Eat Easy Japan proudly supports the Hida Gluten-Free Friendly Ideas Lab program

Help Us Make Hida the First Gluten-free Friendly City in Japan.

一緒に飛騨をグルテンフリーで楽しめる街にしていきませんか？

The current season of the Hida Gluten-Free Friendly Ideas Lab, running over the Santera Mairi Festival weekend.

Love Stories

Upcoming Events

Gluten-free walks

Join one or more social walks exploring Hida food, culture & snowy streets.

Dates: Thursday 15 - Saturday 17, January 2026

Location: Hida Furukawa & Takayama

Cost: Free* Optional donations to support the project are welcome.

No reservations required. Dress warmly for snow.

Day 1

Santera Mairi
Festival Walk

Explore the matchmaking festival together, bring blessings on our love lives and discover gluten-free festival treats.

Thursday January 15,
4:30pm–6pm

Meet inside
Hida Furukawa Station

Day 2

Takayama Food
Lovers Walk

Wander the morning market and discover local gluten-free pickles, Hida beef sushi, sweets and more.

Friday January 16 ,
9:30am–11:30am

Meet outside
Takayama Station East Exit

Day 3

Your Name Anime Pilgrimage Walk

Follow the footsteps of the Kimi no Na wa lovers through Edo-era streets and shrines and visit celiac-safe cafés.

Saturday January 17,
10am–12 noon

Meet inside
Hida Furukawa Station

Gluten-free resources

During the Love Stories season, the following resources are available to support gluten-free travel in Hida:

  1. Public Map of Gluten-Free Eats. A free, community-updated Google Map of gluten-free friendly places in Hida. See in Google Maps.

  2. Complimentary Gluten-Free Translation Card. Available during the program as a gift from participating local businesses (or request via instagram). Full translation sets, kits & downloads are available via Eat Easy Japan.

  3. A program of free walks, workshops and activities. Open to locals & travellers, we’ll learn by doing, & explore the culture, food & spectacular beauty of the Hida region. See Season Overview.

  4. Assistance Booking Gluten-Free Accommodation, Guides & Tours. While we build the directory, Hida GFF Volunteers can help you find GFF services from local program partners. Fill out the attached form with details about your needs & we’ll put you in contact.

The following resources are currently being developed or reviewed.

  • Gluten-Free Friendly Directory. A growing list of professional guides, bilingual gluten-free companions, accommodation & experience providers.

  • How-to Guide. Practical guidance on using translation cards and navigating gluten-free dining in Japan.

    These tools and activities help reduce the risk of gluten exposure but cannot guarantee safety.
    Please use with care, follow medical advice and proceed at your own risk.
About the project

The Hida Gluten-Free Friendly Ideas Lab is an independent, community-led pilot program exploring how Hida can become a welcoming base for gluten-free travel.

Program period, October 2025 – May 2026

The Ideas Lab focuses on:

  • Mapping what already exists

  • Testing ideas in real-world settings

  • Sharing learning publicly

This is a learning-by-doing project not a certification scheme.

The Hida GFF Project is a collaboration between locals, chefs &  travellers. We’d love your help to map the gluten-free resources that already exist in Hida.

How to help map

Eat - Visit the cafés on this map & leave a Google review mentioning “gluten-free” & “Hida GFF.”

Join - Sign up for the Hida GFF Project pilot program & test our new translation cards & guides.

Explore - Try the eight seasonal walks using the online map, or book a private GFF guide.

Map - Add your discoveries to the online community map.

See in Google Maps
Add a place to the map