A Tour on the JR Takayama Line Limited Express "Hida": Comparing Local Sakes of Toyama and Takayama

Hokuriku Shinkansen stops at Toyama Station, which has great connections from all around Japan. You can get there in as little as 2 hours and 5 minutes from Tokyo, or about 2 hours and 35 minutes from Osaka or Nagoya, making it a perfect travel base from major airports like Haneda or Kansai International.

To reach Takayama from Toyama Station, hop on the JR Takayama Main Line and catch the Limited Express “Hida” heading toward Nagoya and Takayama.

If you’re coming to Takayama from Tokyo, taking the Hokuriku Shinkansen “Kagayaki” via Toyama is both cheaper and faster than taking the Tokaido Shinkansen “Nozomi” via Nagoya. Plus, if you’re using a Japan Rail Pass, you’d normally need to buy an extra “Japan Rail Pass Exclusive Nozomi/Mizuho Ticket” to ride the Nozomi. With Kagayaki, you don’t need any extras, so it’s an even better deal.

Toyama Station itself is super easy to navigate, and the area around it is full of local cuisine, sake, and stunning nature spots—perfect for soaking up all that Toyama has to offer.

"Toyamarche," connected to Toyama Station, is a great place to pick up souvenirs showcasing a wide range of Toyama's specialties. There are shops selling processed products made from white shrimp and firefly squid, as well as places where you can taste Toyama Black Ramen and nigiri sushi. Right at the main entrance, you'll find "Kura no Ka," which offers a selection of local sake from across Toyama Prefecture. It's run by a brewery that's been around for over 150 years, "Wakatsuru" from Tonami City. They have their entire lineup of sake available, and their whiskies from the oldest distillery, "Saburomaru Distillery," are also popular items.

Echigo-Yatsuo Station is the closest station to the center of Yatsuo-cho in Toyama City, where the "Owara Kaze no Bon" festival is held. From the station, you can take the Toyama City community bus or enjoy a 30-40 minute walk through the hilly town to visit the "Yatsuo Owara Museum" and "Yatsuo Hikiyama Exhibition Hall," as well as Suwamachi Main Street, which is listed among Japan's top 100 roads. Yatsuo-cho, the stage for "Owara Kaze no Bon," thrived from the late Edo period to the early Showa period with its sericulture and silkworm seed industries. It's also said that traditional Japanese paper-making started in Muromachi era. Take your time to leisurely explore the town with its old-world charm.
*If you get off at Echigo-Yatsuo Station, you'll need two different tickets: one for the section between Toyama and Echigo-Yatsuo, and another for the section between Echigo-Yatsuo and Takayama.

The "New York Times" included the "Owara Kaze no Bon" festival, which takes place every year from September 1st to 3rd, in its "52 Places to Go in 2025" list. At the "Yatsuo Owara Museum," you can explore the history, songs, dances, costumes, and instruments related to "Owara Kaze no Bon" all year round. You can even wear a traditional woven hat and get into the spirit of the dancers. If you book in advance, you can also try playing the shamisen and learn the Echigo Owara song. The museum has a large screen where you can watch footage of the festival itself. The building used to be the home of Junji Kawasaki, the first president of the Owara Preservation Society and a key figure in reviving the festival. Inside, you can find lots of materials related to Kawasaki and a recreation of the traditional Yatsuo Machiya style

Founded in the late Edo period, Fukutsuru Sake Brewery is currently run by its 8th-generation master brewer, who crafts sake with a small team. Their flagship brand is the "Kaze no Bon" series, known for its light, dry taste that's easy to drink. Their Junmai sake, in particular, has been made with organic JAS-certified Koshi Hikari rice since the 1970s. The "Fukuku," named after the brewery itself, is a newer product developed by the current generation. It's brewed with locally grown sake rice "Gohyakumangoku" using the traditional Kimoto method. This sake retains the aroma of wooden barrels and has high acidity, making it a perfect match for Italian cuisine and cheese.

Tamaasahi Brewery, one of the top old-school breweries in the prefecture, embraces unconventional methods in sake making. They shorten the aging period or use distinctive yeast, which results in diverse flavors. Each sake boasts rich individuality, be it sweet and fruity or sparkling. The rice used in brewing is entirely sourced from Toyama Prefecture, including rice grown in fields tended by local community members. Utilizing the delicious spring water from the Northern Alps, they craft each bottle of sake with heartfelt care.

One of the great pleasures of taking the limited express "Hida" is the view from the train window. The route from Toyama Station to Takayama Station is filled with scenic spots, such as the majestic Tateyama Mountain Range and the beautiful Jinzu Gorge, which offers stunning seasonal landscapes. Enjoy the natural beauty along the route as you gaze out the window. Since the timetable revision in March 2023, all regular "Hida" trains have been upgraded to the HC85 series (hybrid limited express train). You can see which power source the train is using at any given moment by checking the LED display inside the train.

Located in the northern part of Gifu Prefecture, Takayama is a popular tourist destination that's easily accessible from Toyama Prefecture. The old streets, which retain the atmosphere of the castle town, are about a 10-minute walk from Takayama Station. Lined with sake breweries, Shunkei lacquerware shops, places offering Hida beef, Takayama ramen, and sweet treats, the area is bustling with people shopping and enjoying street food. By the riverside of Nakabashi , you’ll find rickshaws available for hire—a perfect choice for those who want to enjoy a leisurely tour with explanations. There are many other attractions worth visiting, such as "Takayama Jinya" and the morning markets.

With a history spanning over 400 years, Hirase Brewery in Takayama is the oldest among the seven breweries in the area, and the current head is the 15th generation. Behind their shop, which is over 100 years old, there are three earthen storehouses where sake is brewed from autumn to spring, kept cool throughout the year. If you make a reservation in advance, you can join a "brewery tour" where you'll get explanations about the ingredients and brewing process while exploring the brewery. The ingredients used include "Hida homare", a sake rice grown in the Hida region, and high-quality spring water. Under the brand name "Kusudama," they also take pride in labels such as "Hida no Karakan" and "Chokaruchi." Many customers also come for their plum wine and yuzu wine.

Funasaka Brewery has been brewing sake for over 200 years in the old town area. With the catchphrase "Sake Theme Park," you can drink and buy freshly brewed sake at their attached shop. Their flagship labels include "Jousen Miyamagiku" (a well-balanced type that is both sweet and dry, rich in flavor) and "Jingoro" (a sharp, dry type), both of which are excellent when heated. The "Yottsuboshi" offers a fruity ginjo aroma. Within the premises, "Aji no Gohei" is a restaurant where you can enjoy high-quality local Hida beef prepared as teppanyaki or sukiyaki. You can also order a sake tasting set and immerse yourself in the allure of Hida Takayama in a serene ambiance.

"Hida Jizakegura" is a shop that offers sake from all 12 breweries located in Takayama City, Hida City, and Gero City. You can find labels that locals have been drinking regularly for years, as well as rare limited editions produced in small quantities by the breweries. In addition to sake, the shop also carries cider, craft beer, lemon liqueur made in the Hida region, and juices that capture the deliciousness of local fruits. Just browsing the products gives you a sense of the region's charm. The staff, who are well-versed in alcoholic beverages, will carefully explain each product, so if you're unsure about what to choose as a souvenir, don't hesitate to ask for their recommendations.

How was your trip from Toyama Station to Hida Takayama on the JR Takayama Line's limited express "Hida"? Enjoy the delicious local sake while immersing yourself in the history, culture, and nature of the area.