Hida River

Hida River
飛騨川

The Hida River flowing through Gero
Origin Mount Norikura
Mouth Kiso River
Basin countries Japan
Length 148 km (92 mi)
Source elevation 3,026 m (9,928 ft)
Basin area 2,170 km2 (840 sq mi)
River system Kiso River

The Hida River (飛騨川 Hida-gawa) has its source in Mount Norikura (乗鞍岳 Norikura-ga-take) in Takayama, Gifu Prefecture, Japan. It flows from the northern to the southern section of the prefecture before emptying into the Kiso River in Minokamo.

The Hida River in winter.

Story of Kiyo-hime

The Hida River also features in a popular kabuki play, Musume Dojo-ji. The play tells the story of a maiden, Kiyo-hime, who falls in love with Anchin, a celibate monk living at the Buddhist temple of Dojo-ji on the Kii Peninsula. Unable to control her intense longing for her love, she takes the form of a serpent in order to cross the flooded Hida River. Crossing it, she reverts to her human form. A ceremony is taking place at the monastery to consecrate a temple bell, and she goes to attend it. Kiyo-hime spots the monks and pursues him. The monk hides under the bell placed on the ground. Angered and frustrated at being shunned, Kiyo-hime turns herself into a serpent and coils around the bell until it heats so much that the monk is incinerated.[1]

River communities

The river passes through or forms the boundary of the communities listed below.

Gifu Prefecture
Takayama, Gero, Shirakawa (Ōno District), Yaotsu, Hichisō, Kawabe, Minokamo

References

  1. "Kii, moon over the Hida River, Princess Tsuki". Claremont College Digital Library. Retrieved 10 January 2013.

External links

35°26′46″N 137°03′09″E / 35.446241°N 137.052444°ECoordinates: 35°26′46″N 137°03′09″E / 35.446241°N 137.052444°E (mouth)