Kamioka

Kamioka is a charming Showa-era time capsule nestled in the Japan Alps. Part of Hida City in Gifu Prefecture, Kamioka was once a mining town. While the industry and population have declined, Kamioka’s old-world charm and fascinating history continue to draw visitors.

Kamioka

Photo by: PIXTA/ kouyunosa Learn more about the town from a local guide.

The best way to experience the town is to take a guided tour. A local guide will lead guests along the river via retro shops and teahouses, while narrating stories from the town’s rich history. Some guided tours specialise in sampling regional delicacies, while Nordic hiking tours take adventurous visitors out to the surrounding mountains.

Kamioka’s signature product is sake (alcohol), so be sure to sample the fine spirits the town has to offer. The neighboring Furukawa area of Hida City specialises in the production of traditional Japanese candles, making the area a perfect place to shop for unique handmade gifts.

For nature lovers, the best time to go hiking in Kamioka is summer, when the mountain air is at its mildest. In winter, the town gets an average of three meters of snow, and is a great base for skiers looking to enjoy the powder on the Japanese Alps.

History, Science and Culture

Photo by: PIXTA/ たぴおか あきら The castle is built atop the remains of the original moat

Kamioka is home to a collection of interconnected museums and cultural sites that tell the story of the town’s fascinating transformation through the years.

The most impressive relic of the town’s past is Kamioka Castle, which is in authentic Sengoku period style. A climb up to the castle’s viewing platform offers views over the beautifully landscaped grounds and the rooftops of the old town below. The scenery is particularly enchanting in early April, when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom.

Kamioka Castle’s reconstruction was commissioned in 1970 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the local Kamioka Mining company, whose own history is preserved in the nearby Kamioka Mining Museum. Here, visitors learn the history of the town’s former zinc mining industry that led to the neutrino research lab, Kamioka Observatory. If that weren’t enough, the observatory has its own museum, the Hida Space Science Museum KamiokaLab, which is free to enter.

Both Kamioka Castle and the Mining Museum are part of the larger Takahara Folk Museum, which also includes the Former Matsuba Family Home, another site of historical interest.