Forest Life: Living Traditions of Beauty and Wisdom

Ensconced in mountainous terrain, the town of Hida Takayama has prospered through its rich forests.

Here, the beauty of the woods and the wisdom of a life lived with respect for nature live on.

Experience spirit and traditions that have been handed down through the ages, and discover life in the primordial wooded landscape of Japan.

Passing on the Bountiful Woodland Heritage of Hida-Takayama A Thatcher and Lacquer Artist Talk Craft in Harmony with Nature

Gifu Prefecture’s Takayama City – popularly known as “Hida-Takayama” – lies nestled in wooded mountains. Here, life has always been inextricably intertwined with the forests. Local wood, grass, and other natural resources have been harnessed since ancient times to make tools and dishes, and even homes.

A style of architecture known as Gassho is emblematic of the culture of Hida, employing thick thatched roofs of grass. Hida is also known for its distinctive Hida-shunkei, a style of lacquerware emphasizing the beauty of natural wood grain.

Fujiwara Takuma is a local thatcher with years of experience, and a charcoal burner in the winter. Kazuo Adano is a local Hida-shunkei heritage lacquer artist. He also founded the Urushi no Mori (“Lacquer Forest”) conservation project to preserve the natural resource base for these lacquerware traditions.

We sat down with these two artisans to get their perspectives on living through the bounties and cycles of the forest. The interview took place at the Kusakabe Folk Crafts Museum, showcasing everyday folk crafts from the Edo period (1603-1868) in a historic townhouse listed as an Important Cultural Property. 

A Life of Wood and Craft Tradition, as Told by a Shrine Carpenter and a Sculptor of Hida-Takayama

In Gifu Prefecture’s Takayama City, woodworking crafts have flourished since ancient times, such as the Hida no Takumi tradition of wood carving and shrine carpentry undergirding so much of its traditional architecture. Ensconced in mountain woodlands, the city is popularly referred to as “Hida-Takayama” after the historic Hida province of which it was a part. 

We sat down for a chat at gallery shop Kazehikaru with two craftsmen working in these traditions. Shuusei Kawakami is a shrine carpenter who handles a wide range of projects ranging from restorations of cultural properties to shrine and temple construction, in addition to residential buildings. Kawakami designed and built the interior of Kazehikaru.

Ayayuki Kosaka is a master woodcarver carrying on the traditional legacy of Hida’s ichii ittobori carving techniques, focused on bringing out the inherent beauty of each piece of wood. Together with Kawakami, he shared his thoughts on the deep importance of wood – and of conserving and passing on the unique cultural legacy of Hida Takayama.

Preserving Hida Takayama’s Folk Art for the Future

The Kusakabe family has deep roots in Hida Takayama, once thriving as merchants trusted by the shogunate.

Today, Masaru Kusakabe, the 13th head of the family, carries that legacy forward while engaging with the culture that still shapes the region. In addition to running the Kusakabe Folk Crafts Museum—an Important Cultural Property—he recently opened TANIYA, a one-group-per-day inn, to share the spirit of Hida more personally.

We speak with Masaru about his role as both a Kusakabe family descendant and a proud Hida Takayama local.

Mountain Worship and Reverence for Nature: Prayer and Spirituality in Hida Takayama

Mountains are the domains of the gods. The Japanese people have since time immemorial felt the presence of the divine in nature, and revered mountains especially as holy lands. Perhaps nowhere is this more evident than the region of Hida in northern Gifu Prefecture. Nearly dead center in the island of Honshu, this is a liminal realm between nature and faith, around which the sacred peaks of the Northern Alps stand watch.

It is also the workplace of Hironobu Hara, chairman of the Hida Mountain Guide Association, who shepherds visitors into the sacred mountains here and helps to reveal their charms. His expertise derives from a deep respect for nature and for the wisdom and spirituality of mountain life. These mountain journeys are experiences that link past to future, humanity to nature, and person to person.

Hara recently sat down with us to share his insights, views, and experiences with these quietly stirring summits.

Recommended Experiences
in Hida Takayama and Nearby

Recommended Accommodations
in Hida Takayama and Nearby

Itineraries to Inspire You

[1 Night] Stay at a Historic Ryokan Inn and Taste Local Sake in Hida Furukawa, Where History and Nature Intertwine

[2 Nights] Live the Culture of Hida Takayama Through a Traditional Inn Stay and Mountain Village Home Visit

[2 Nights] Stay In a Historic Hida Takayama Inn and Explore the Art of Shibukusayaki Painting