Hida, Mountain city in Gifu Prefecture, Japan
Hida is a mountain city in northern Gifu Prefecture that stretches across 792 square kilometers (306 square miles) of forested mountains, with some peaks rising over 2000 meters (6562 feet). The city sits nestled among steep valleys and dense forests that divide the municipal area into several smaller settlements.
The region formed part of Hida Province during the Edo period and operated under direct control of the Tokugawa shogunate as tenryō territory. This administrative arrangement shaped the development of settlements for over two centuries until the Meiji Restoration.
The Furukawa Festival on April 19 and 20 brings large drum floats to the streets near the Keta Wakamiya Shrine. During the celebrations, participants wear festival clothing and accompany the floats through the old town quarter.
Visitors reach the city via the JR Tōkai Takayama Main Line, with local bus services connecting to surrounding settlements in the mountain area. Winter months bring heavy snowfall, while spring and autumn offer milder conditions for exploring the valleys.
The Super-Kamiokande neutrino observatory, a major particle physics research facility, sits deep inside the mountain within city limits. The installation occupies a former zinc mine about 1000 meters (3281 feet) below ground level.
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