Hida Furukawa飛騨・古川

Dynamic and gorgeous, the Furukawa-matsuri Festival, where silence and motion intersect in the night.

Furukawa-cho is located in the city of Hida in Gifu Prefecture. "Hida Furukawa," like Hida Takayama, is situated downstream along the Miya-kawa River. The two towns are often called twins, and are also known as the "Twin Little Kyotos." The reason why they are referred to as "Little Kyotos" is that towns have a long history, and together with their similar construction and atmosphere, they are said to resemble Kyoto.

A number of tributaries join the Miya-kawa River in the town of Furukawa. One of them is the Seto-gawa River, which flows through a 1.8-meter-wide moat that cuts across the town. Schools of colorful 'nishikigoi' carp swim in circles along the moat, which is lined on both sides by old warehouses with dazzling white walls.

Master carpenters, called "Hida-no-takumi," continue to protect and preserve the traditional structures. The largest highlight of the town is the Furukawa-matsuri Festival, held each year on the 20th of April, a day when traditional skills come to life at stalls decorated with carvings. The gorgeous stalls attract visitors beginning at 6:00 a.m. in the morning and continue on until after 8:00 p.m. in the evening. During the previous day, late in the night on the 19th, they hold an unusual event known as "Okoshi-daiko," which features traditional Japanese 'taiko' drum performances. It is an intense competition among scantily clad men, and during this time of the year, the excitement completely engulfs the normally quiet town of Furukawa. This contrast between "silence" and "movement" is a special characteristic of the Furukawa-matsuri Festival, and also one of its charms. At around the same time as the festival, cherry blossom trees decorate the nearby Keta-koen Park.

At times other than the festival, visitors can still enjoy the spectacle by viewing 3D images at the Hida Furukawa Festival Hall, which also has displays of 'mikoshi' portable shrines and stalls, as well as mechanical dolls.

In addition, the Santera-mairi Festival (three temple festival) is held during the evening hours on the 15th of January. During the festival, 1,000 candles line the Seto-gawa River, and the flickering light and snow create a world of fantasy that spreads out before your eyes. The candles used in the festival are called "Warosoku (Japanese candles)," and it is a specialty product of Furukawa. It is said to be a superior candle that holds a flame even when the wind blows, while giving off very little smoke.