Hida City, Gifu Prefecture: Proposing a New Tourism Style of "Daring to Take the Long Way Around" to Avoid Traffic Jams – "Hida Gurutto Stamp Rally" Starts May 1st. Lively North, Healing South. Which will you choose?
The Hida City Tourism Association in Gifu Prefecture will launch the "Hida Gurutto Stamp Rally" on May 1st, aiming to alleviate traffic congestion during Golden Week and disperse tourists. Based on the concept of "daring to take the long way around," it proposes two routes: the "North Route" for lively experiences and the "South Route" for healing in nature. The initiative seeks to establish a new travel style called "Mawari Tabi" (circular journey), where the journey itself is enjoyed, and to revitalize the region.
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- 📰 Published: May 1, 2026 at 19:10
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The Hida City Tourism Association (Hida City, Gifu Prefecture: Mayor Junya Tsutake) will launch the "Hida Gurutto Stamp Rally" on May 1st, with the aim of alleviating traffic congestion during Golden Week and dispersing tourists. This project, based on the concept of "daring to take the long way around," proposes two circular routes: the "North Route" where lively experiences can be enjoyed, and the "South Route" where one can be healed by grand nature. By promoting the hidden charms of the region that cannot be experienced on the shortest route, the project aims to establish a new tourism style called "Mawari Tabi" (circular journey), where the journey itself is enjoyed, and to revitalize the region.
Will you choose the "lively" North or the "healing" South? With a "reverse idea" that turns traffic jams into value, embark on a "Mawari Tabi" to enjoy the journey itself.
The stamp rally is a wide-area collaborative tour project implemented with the aim of "alleviating traffic congestion" and "dispersing tourists" during the Golden Week period.
By proposing a new tourism style that "dares to choose a detour" instead of moving along the conventional "shortest route," it aims to attract visitors to areas that have previously been passed through and to discover new charms.
It sets up two contrasting travel styles: the "Lively North Route" and the "Healing South Route," and is a project to collect stamps at all six roadside stations.
[North Route] You can enjoy liveliness and experiences such as the townscape of Hida Furukawa, activities in the Kamioka area, and the Okuhida Onsenkyo (hot spring village).
[South Route] You can enjoy nature, food, and a relaxed time, mainly in the Kaida Kogen (highland) and Takane area, which spread out at the foot of Mt. Ontake.
Visitors can choose "which route to take" themselves and experience a "journey that is not the shortest route." Furthermore, initiatives like this project, where multiple areas collaborate to propose detours themselves as tourism value, are rare nationwide.
Hida Gurutto Stamp Rally
Period: May 1, 2026 (Fri) - July 31, 2026 (Fri)
See details
"Hida Gurutto Stamp Rally" Participation Method and Luxurious Benefits
This stamp rally is an analog paper-based format that does not use smartphones, so anyone can easily participate. Enjoy the profound charms of the Hida-Kiso area while collecting stamps during drive breaks or sightseeing.
How to participate
1. Get a stamp sheet
It is distributed free of charge at each roadside station and target tourist facility.
2. Choose a route
Freely choose between the lively "North Route" or the nature-rich "South Route" according to your mood for the day. Of course, it is also possible to mix and match both routes.
3. Collect stamps
Visit the target roadside stations and get a stamp. You can get the right to apply for benefits and prizes with 3 or more stamps.
Target Roadside Stations
Category
Lively North Route
(Kamioka Route)
Healing South Route
(Kiso/Takane Route)
Main Road
National Route 41, 471
National Route 361
Main Route
Hida Takayama - Hida Furukawa - Hida Kamioka - Okuhida
Ina IC - Kiso Town - Takane - Asahi - Hida Takayama
Roadside Stations
① Michi-no-Eki Alp Hida Furukawa
② Michi-no-Eki Sora Dome Kamioka
③ Michi-no-Eki Okuhida Onsenkyo Kamitakara
① Michi-no-Eki Hiyoshi Kiso Komagane Kogen
② Michi-no-Eki Hida Takane Kobo
③ Michi-no-Eki Hida Asahimura
Hida Kamioka Rail Mountain Bike Gattan Go, Kiso Town area, Takane Village (Mt. Ontake)
Win "Hida Beef" by completing all! Luxurious Prizes (WEB application)
If you collect stamps and apply, you can win local specialties by lottery.
[Complete all 6 locations (Perfect Prize)]
Hida Beef (worth 10,000 yen): 3 winners
[Achieve 3 or more locations]
Hida Specialties (worth 3,000 yen): 10 winners
Kiso Specialties (worth 3,000 yen): 5 winners
Make your trip more affordable! Participation benefits usable on the spot
Those who have collected 3 or more stamps can receive discount benefits on the spot at the following facilities.
Hida Furukawa Festival Hall: 30% off admission fee
Shinhotaka Ropeway: 30% off weekday tickets / 20% off weekend/holiday tickets
[Event Report] Sparks of charm fly, "North or South"!? Opening with a confrontational PR style
This project is implemented through wide-area cooperation, with the two associations leading tourism in the Hida-Takayama area teaming up, and with the full cooperation of the Kiso area in Nagano Prefecture, transportation operators, and each roadside station.
