The Road Less Traveled
Okuhida
Okuhida, is an area just east of Takayama on the road between Takayama and Matsumoto. Surrounded by mountains over 3,000 meters high, Okuhida consists of five separate onsens. The true pleasure of these onsens is the beautiful settings of their outdoor baths, surrounded by majestic mountain ranges and mountain streams. A bather can enjoy beautiful foliage in the fall and peaceful snowy scenery in the winter while relaxing in the hot mineral water. In the spring, the cherry trees provide a show and in the summer Okuhida offers a peaceful retreat from the summer heat. Okuhida has been popular since the Edo period for its onsen.
Oku-Hida consists of five distinct hot spring areas: Shinhodaka Onsen at the base of the North Alps, Tochio Onsen with its cozy atmosphere, the always popular Shinhirayu Onsen located in the central part of Okuhida, Fukuji Onsen that seems to take you back to the good old days and the well-established Hirayu Hot Spring that used to prosper as a key junction of the area since ancient times. In between trips to the hot springs, you can take a day trip to the Kamikochi area by bus with its many gentle trails along the mountain river. Or ride the Shinhodaka Ropeway, a 3,200-meter long ropeway between Shinhodaka Onsen and Nishihodaka-guchi. Visitors can enjoy breathtaking scenery in every season at a height of 2,156 meters from inside the gondola on the 20 minute ride.
How to get to Oku-Hida
Take the bus from Takayama and get off at Hirayu Onsen. From here you can board other buses to the other onsens.