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Okuhida Onsen villages: location, buses and where to stay

Last checked: October 2026

Wide view of Hirayu Falls in early spring, bare trees and late snow in the valley below

The lie of the land

Where the Okuhida villages are

Japan's third-largest hot spring volume6

The Okuhida villages sit at the foot of the 3,000 m Northern Alps1, only a few kilometres apart4. Hirayu Onsen is the western gateway to Kamikochi5, and the area has good access to Kamikochi, Mt. Norikura and the Norikura Highlands1.

Okuhida Onsengo has the third-largest volume of hot spring water in Japan6, drawn from more than 100 hot springs1. Hirayu and Shin-Hotaka are inside the national park4. For the wider picture, open the Takayama Japan map.

Village What to know
Hirayu Onsen
The longest history7 of the Okuhida springs, at the foot of Mt. Norikura6
Fukuji
Old lodges with the atmosphere of old Japan8, plus a morning market
Shin-Hirayu
Many lodges cater to large groups8, with plenty to see and do
Tochio
Where the Hirayu and Gamata rivers meet8
Shin-Hotaka
Farther up the Gamata valley, at the foot of the Hotaka range8
Hirayu Falls in summer, a wide white drop between green, moss-covered cliffs
Hirayu Falls in summer, a wide white drop between green, moss-covered cliffs

Baths, falls and the ropeway

What is there to do in Okuhida?

Okuhida is about baths and mountains: ride the Shinhotaka Ropeway, see Hirayu Otaki Falls, soak in a public bath and shop the Fukuji morning market.

Ropeway tops out at 2,156 m10

  • Shinhotaka Ropeway: Japan’s first double-decker gondola9, climbing in two sections10. A round trip on both costs ¥3,800 (about US$24) (checked October 2026) for adults and ¥1,9009 (about US$12) for children.
  • Hirayu Otaki Falls: a 64 m drop and one of the three best-known waterfalls in Hida12. Every February12 the Hirayu Otaki Ice Festival lights up the frozen falls.
  • Public baths: every Okuhida village has a public open-air bath that is free or charges a token fee2. Day entry to Hirayu no Mori is ¥700 (about US$4) for adults and ¥50013 (about US$3) for children, and Hirayu no Yu asks a donation of about ¥30014 (about US$2).
  • Hirayu Folk Museum: entry is free14.
  • Fukuji Onsen Morning Market: seasonal ingredients and local specialties from the foot of the Northern Alps, open all year round15.
  • Skiing: Hirayu has a ski resort within walking distance of the town centre3. See Hirayu’s ski slopes for the details.
  • Kamikochi: the shuttle from Hirayu Onsen takes 30 minutes16.
Frozen Hirayu Falls lit up at night in winter, snow-laden trees glowing blue, visitors seen from behind
Frozen Hirayu Falls lit up at night in winter, snow-laden trees glowing blue, visitors seen from behind

Shinhotaka Ropeway, baths and the market: opening hours

Place Hours
Shinhotaka Ropeway
8:30–16:00 from 1 April to 30 November; 9:00–15:30 from 1 December to 31 March9
Hirayu no Mori
10:00–21:00, last entry 20:3013
Hirayu no Yu
6:00–21:00, 8:00–21:0014 in winter
Hirayu Folk Museum
9:00–17:0014
Fukuji Onsen Morning Market
6:30–11:00 from 15 April to 14 November; 8:30–11:0015 the rest of the year
Shinhotaka Ropeway climb
  1. 1,117 m Ropeway bottom station
  2. 2,156 m Ropeway top station

chubusangaku.jp (official)

The ropeway page has the full ropeway hours and admission fees and how to reach the base station. To skip the bus planning, book the Shinhotaka Ropeway and Kamikochi day tour from Takayama, or buy a Shin-Hotaka Ropeway round-trip e-ticket before you go.

Buses and mountain roads

How to get to Okuhida Onsen

Buses from Takayama and Matsumoto stop at Hirayu Bus Terminal, where you change for Kamikochi, Shinhotaka and the other villages.

