Gifu Prefecture is famous for its scenic landscapes and Hida is an ideal place for cycling through the quiet Japanese countryside trails.
Not only famous for Shirakawa-go village - considered a world heritage site recognized by UNESCO, characterized by traditional gassho-zukuri thatched-roof houses; Gifu province also has many peaceful villages with poetic scenery, suitable for tourists who love to learn about traditional indigenous culture and immerse themselves in nature.
Hida City, an area in northern Gifu Prefecture, is famous for its rural cycling experience (also known as Hida Satoyama Cycling). On a bicycle with a local guide, visitors can explore small villages scattered along the route, with traditional straw-roofed houses and typical Japanese rural landscapes, creating a vivid picture.
Cycling experiences to explore sustainable tourism in rural Japan attract many tourists. Photo: Satoyama Experience
The Hida Satoyama Cycling Trail passes through ancient forests, beside clear streams and through lush green valleys. Cycling through these paths is not only a physical activity, but also a spiritual therapy, helping visitors relax and live green, live slower, temporarily away from the noise of big cities like Nagoya, Osaka or Tokyo.
Visitors on this tour also have the opportunity to visit traditional craft workshops, visit vegetable gardens and experience being a farmer for a day. Another special highlight is participating in cooking workshops, learning how to make sushi or soba (a traditional Japanese noodle) from the locals. Hida is also famous for sake, so at the end of the bike tour and after returning the bike, visitors can also explore the experience of going into a sake processing facility and tasting hundreds of types.
An important part of the experience is connecting with the local community. Visitors are not only welcomed by the friendliness of the people, but also have the opportunity to learn about the history and traditions of the area through stories and conversations with the indigenous people.
Visitors will cycle with a local guide for a few hours and hear stories about the history of Japanese villages. Photo: Satoyama Experience
According to the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) in Vietnam, the Hida Satoyama Cycling experience follows a sustainable tourism development model, which is reflected in respecting and preserving local culture. This area has developed a satoyama culture, which means living in harmony with nature. Therefore, the weather factor plays a very important role in the cycling experience. Normally, on bad weather days such as storms, the tour will be changed to another more favorable day.
The Satoyama Experience began in 2010, offering visitors the opportunity to experience sustainable living in rural Gifu. The area was once very isolated and accessible only via limited mountain roads. Locals learned to use rice not only as a food source, but also to make building materials and clothing from the harvested straw. This rich culture is still respected by the Hida people, even as Japan and the world modernize and face sustainability challenges.
Satoyama Experience has a wide range of cycling tours to suit a variety of interests and timeframes. From the standard three-and-a-half hour tour that balances village life and nature, to private tours suitable for beginners or families with young children, and even high-end adventure tours through the mountains and forests.
Hida Satoyama Cycling's bike pick-up and drop-off location. Photo: Nick M
According to the latest statistics on visitors to Japan released by JNTO, the number of visitors to Japan from Vietnam in the period from January to November 2023 reached 536,800, surpassing the record of 495,051 visitors achieved in 2019 and setting an all-time high. Statistics on the number of international visitors to Japan in December will be released in January 2024, so the total number of visitors for the whole year of 2023 is estimated to increase even more.
According to Mr. Yoshida Kenji - Chief Representative of JNTO in Vietnam, in 2024, the number of tourists from Vietnam to Japan will continue to increase, and at the same time, JNTO will work with organizations and individuals in the tourism industry to promote three new tourism strategies proposed by the Japanese Government, including "Developing sustainable tourism", "Attracting increased consumption", "Promoting local tourism" right in Vietnam, thereby contributing to promoting tourist exchange between the two countries.
>> Suggested popular cycling tours to explore the countryside in Hida
Nick M.
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