Hida Province, Historical province in Gifu, Japan
Hida refers to an area in the northern part of Gifu Prefecture that stretches across forested mountains and deep valleys. Small towns sit scattered among rice fields and rivers that wind through narrow gorges.
The area stood under direct administration of the shogunate during the Edo period, which controlled timber resources here. After the Meiji reforms, the territory merged into the newly formed Gifu Prefecture.
Traditional crafts emerge in workshops where carpenters work without nails and lacquer masters apply multiple layers. These techniques arose from the need to withstand the harsh mountain climate and use local timber.
Winter months bring heavy snowfall to the mountains, so warm clothing and slip-resistant shoes are necessary. In summer the valleys can become hot and humid, while higher elevations stay cooler.
Deep beneath the Kamioka area lies an underground laboratory in former mine tunnels where scientists detect tiny particles from space. The facility sits more than a thousand meters below the surface to filter out cosmic interference.
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