"Your Name" Pilgrimage - Takayama and Hida

Makoto Shinkai's masterpiece "Your Name" has inspired many fans to visit the real-life locations that inspired the film. In addition to the Tokyo locations, the film also features Mitsuha's hometown, the Takayama and Hida region. If you're a fan of "Your Name," why not follow in the footsteps of the film and take an anime pilgrimage to the Takayama and Hida region? The first stop is Hie Shrine in Takayama City, where Mitsuha shouts at the shrine gate that she wants to be reincarnated as a handsome man. The shrine is also the inspiration for the Miyamizu Shrine managed by Mitsuha's family. The shrine is small, but the towering trees around it show its long history. Located in a corner of Takayama City, the shrine is relatively quiet. The next stops are all in Hida City. First is Hida Furukawa Station, which has three locations: the information desk where Mitsuha's sister shouts "Hida beef is cute," the taxi stand to the right of the station where Taki asks about Itomori Lake, and the overpass where you can take a photo of the train stopping at the station, just like in the movie. In addition to Hida Furukawa Station, there are two other locations: the Keta Wakamiya Shrine north of the station and the Furukawa restaurant south of the station. The entrance to Keta Wakamiya Shrine is a great photo spot, where you can capture the view of the road leading straight to the torii gate. At the Furukawa restaurant, you can buy the same gohei mochi as in the movie, and the enthusiastic owner will even help you recreate the scene where the characters eat the mochi. The last two locations are the kumihimo weaving experience and the Hida Furukawa Library. At the Sakura Product Center in the town, you can experience the kumihimo weaving process and choose to make a keychain or a bracelet like Mitsuha's. The Hida Library is located on the edge of the old town and is the setting for a scene in the movie. To get to Hie Shrine, it's about a 30-minute walk from Takayama Station. There are buses, but they are infrequent, so if you take the bus, be sure to check the schedule. To get from Takayama Station to Hida Furukawa Station, you can take a train or a bus. There are not many trains, but it only takes 15 minutes. There are more buses, but they take longer. The attractions in Hida Furukawa are all within walking distance and don't take long to reach. If you want to make a pilgrimage to "Your Name," this guide is a good reference.