Hida

Hida is a traditional region in central Japan, largely overlapping with the northern and eastern parts of Gifu Prefecture. The name comes from the historic Hida Province, an ancient political unit that covered much of what is now central Gifu.

The landscape is defined in part by the Hida Mountains, also called the Northern Alps, a major range in central Honshu. The mountains shape the climate, settlements, and tourism in the area, with valleys, forests, and hot springs.

Cultural and economic highlights include Takayama, a city within Hida known for its well-preserved Edo-period streets and seasonal markets, and Hida beef, a wagyu brand raised in the region noted for marbling and tenderness.

In administrative terms, Hida also refers to a current municipality in Gifu Prefecture, the city of Hida (飛騨市), and several towns and villages forming part of the broader Hida area. The term continues to be used in branding and tourism to describe the highland part of Gifu.