The village of Maze 馬瀬村
Fishing, the mountain, the quiet Maze
The village of Maze is a small Japanese town located in the prefecture of Gifu, housed high in the mountains of Chûbu, which offers visitors a little nostalgic return to traditional Japan. Museum narrating Japanese history during the Yayoi and Jômon periods, traditional ayu fishing, strolling through a large mountain village… come and try the experience!
Small village, large area
The village Maze is located in the basin of the river of the same name, in the prefecture of Gifu, about a hundred kilometers north of Nagoya. It is since 2004 a district of the city of Gero. A little over a thousand souls live in the place, which nevertheless extends over 25 kilometers, along the basin of the Maze River, to the city of Takayama – nicknamed “little Kyôtô” -. 90% of the village is spread out over steep slopes dotted with cedars and cypresses which disappear only at the start of the banks .
Levillage is a member of the association "Les plus
View of Maze Village at the foot of the mountains
Wikipedia
beautiful villages of Japan" since 2007. Its landscape where gorges and valleys pass by make it an ideal place for walks for hikers, as does its flora, the shape and color of which change with the seasons. The village is also equipped with an onsen fed by water from the Maze River .
Don't forget the fishing rod
The village of Maze is not only its flourishing nature. While visiting, you may come across the local history museum where the history, traditional tools and utensils and customs of the Maze region are presented . Some of the artifacts on display date back to prehistoric times in Japan, such as pottery from the Jômon period or Yayoi earthenware .
You can then go to the side of the most beautiful jewel of the village: the Maze river and its clear water, famous in Japan. A pond at the edge of the river allows children to fish by hand, so
Torch fishing print by painter Hokusai
Wikipedia
that fly fishermen seek to catch salmon and rainbow trout. But the big attraction is fishing called hiburiryô or "torch fishing" , allowing you to catch "sweet fish" called ayu in Japanese. This fishing takes place in autumn, in the evening, during which the fishermen wave burning torches above the water in order to lead the fish towards their nets.
To read: The ukai
A not so isolated village
Once you have visited the village of Maze, take the opportunity to discover the wonders of the surroundings. The city of Gero in which Maze has been integrated is reputed to house one of the three most famous onsen in Japan with the Kusatsu Onsen of Gunma and the Arima Onsen of Kobe. A little north of the city, Takayama will open up its old shopping streets which have earned it its nickname of "little Kyôtô".
See also : The sanmachi suji district
The streets of Sanmachi-Suji, the old quarter of Takayama
DR
Address, timetable & access
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Address
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Timetable
Take the Tokaido Line from JR Nagoya Station, change at JR Gifu Station and change to the Takayama Line. Get off at JR Hida Hagiwara station. ~2h40 journey Car rental recommended (possible in Gero) -
Website
http://www.city.gero.lg.jp/kankou/data/language/e/index.html
