The Okuhida and Shinhotaka area covers the Okuhida Onsengo hot-spring district in Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture. Hirayu, Fukuji, Shin-Hirayu, Tochio and Shinhotaka are connected by Route 471 and Prefectural Route 475. Shinhotaka, at the far end, has the Shinhotaka Ropeway.
This guide follows a day from Hirayu to Shinhotaka and explains the detours around the Route 158 closure, with roads and places to stop listed below.
Map of the Okuhida and Shinhotaka area
- Views and nature
- Roadside stations
- 1Hirayu bus terminal
- 2Hirayu Otaki Falls
- 3Akandana parking
- 4Fukuji Onsen
- 5Tochio Onsen
- 6Shinhotaka Ropeway
- 7Michi-no-Eki Okuhida-Onsengo-Kamitakara
- 8Hida Great Limestone Cave
- 9Michi-no-Eki Hida-Asahimura
- 10Michi-no-Eki Alp Hida-Furukawa
Line: 1 → 2 → 5 → 6 → 7
The map could not be loaded. Use the junction-by-junction directions below.
The line follows the full-day Hirayu-to-Shinhotaka route below. Numbers mark the stops: green for scenery and nature, blue for roadside stations. Tap a marker to see its name.
Recommended drives
First visit: Hirayu to Shinhotaka in a day
From Hirayu bus terminal, stop at Hirayu Otaki Falls and head north on Route 471 to Tochio. Climb Prefectural Route 475 to Shinhotaka and ride the ropeway. On the way back, stop at Michi-no-Eki Okuhida-Onsengo-Kamitakara, a roadside station.
The route is about 31 km, with around 36 minutes of driving. Distance and time are calculated from map data and exclude traffic.
Fukuji Onsen's morning market starts at 06:30 from 15 April to 14 November and at 08:30 from 15 November. It ends at 11:00 in both periods. To visit it, go to Fukuji straight after leaving Hirayu.
Coming from Takayama: allow for the Route 158 detour
Route 158 has been fully closed at Shioya in Nyukawa, Takayama, since a landslide on 25 February. The closed section is about 2.4 km, and reopening is targeted by the end of fiscal 2026 (March 2027).
Ordinary cars leave Route 158 before the closure, follow a Takayama city road and rejoin Route 158 beyond it. This adds about ten minutes. The city road on the opposite bank is a local residential road. Takayama City asks drivers of ordinary cars coming to central Takayama from the Kanto direction to use the wider detour on Routes 41 and 471 or Route 361. If you want to avoid congestion, use Prefectural Route 75 via Furukawa and Kamioka or Prefectural Route 76 via Kamitakara-Hongo. Route 76 is shorter but runs through the mountains.
Shinhotaka: check when each car park is open
Shinhotaka Onsen car park has about 160 spaces and costs ¥800 per six hours for an ordinary car. The ropeway station is a 2–5 minute walk away. The second car park has about 85 spaces and costs ¥2,000 per day.
Nabedaira Kogen car park closes from early November to late April. The third car park closed in October.
Roads you can drive
| Road | What to expect | Length and cost | Hours and restrictions |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Route 158 (Takayama–Hirayu) | From central Takayama through Nyukawa to Hirayu | Free | Fully closed at Shioya. The city-road detour adds about ten minutes |
| Prefectural Route 75 | From Takayama via Furukawa and Kamioka to Okuhida | — | A wider road |
| Prefectural Route 76 | From Takayama via Kamitakara-Hongo to Okuhida | — | Shorter, but a mountain road |
| Abo Pass Road (Abo Tunnel) | Links Hirayu with the Matsumoto side in Nagano Prefecture | — | — |
| National Route 158, Abo Pass | The old road from Hirayu to Abo Pass on the Nagano border | 7.5 km | Closed in winter |
| National Route 471 | From Hirayu towards Tochio | Free | — |
| Prefectural Route 475, Yarigatake Koen Line | From Tochio to Shinhotaka | — | — |
Places to stop
Views and nature
Numbers match the map.
