I can’t say for sure whether today’s Hida artisans have a direct link to their ancient predecessors, but I can’t help feeling there’s a shared spirit running through their work. So, I decided to dig a little into the history of the Hida no Takumi — the master craftsmen of old.
When the Capital Called, Hida Answered
In the early 700s, the government was all about centralizing power. The capital was where everything happened – politics, religion, culture – and building it required the best of the best.
Hida was famous for its high-quality timber and people who could turn that timber into anything — palaces, temples, fancy furniture. The skills were so valuable that… get this: Hida craftsmen didn’t even have to pay taxes.
Instead, they were sent straight to the capital to work. Every year. For 500 years. That’s around 4–5 thousand trips by elite artisans over the centuries.
The Road They Walked (For Two Weeks!)
The journey from Hida to the capital wasn’t exactly a quick commute. The old route, later nicknamed the Takumi Road, took 14 days on foot to go up and 7 days to come back down.
And this wasn’t a scenic stroll — we’re talking mountain passes, rocky trails, and weather that could change in a heartbeat.
But the road was more than a way to get to work. On the way back, craftsmen brought home the latest styles, techniques, and ideas from the capital. That’s how Hida stayed creatively ahead of the curve even in the middle of the mountains.
Moving Capitals, Moving Craftsmen
Back then, Japan didn’t have just one permanent capital. The court moved from place to place —Asuka, Fujiwara, Nara, Nagaoka, Kyoto (which stuck around for a while)
And every time the capital moved? Yep — Hida’s craftsmen packed their tools and followed. They built and repaired palaces, temples, furniture, and even ceremonial gear.
Not Just “Workers” — Specialists
These guys weren’t just swinging hammers. They belonged to elite departments like the Woodworks Bureau or the Repair Office.
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Woodworks Bureau: From felling trees to making intricate palace furniture and religious tools.
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Repair Office: Fixing and maintaining the Emperor’s digs and official buildings.
This was high-skill, high-respect work. Think less “construction laborer” and more “architect-designer-builder” rolled into one.
The Legacy You Can Still Feel
Even though the “Hida no Takumi” system ended in the late Heian period, their influence never left.
You can still feel it in the way Hida approaches wood today — the clean lines, the clever joinery, the love for natural texture.
It’s the kind of craftsmanship that fits right into a modern Japandi-style apartment, a wabi-sabi tea corner, or even a minimalist city loft.
It’s old, it’s new, and somehow… it just works.
