Riding a bonnet bus in the Showa 40s at Hida Takayama and touring the satoyama (July ~ October)
From July 21 (Friday) ~ October 18 (Wednesday), 2023, Gifu Prefecture's Nohi Passenger Car will hold a "Satoyama Tour of Hida Takayama" on a bonnet bus from the Showa era.
On the tour, you will take a Showa 42 bonnet bus and go around the satoyama of Hida Takayama for about 2 hours and 30 minutes. While enjoying the nostalgic atmosphere such as the unique engine sound of the bonnet bus and the wooden floorboards, you can see the idyllic satoyama from the train window. During the tour, you will visit the traditional industry Hida furniture showroom, a park with a view, and a farmer's market.
The tour operates twice daily, in the morning (9:30~12:00) and in the afternoon (13:30~16:00). Depending on the operation period, a course will be set to visit four towns in Hida Takayama: Tanyugawa Town (7/21~), Kiyomi Town (8/18~), Ichinomiya Town (9/1~), and Asahi Town (9/29~), and each course will operate for 10 days.
The participation fee is 2200 yen for both adults and children, and the capacity is limited to 15 people. Tour reservations can be made through the Nohi Bus reservation site or by phone. In addition, there is no air conditioning system in the car, so you need to take measures against heat stroke by yourself. In addition, due to the old vehicle, the tour may be canceled due to a breakdown.
The bonnet bus was operated as a route bus in Shiga Prefecture in the Showa 40s, and was taken over by Nohi Bus in Showa 56 and operated for about two years in Shirakawa-go. After that, it was stored. Last summer, the tour conducted 120 demonstration runs, with 774 passengers participating.
Nohi Bus says, "Last summer, there were no breakdowns, and many people were able to ride it."