| No. | Place | Parking | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hirayu bus terminal (Hirayu Onsen) | — | Transfer point for Kamikochi and Norikura |
| 2 | Hirayu Otaki Falls | Summer: waterfall viewing plaza. Winter: Anki-ya restaurant, about 30 minutes' walk from the falls | 64 m high and 6 m wide. Free |
| 3 | Akandana parking | 870 ordinary cars, ¥600 per 24 hours (free within 30 minutes) | Open only during the Kamikochi season. Kamikochi Line buses run until 15 November |
| 4 | Fukuji Onsen | — | Morning market until 11:00, open daily |
| — | Fukuji Fossil Museum | — | 09:00–17:00, closed irregularly. Free |
| — | Hirayu Folk Museum | — | 09:00–17:00. Free to view |
| 5 | Tochio Onsen | — | Just before Shinhotaka |
| 6 | Shinhotaka Ropeway | Shinhotaka Onsen car park: about 160 spaces, ¥800 per six hours | Open all year. Adults ¥3,800 return, ¥2,400 one way. Suspended in bad weather and for scheduled inspections |
| — | Kita-Alps Bridge | — | Links Nakao Kogen and Nabedaira Kogen |
| 8 | Hida Great Limestone Cave | 300 ordinary cars, free | On the Takayama side. Adults ¥1,100. 09:00–16:00 from November to March. Closed over the New Year holidays |
Roadside stations
| No. | Roadside station | Parking | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Michi-no-Eki Okuhida-Onsengo-Kamitakara | 28 ordinary cars | 09:00–16:30 from November to March; 09:00–17:00 from April to October |
| 9 | Michi-no-Eki Hida-Asahimura | 93 ordinary cars | South of Takayama. Shop 09:00–17:00 through 20 November, closing at 16:30 from 21 November |
| 10 | Michi-no-Eki Alp Hida-Furukawa | 90 ordinary cars | Beside Prefectural Route 75. Furukawa in Hida City |
Best seasons and crowds
| Season | Highlights and cautions |
|---|---|
| Mid-October | Peak autumn colours at Shinhotaka |
| Early November–late April | Nabedaira Kogen car park closed |
| 15 November | This year's final day for Kamikochi Line buses. Akandana parking opens only during the Kamikochi season |
| February | Hirayu Otaki Ice Festival, with the frozen falls lit up |
Sunset is at 16:59 on 1 November and 16:47 on 15 November (Gifu).
Roads and restrictions checked on 2 November 2026
- Route 158 is fully closed at Shioya in Nyukawa, Takayama. The city-road detour adds about ten minutes. The city road on the opposite bank is a local residential road. Takayama City asks drivers of ordinary cars coming to central Takayama from the Kanto direction to use the wider detour on Routes 41 and 471 or Route 361. No reopening date has been set. Large and some medium vehicles, 2.3 m wide or more or 9 m long or more, must use the wider detour on Routes 41 and 471 or Route 361, which takes a little over two hours. Large tour buses are excepted.
- The old Route 158 road over Abo Pass closes in winter.
Getting there and fuel
| Starting point | Approximate drive |
|---|---|
| Nagoya | From about 2 hours 45 minutes |
| Kanto | From about 4 hours |
| Central Takayama | The Route 158 city-road detour adds about ten minutes |
Okuhida's roads become snowy mountain roads in winter. Private cars are restricted on the roads to Kamikochi and Mt Norikura.
Refuel in central Takayama before entering Okuhida.
If you don't have a car
Use the Gifu rental-car listings to find a pickup location. Before booking, check the driving-permit requirements and the equipment supplied for winter driving.
Frequently asked questions
Where should I drive with one day in Okuhida?
Stop at Hirayu Otaki Falls, then follow Route 471 to Tochio and climb Prefectural Route 475 to Shinhotaka. Ride the ropeway and stop at Michi-no-Eki Okuhida-Onsengo-Kamitakara on the way back.
Can I still drive from Takayama to Hirayu?
Yes. Route 158 is closed at Shioya, but ordinary cars can use the city-road detour, which adds about ten minutes. The city road on the opposite bank is a local residential road. Takayama City asks drivers of ordinary cars coming to central Takayama from the Kanto direction to use the wider detour on Routes 41 and 471 or Route 361.
How much is parking at Shinhotaka?
Shinhotaka Onsen car park costs ¥800 per six hours for an ordinary car. The second car park costs ¥2,000 per day.
How much is the Shinhotaka Ropeway?
A return ticket costs ¥3,800 for adults and ¥1,900 for children. A one-way adult ticket costs ¥2,400. The ropeway runs all year but is suspended in bad weather and for scheduled inspections.
When is Akandana car park open?
It opens only during the Kamikochi season, from April to November. An ordinary car costs ¥600 per 24 hours.
Nearby areas and guides
Sources & verification
Last verified: 2026-11-02
- Takayama City (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-11-02
- Gifu Prefecture (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-11-02
- Okuhida Onsengo Tourist Association (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-11-02
- Gifu Prefecture (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-11-01
- Okuhida Onsengo Tourist Association (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-11-01
- Okuhida Onsengo Tourist Association (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-11-01
- Takayama City (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-11-01
- Okuhida Onsengo Tourist Association (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-11-01
- Nohi Bus (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-11-01
- Takayama City (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-11-01
- Okuhida Onsengo Tourist Association (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-11-01
- Okuhida Onsengo Tourist Association (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-11-01
- Okuhida Onsengo Tourist Association (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-11-01
- Okuhida Onsengo Tourist Association (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-11-01
- Shinhotaka Ropeway (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-11-01
- Takayama City (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-11-01
- Shinhotaka Ropeway (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-11-01
- Okuhida Onsengo Tourist Association (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-11-01
- Hida Great Limestone Cave (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-11-01
- MLIT Chubu Regional Development Bureau (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-11-01
- MLIT Chubu Regional Development Bureau (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-11-01
- MLIT Chubu Regional Development Bureau (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-11-01
- National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-11-01
- Shinhotaka Ropeway (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-11-01
- OpenStreetMap (map positions and route; © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL; route calculated with OSRM) · 2026-11-01
