Oku Hida Whole Value Ticket 【Bus Plan / Hirayu Onsen】

The Oku-Hida Onsen Villages (奥飛騨温泉郷 Oku-Hida Onsengō), are a group of 5 remote hot springs (Jp. onsen) villages, nestled deep in the Japan Alps of Gifu prefecture.

Each hot spring resort has several hotels and ryokans. And there are more than 100 open-air bathes. Some of them are the public bathes and we can use them cheaply or at no charge.

This area is one of the entrances of climbing to Mount Hotaka. So many climbers visit here. From Shin-Hotaka hot spring resort, Shin-Hotaka Ropeway is operated, and it lead to the observatory at a height of 2,150 meters. General tourists can also use it.

From Hirayu hot spring resort, a road passes through under Abou Pass to the east. After the passing, it leads to Kamikochi or Matsumoto city in Nagano Prefecture. The shuttle bus to Kamikochi is operated from Hirayu. (From late April to mid-November)

Hirayu Onsen, at 1,250 m above sea level on the northern foot of holy Mount Norikura is a hot spring with the longest and most distinguished history among the Oku-Hida Hot Spring Villages.

According to an old legend, an old white monkey appeared before soldiers who became unable to move because of a poisonous fog, and led them to the hot spring of Hirayu; the soldiers who entered the spring instantly recovered. It is said that as this legend spread by word of mouth, more and more people started to arrive at the hot spring through steep mountain paths. Hirayu Onsen, deep in the mountains, used to be difficult to visit, but after a tunnel was opened and transportation improved, it became a popular place as an entrance to sightseeing spots, such as Norikura and Kamikochi.

In the mountain slightly away from the center of the hot-spring resort, there is a public bath called "Kami No Yu." This is precisely the birthplace of Hirayu Onsen, where the legend of the white monkey is set. Separate open-air baths for men and women are built on the slope where trees grow thickly, creating an atmosphere of sanctity.

There are about 40 sources of hot springs scattered throughout the area of Hirayu Onsen, from which as much as 13,000 liters of hot water flow out per minute. In terms of the spring quality, it is a hydrogencarbonate spring containing abundant salt, magnesium and calcium. Because the hot spring is effective for skin diseases and gastrointestinal disorders, the place is also used for hot spring therapy for long-term stays and treatment.

Schedule & Ticket

Place information

• Shinhotaka Ropeway
  新穂高ロープウェイ

  Address

  日本、〒506-1421 岐阜県高山市奥飛騨温泉郷神坂７１０−５８  Map

  The Shinhotaka Ropeway (新穂高ロープウェイ Shinhotaka Rōpuwei) is an aerial lift system in Takayama, Gifu Prefecture, Japan, and is operated by Okuhi Sightseeing Development. The Meitetsu Group company also operates hotels in the area. Opened in 1970, the line climbs to the hillside of the Hida Mountains' Mount Hotaka, the third tallest mountain in Japan.

  The Shin-Hotaka Ropeway is one of Japan's most unique ropeways. It has one of the largest elevation gains in the country as it climbs over 1000 meters up the side of the Hotake Mountain Range, which includes Oku-Hotakedake, Japan's third highest peak. But its most distinguishing feature is its double decker gondola cars, the first of their kind in Japan, which offer excellent views of the Okuhida Region.

  The ropeway is actually made up of two ropeways. The first is a short 200 meter climb on a single-story ropeway from the bus stop to Nabedaira Kogen. Here you will find the Shin-Hotaka Visitors Center, a public bath, restaurants, a gift shop, a small art gallery, hiking trails and the departure point of the double decker ropeway. Nabedaira Kogen is also accessible by car, but there is no bus service.

  The Shinhotaka Ropeway connects Shinhotaka Onsen (hot spring) with Mt. Nishi Hotakadake. There are two ropeways, No.1 and No.2. No.1 ropeway is glassed-in, and No.2 ropeway is a two-story gondola in which visitors can feel as if they are walking on air.

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