The Nohi highway bus to Takayama from Takaoka (big travel bus transporting visitors from other cities) stopped at Shirakawago, and I was happy with that quick peek + most views of mountains and other homes in between the tunnels during the entire ride are amazing (I sat on the left). You should buy the highway bus ticket when you can as they sell out - at least around winter holidays; I had to take a train from Kanazawa to Takaoka because Kanazawa sold out. And bring some heatwarmers to stick on your back and in your gloves if you hate the cold.

You can buy the admission ticket + roundtrip local bus ticket to Hida Folk Village in one go day of for 800 yen at the machine inside the Takayama Nohi bus center where you get dropped off. The local bus will pick you up and drop you off there, so it's convenient. There's a store there that sells locally made products like fried wasabi and sake-flavored chocolate.

Highlight of the village for me was a pottery class in one of the preserved thatched houses! Reiko-san is the instructor. Her husband (?) Hidenori-san's English was wonderful. They were both kind to me despite my lack of ability, haha! I'm most happy with the actual experience of making a cup the traditional way. Receiving the cup will just be a bonus. I did not have a reservation for the class.

I had about five hours in Takayama (11-4ish). Enough time to go at my preferred snail pace at the village to learn about the history (tools they used back then, etc) + pottery class + walk to old town from the bus center + shop and eat lunch there + walk back to catch...

Note: Wood fires may be used on cold days, so please be aware in case of breathing difficulties (eg. Asthmatic individuals may wish to bring an inhaler and wear a face mask).

Went early in the morning when there was less people. A lot of areas are inaccessible for those with mobility difficulties (no wheelchair access abilities in some areas, upper levels of houses may be too steep for people with ailling joints).

There is a small counter at the entrance where you can purchase a stamp book and collect 7 stamps for a gift prize (¥200 for stamp book needed to get souvenir gift). You can purchase food for the fish (¥200 baguette type bread that you break up to feed the fish).

There are descriptions in English and Japanese as well as 'guide books' available (I did not personally purchase one).

There are little activities like wood puzzles, spinning tops, stilts, water pistols, etc at the arbour.

Artisans are still keeping traditional arts alive such as weaving, woodworking, lacquering, etc and you can purchase from their stores or you can make some crafts there (like painting a beckoning cat).

There is also a rest area with vending machines (including hot drinks like coffee, matcha, tea and hot cocoa) that you can sit down and rest. There are toilets throughout with western style toilets (bidet included) and traditional Japanese style squat toilets.

It feels very serene and the village is mostly quiet (with the exception of the gong that visitors can use to pray with).

Please be mindful of the historical and cultural significance and do not wear shoes on the wooden areas inside the traditional houses- additionally there are bins at the rest area so please do not litter.

The staff were...