A Heart-Warming Video Showing the Highlights of Hirayu Onsen

Today we are showing you '平湯温泉PRムービー　フルバージョン　5分21秒'. This promotional video shows you Hirayu Hot Spring located in the Okuhida hot springs area in Takayama City, in snowy Gifu Prefecture.
In the video, Yuyu, the mascot of the local Tourist Association, will show you around all the top spots.

Yuyu falls in love with a beautiful woman in the video (at 1:30).
Let’s learn about sightseeing at Hirayu hot springs, while following what happens to Yuyu’s love!

Hirayu Onsen: A White Monkey Showed Takeda's Army Where It Was? Find Out the Secret History of Hirayu Onsen!

Source :YouTube screenshot

The Okuhida Hot Springs area of Takayama City in Gifu Prefecture is famous in Japan for its plentiful snow.
This hot spring area consists of the Fukuji Hot Springs, Shinhirayu Hot Springs, Tochio Hot Springs, Shinhodaka Hot Springs and the Hirayu Hot Spring, the oldest hot spring in Okuhida.

Hirayu Onsen was established in the Age of Civil War called the Sengoku Period (1467～1615). They say that the hot spring was found when a white monkey showed the exhausted Takeda Army where the hot spring was.
Takeda's men recovered immediately after getting into the hot spring. Following that, Hirayu Onsen was developed into a therapeutic spa.
The spring is said to be effective for intestinal disease, rheumatoid arthritis, nerve pain and skin disease.
Having said that, the Okuhida Hot Spring area in Takayama City in Gifu Prefecture is surrounded by mountains and it used to be referred to as a "hidden world."

A tunnel connecting Nagano Prefecture and Gifu Prefecture has opened in recent years, and access to the area has improved dramatically.
As seen from 1:17 in the video, many coach buses from large Japanese cities such as Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Nagoya arrive at Hirayu Onsen bus terminal.
The bus routes are operated by the Nohi Bus, the local bus company covering most of the Hirayu Onsen area.
This area is in a convenient location, as you can visit secret hot springs, camp sites and famous Japanese tourist spots such as Matsumoto and Kamikochi.

Delicious Local Delicacies! Check Out the Delicious Foods Served in the Many Inns Shown Throughout the Video

Photo：Hoba Miso

Making a good choice of Onsen and meals is rather important when choosing a hotel or ryokan, is it not?
Please have a look at 2:36 in the video.
It shows unusual, delicious Japanese foods from the Hirayu Onsen area such as softshell turtle hot pot, onsen soft-boiled eggs, and pickled steaks.

In particular, Hoba Miso is a very famous Japanese food in the Okuhida Hot Springs area in Takayama City in Gifu Prefecture. It is often included in the accommodation package of ryokan inns.
We'd like to recommend Nakamurakan and Okada Ryokan for those who are particular about Onsen quality and want to fully enjoy the interior of a ryokan.

The rotenburo (open air bath) at Nakamurakan uses hot spring water straight from the source and you can refresh your mind and body.
You can see inside Okada Ryokan using Google maps street view as well if you're interested.
Even if you don't stay at one of these inns, you can still use their onsen facilities with a day pass as well!

Tourist Hot Spots at Hirayu Onsen, Japan’s No. 1 Onsen

Photo：Asian Black bear

There are many beautiful tourist hot spots and attractions besides Onsen Ryokan and hotels at Hirayu Onsen in Okuhida Hot Springs.
Here, we'll tell you about popular tourist attractions around Hirayu Onsen.

Okuhida Bear Ranch (奥飛騨クマ牧場 Okuhida Kuma Bokujo) shown in the video from 3:04 keep the largest number of Asian Black Bear (ツキノワグマ Tsukinowaguma) in Japan.
We recommend the Bear Fat (熊の油 Kumanoyu) souvenir.
It has been used as a medicine by hunters in the Okuhida Hot Springs area for many years and is effective for skin problems.

Next up is the Shinhotaka Ropeway (新穂高ロープウェイ).
There is a ropeway near Hirayu Onsen in Okuhida Hot Springs, Takayama City in Gifu Prefecture. It is the only double-decker ropeway in Japan.
It is also famous for its magnificent views of autumn leaves. Its viewpoint has an elevation of 2,156 meters. The superb views of the Northern Japanese Alps from the viewpoint make for amazing photos! Share them on your Instagram or keep them for scrap-booking!

Sightseeing Around Hirayu Onsen

Around Hirayu Onsen, there are many more sightseeing places that aren't included in the video.
They are: Hirayu Great Falls (平湯大滝 Hirayu Ootaki), Alps Highway Hirayu (アルプス街道平湯 Arupusu Kaido Hirayu) , Hirayu History Museum (平湯民俗館 Hirayu Minzokukan) , Hirayu Shrine (平湯神社 Hirayu Jinja), Mt. Yakedake (焼岳 Yakedake), Kamikochi (上高地), Mt. Norikura (乗鞍岳 Norikuradake), Goshikigahara (五色ヶ原), Shirakawago (白川郷), Hidatakayama(飛騨高山), Hida Great Limestone Cave (飛騨大鍾乳洞 Hida Daishounyudo) and Hirayu Campsite (平湯キャンプ場 Hirayu Campujo). We recommend giving these places a visit if you're planning on coming to Hirayu Onsen.

There are other activities that you can try to enjoy the beautiful nature of the Hirayu Onsen area, such as Rail Mountain Bike and the Hirayu Onsen Ski Resort.
While you are sightseeing, don’t forget to try the delicious local foods such, as Hida Beef (飛騨牛 Hidagyu), Hida Pork (飛騨ポーク Hida Pork) and onsen soft-boiled Egg (温泉卵 Onsen Tamago).

Summary of Hirayu Onsen

It's not the biggest place when compared to other famous Japanese hot spring towns, but you can definitely refresh your mind and body and enjoy a peaceful time here.
That’s Hirayu Onsen of Okuhida Hot Springs in Takayama City in Gifu Prefecture.

By the time you finish watching the 5-minute video, you'll want to go and see Yuyu!
By the way, what happened to Yuyu’s love??

【Official Website】Gifu Prefecture Takayama City Hall Website
http://www.city.takayama.lg.jp/

【Official Website】Hirayu Onsen Tourism Association, Hirayu Onsen Ryokan Cooperative Society
http://hirayuonsen.or.jp/