Hirayu to Kamikochi shuttle: 30 minutes16

Bus and road routes into Okuhida
RouteTimeGood to know
Takayama to Kamikochi by bus, via Hirayu Onsen
About 90 minutes
Hirayu Bus Terminal is the hub for the villages
Hirayu Onsen to Kamikochi shuttle bus
30 minutes
Runs 17 April to 15 November 2026
Takayama to Hirayu Onsen, Shinhotaka line
–
The 6:00 bus runs only 19 July to 24 August
JR Takayama Station to Yumoto Choza, Fukuji
About 70 minutes by route bus
–
Matsumoto to Hirayu Bus Terminal by bus
About 1.5 hours
Get off at Hirayu on the bus towards Takayama
Matsumoto to Hirayu Onsen by car, Route 158
About an hour
About 47 km

nouhibus.co.jp (operator); japan.travel (official); KNT (booking agent); Nippon.com (news)

Nohi Bus fares and passes

TicketAdultChild
Takayama Bus Terminal to Shinhotaka Ropeway
¥2,200
Half fare, ages 6–12
Hirayu Onsen to Kamikochi round trip
¥2,800
–
Takayama, Hirayu Onsen and Kamikochi round trip, valid 7 days
¥5,800
¥2,900, ages 12 and under
Takayama & Shin-Hotaka Two-Day Open Ticket
¥4,400
¥2,200, ages 6–12

nouhibus.co.jp (operator)

Hirayu Onsen to Kamikochi bus season
  • Kamikochi buses running
  • Service starts or ends
  • No Kamikochi bus
Kamikochi buses running
May to October
Service starts or ends
April, November
No Kamikochi bus
December to March

Before you set off, plan for these:

  • Okuhida has many mountain roads and heavy winter snow20, so check road conditions in advance if you drive.
  • Nohi Bus warns of significant delays on the Shinhotaka line18, especially from heavy snow and traffic in Takayama.
  • Wikivoyage says buses between the villages are infrequent2 and suggests renting a car.

Between buses

Hirayu Bus Terminal and services

The Alps Kaido Hirayu building at the bus terminal covers most of what you need between buses.

  • Alps Kaido Hirayu: a souvenir and everyday-goods shop on the first floor, a restaurant and a footbath to rest in while you wait21. It opens 8:00–17:30 from 16 April to 15 November and 8:00–16:3021 the rest of the year.
  • Okuhida Visitor Center: home of the Hirayu Onsen Tourist Information Center in Chubu Sangaku National Park, with information on weather, sightseeing and transport22.
  • Tsuruya Shoten: local Hida sake and souvenirs17 in Hirayu.

For the village itself, read the guide to baths, inns and buses in Hirayu.

Inns, guesthouses and hotels

Where to stay in Okuhida

Okuhida stays run from long-established inns and small guesthouses to resort hotels1, and Wikivoyage notes that most accommodation is high-end2.

Guesthouse room only: ¥5,50024

Many use hot spring water piped straight from the source1, and many rooms have views of the Northern Alps peaks4. Ryokan stays are priced per person, with meals usually included23.

  • Ryokan Tsuyukusa / Guesthouse Tsuyukusa · near Hirayu Bus Terminal, room only from ¥5,500
  • Okuhida Garden Hotel Yakedake · Shin-Hirayu Onsen, per adult ¥6,600–¥34,100
  • Hirayu Prince Hotel · room only to with meals, for one night ¥9,900–¥16,500
  • Tanaka Inn (Ryokan Tanaka) · room only to with meals, for one night ¥9,900–¥13,200
  • Nakamura-kan · Hirayu Onsen, per adult ¥10,450–¥30,800
  • Hirayukan · room only to with meals, for one night ¥12,000–¥16,000
  • Osanpo Biyori · Shin-Hotaka Onsen, per adult ¥14,200–¥29,900
  • Takumi no Yado Miyama Ouan · Hirayu Onsen, per adult ¥16,000–¥138,200
  • Okada Ryokan / Warakutei · meals, for one night from ¥18,150
  • Hotakaso Yama no Hotel · Shin-Hotaka Onsen, per adult ¥18,700–¥47,600
  • Kutsurogi no Ya Yu · Shin-Hirayu Onsen, per adult ¥23,000–¥62,000
  • Yumoto Choza · Fukuji Onsen, per adult ¥31,900–¥49,500
  • Inan Hidaji · Fukuji Onsen, per adult ¥38,500–¥112,200

Single rates and plan ranges come from the inns' listings with the Okuhida tourism association; the wider ranges come from the travel agent KNT.

