A rustic Japanese streetscape composed of rivers, koi fish, and white-walled traditional storehouses

▲ Hida Furukawa. (Photo /Travel. Shoot. Explore the WorldProvided, same below)

By reporter Zhang Shuyun / Comprehensive report

The line from a childhood nursery rhyme, “There’s a little river in front of my house,” depicts a scene everyone yearns for—how wonderful it would be to open your door every morning to the sight of gently flowing water. In Japan, there’s a place that offers just such a beautiful view:“Hida Furukawa,” located in Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture. It’s not just a river—there are also plump koi swimming in it, and the cleanliness of the waterways is maintained collectively by residents, making it a remarkably close-knit and charming small town.

Hida Furukawa is actually a quiet place with a sparse population, preserving Japan’s original landscape and character. It recently gained popularity due to several scenes from the movie *Your Name* being filmed here.

▲ The small Hida Furukawa train station featured in the movie *Your Name*.

The most famous spots in Furukawa are concentrated around the white-walled traditional storehouse street and the Seto River. The streets are neatly laid out in a grid pattern, and the roads are clean and tidy. Walking through the streets, you’ll naturally lower your voice, immersing yourself in the serene atmosphere of Furukawa. Travel enthusiasts who enjoy in-depth exploration will surely love the ambiance here.

“White-walled storehouses” are local wooden buildings characterized by their black-framed, white-washed walls—large expanses of white accented by black wooden beams. The exquisite architectural craftsmanship gives the area its unique style and has earned it the title “Hometown of Master Craftsmen.” The adjacent waterway is the “Seto River,” an artificial canal dug during the Edo period. It now hosts thousands of brightly colored koi fish, but every winter, the fish are moved to a wintering pond and only returned around mid-April.

▲ From the best vantage points along the river, you can see koi swimming gracefully beneath the surface.

There are also self-service feed dispensers by the waterway, where visitors can feed the fish for 100 yen per use. To prevent the koi from escaping, the canal is divided into 12 sections by fences, with about a dozen fish in each. Local residents have reached a consensus to jointly maintain the ecological environment, taking turns cleaning and ensuring the water stays unpolluted. It’s no wonder the area remains so well-preserved, drawing visitors in with its tranquil beauty.

▲ When visiting Hida Furukawa in Japan, remember to help keep the area clean and preserve its beauty.

Hida Furukawa White-Walled Storehouse Street & Seto River
Address: Furukawa Town, Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture, Japan