Bucket List: Hiking in Okuhida

By Timothy - September 03, 2022

Japan, Gifu Prefecture, Okuhida

The original article was first published in this blog in June 2020.

I am a firm believer that trekking, hiking or going about on foot are among the best ways to explore and experience a destination.

Taking time out to explore a place on foot allows me to see more, feel more and enjoy more of a place than any other travel alternatives such as sight-seeing from a tour bus, car, tram, train or any other modes of transportation.

Thus, whenever possible, I will always go on foot to explore a place that I am visiting.

This article featured a personal bucket list travel item when I went hiking on trails around Okuhida during a stay at a wonderful local ryokan (traditional family-run Japanese inn) during a trip to Takayama.

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Hiking on foot when we travel has many advantages. We get to see and experience stuff that would otherwise bypass us if we are in a vehicle or some other form of transport.

Hiking trail, Okuhida, Takayama, Gifu Prefecture, Japan (2014)

While hiking in the Okuhida region of Takayama, I enjoyed the sights of many beautiful wild flowers and plants. Following a stream which eventually joined with other streams to turn into a river, I spent almost an entire day just admiring, sketching and photographing the flora of the area. Because it was autumn during my hike, the pleasant weather and temperature made the hike a lot more comfortable.

Wild flowers encountered during my hike, Okuhida, Takayama, Gifu Prefecture, Japan (2014)

And of course, I was never far from civilisation as the small clusters of village houses and scattered plots of small vegetable farms were always within sight. Yet, I was alone to enjoy the beauty of nature. I could hear the waters flowing in the stream, birds sing and insects chirping. Armed with my small sketchbook and DSLR, I hiked merrily amongst the nature of the area, oblivious to the cares of the world. Unfortunately, I did not have a macro lens at that time. Thus, I could only made do with the macro function of my DSLR for those "closeups" photographs.

Small ponds like these were commonly encountered during my hike and were home to a myriad of plants and insects, Okuhida, Takayama, Gifu Prefecture, Japan (2014)