What sets a few of them apart:

  • Guesthouse Tsuyukusa: a 3-minute walk24 from Hirayu Bus Terminal, set up as a base for hiking and sightseeing.
  • Hirayukan: eight different bathhouses7.
  • Hirayu Prince Hotel: three free private open-air baths25.
  • Yumoto Choza in Fukuji: built from more than ten relocated old family houses from Niigata and Hida26, known for irori-hearth cooking and open-air baths. It’s about 70 minutes26 by route bus from JR Takayama Station.

Japan’s national tourism site says most of Hirayu’s small ryokan include dinner and breakfast made from local food3, served in your room. Compare that with Takayama ryokan prices and who they suit, or check who suits a hostel stay if you’d rather sleep cheaply in town.

Hida beef and ramen

Places to eat and drink

Hida beef and ramen lead the menus around Hirayu Bus Terminal.

  • Yoshimoto: a long-established restaurant near Hirayu Bus Terminal with a wide range of Hida beef dishes27. Read up on what Hida beef is and what it costs first.
  • Alps Kaido Hirayu restaurant: Takayama ramen and Hida beef21 at the bus terminal.
  • CAFÉ MUSTACHE: a popular coffee shop in the centre of Hirayu Onsen27.
  • Sake Shop Rokuji: on the grounds of the Hirayu Folk Museum, with snacks and dishes that go well with a drink27.
  • Ramen Bar Yadorigi: ramen, alcohol and snacks27.
  • Ankiya Restaurant: fully self-service27, with space to sit even if you’re not eating.

Questions people ask

Is Okuhida worth visiting?

For hot springs with mountain views, yes: Okuhida Onsengo has the third-largest hot spring volume in Japan, and many rooms look out on the Northern Alps peaks.

How hot is the Okuhida spring water?

The Okuhida tourism association says its more than 100 hot springs average a water temperature above 60°C.

Photos: Wikimedia Commons. Authors and licences: image credits

Checked against 31 sources · last checked October 2026
  1. okuhida.or.jp (official) · checked October 2026
  2. Wikivoyage · checked October 2026
  3. japan.travel (official) · checked October 2026
  4. MLIT (official) · checked October 2026
  5. Travel Japan (japan.travel) (official) · checked October 2026
  6. okuhida.or.jp (official) · checked October 2026
  7. okuhida.or.jp (official) · checked October 2026
  8. Nippon.com (news) · checked October 2026
  9. okuhida.or.jp (official) · checked October 2026
  10. chubusangaku.jp (official) · checked October 2026
  11. European Central Bank (official) · checked October 2026
  12. okuhida.or.jp (official) · checked October 2026
  13. okuhida.or.jp (official) · checked October 2026
  14. okuhida.or.jp (official) · checked October 2026
  15. okuhida.or.jp (official) · checked October 2026
  16. nouhibus.co.jp (operator) · checked October 2026
  17. okuhida.or.jp (official) · checked October 2026
  18. nouhibus.co.jp (operator) · checked October 2026
  19. Takayama City (official) · checked October 2026
  20. okuhida.or.jp (official) · checked October 2026
  21. nouhibus.co.jp (operator) · checked October 2026
  22. okuhida.or.jp (official) · checked October 2026
  23. japan.travel (official) · checked October 2026
  24. okuhida.or.jp (official) · checked October 2026
  25. okuhida.or.jp (official) · checked October 2026
  26. KNT (booking agent) · checked October 2026
  27. okuhida.or.jp (official) · checked October 2026
  28. nouhibus.co.jp (operator) · checked October 2026
  29. KNT (booking agent) · checked October 2026
  30. okuhida.or.jp (official) · checked October 2026
  31. okuhida.or.jp (official) · checked October 2026
Page history · last changed 24 October 2026
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