Co-organizers: Hida City Tourism Association, Hida-Takayama Tourism Convention Association
Cooperation: Kiso Ontake Tourism Bureau, Nohi Bus Co., Ltd., Shinhotaka Ropeway, each target roadside station
Comments from Mr. Watanabe, Chairman of Hida City Tourism Association, and Mr. Hori, Chairman of Hida-Takayama Tourism Convention Association
The value of tourism is not in the "shortest distance" but in the "detours."
This project proposes a new travel style that deliberately re-examines the "shortest route orientation" of tourism and enjoys the detours themselves. The liveliness of the North, the healing of the South. By experiencing both while taking detours, rather than choosing just one, the charm of this region deepens. "The detours are the most fun."
Will you choose the "lively" North or the "healing" South? With a "reverse idea" that turns traffic jams into value, embark on a "Mawari Tabi" to enjoy the journey itself.
The stamp rally is a wide-area collaborative tour project implemented with the aim of "alleviating traffic congestion" and "dispersing tourists" during the Golden Week period.
By proposing a new tourism style that "dares to choose a detour" instead of moving along the conventional "shortest route," it aims to attract visitors to areas that have previously been passed through and to discover new charms.
It sets up two contrasting travel styles: the "Lively North Route" and the "Healing South Route," and is a project to collect stamps at all six roadside stations.
[North Route] You can enjoy liveliness and experiences such as the townscape of Hida Furukawa, activities in the Kamioka area, and the Okuhida Onsenkyo (hot spring village).
[South Route] You can enjoy nature, food, and a relaxed time, mainly in the Kaida Kogen (highland) and Takane area, which spread out at the foot of Mt. Ontake.
Visitors can choose "which route to take" themselves and experience a "journey that is not the shortest route." Furthermore, initiatives like this project, where multiple areas collaborate to propose detours themselves as tourism value, are rare nationwide.
Hida Gurutto Stamp Rally
Period: May 1, 2026 (Fri) - July 31, 2026 (Fri)
See details
"Hida Gurutto Stamp Rally" Participation Method and Luxurious Benefits
This stamp rally is an analog paper-based format that does not use smartphones, so anyone can easily participate. Enjoy the profound charms of the Hida-Kiso area while collecting stamps during drive breaks or sightseeing.
How to participate
1. Get a stamp sheet
It is distributed free of charge at each roadside station and target tourist facility.
2. Choose a route
Freely choose between the lively "North Route" or the nature-rich "South Route" according to your mood for the day. Of course, it is also possible to mix and match both routes.
3. Collect stamps
Visit the target roadside stations and get a stamp. You can get the right to apply for benefits and prizes with 3 or more stamps.
Target Roadside Stations
Category
Lively North Route
(Kamioka Route)
Healing South Route
(Kiso/Takane Route)
Main Road
National Route 41, 471
National Route 361
Main Route
Hida Takayama - Hida Furukawa - Hida Kamioka - Okuhida
Ina IC - Kiso Town - Takane - Asahi - Hida Takayama
Roadside Stations
① Michi-no-Eki Alp Hida Furukawa
② Michi-no-Eki Sora Dome Kamioka
③ Michi-no-Eki Okuhida Onsenkyo Kamitakara
① Michi-no-Eki Hiyoshi Kiso Komagane Kogen
② Michi-no-Eki Hida Takane Kobo
③ Michi-no-Eki Hida Asahimura
Hida Kamioka Rail Mountain Bike Gattan Go, Kiso Town area, Takane Village (Mt. Ontake)
Win "Hida Beef" by completing all! Luxurious Prizes (WEB application)
If you collect stamps and apply, you can win local specialties by lottery.
[Complete all 6 locations (Perfect Prize)]
Hida Beef (worth 10,000 yen): 3 winners
[Achieve 3 or more locations]
Hida Specialties (worth 3,000 yen): 10 winners
Kiso Specialties (worth 3,000 yen): 5 winners
Make your trip more affordable! Participation benefits usable on the spot
Those who have collected 3 or more stamps can receive discount benefits on the spot at the following facilities.
Hida Furukawa Festival Hall: 30% off admission fee
Shinhotaka Ropeway: 30% off weekday tickets / 20% off weekend/holiday tickets
[Event Report] Sparks of charm fly, "North or South"!? Opening with a confrontational PR style
This project is implemented through wide-area cooperation, with the two associations leading tourism in the Hida-Takayama area teaming up, and with the full cooperation of the Kiso area in Nagano Prefecture, transportation operators, and each roadside station.
Co-organizers: Hida City Tourism Association, Hida-Takayama Tourism Convention Association
Cooperation: Kiso Ontake Tourism Bureau, Nohi Bus Co., Ltd., Shinhotaka Ropeway, each target roadside station
Comments from Mr. Watanabe, Chairman of Hida City Tourism Association, and Mr. Hori, Chairman of Hida-Takayama Tourism Convention Association
The value of tourism is not in the "shortest distance" but in the "detours."
This project proposes a new travel style that deliberately re-examines the "shortest route orientation" of tourism and enjoys the detours themselves. The liveliness of the North, the healing of the South. By experiencing both while taking detours, rather than choosing just one, the charm of this region deepens. "The detours are the most fun."