About
Hidakuma

The Mori no Ha Office is a new facility established in August 2022 to accelerate the integration of forest resource utilization and forest management. Located at the edge of the forest across the river from town, this site serves as a hub for the “Broadleaf Tree Town Development” initiative promoted by local government and forestry-related businesses in the Hida region. Adjacent to logging yards, sawmills, and wood-drying facilities specializing in broadleaf trees—often referred to as the “midstream” of the forestry industry—the office also operates the “Crooked Wood Center” run by Hidakuma, which handles crooked wood, a prime example of underutilized resources.
At this location, we are primarily advancing architectural projects. By tracking the flow of forest resources—which is often difficult to visualize—in real time, we are working alongside local forestry experts and architects and designers from Japan and abroad to add value to the 95% of hardwood that is not typically used for construction or furniture, even though only 5% of the total volume is currently utilized for those purposes.
(Completion photos and aerial view: Shinkenchiku-sha; construction photos: Hidakuma)
■ Related Articles: https://hidakuma.com/projects/morinoha-office/

FabCafe is a global network with locations in 15 cities worldwide (*), centered on the concept of “FAB”—activities that freely bridge the gap between the physical and digital worlds to create the next wave of innovation.
FabCafe Hida was opened in 2016 by Hidakuma as its sixth global location, following the renovation of a traditional Japanese house over 100 years old located in the heart of Hida-Furukawa. Carrying on the legacy of Hida’s master craftsmen—a tradition deeply rooted in the region—FabCafe Hida is building a next-generation manufacturing platform by utilizing digital fabrication tools such as 3D printers and laser cutters.
The café offers meals made with ingredients from Hida’s forests, as well as woodworking and Fab experiences. It also regularly hosts events and workshops where visitors can learn about and enjoy the culture of the forest and the town. The warehouse houses a woodworking studio, and the main house serves as a guesthouse, making it a hub where visitors can work on projects while staying overnight.
*As of May 2025
■ FabCafe Hida Website: https://fabcafe.com/jp/hida/

“Hidakuma Forest,” our 20-hectare privately owned broadleaf forest located in the Okuyama region, serves as a testing ground for discovering the value of forests and creating a local circular economy centered on them. We conduct fieldwork with experts, business operators, and creators from diverse fields to measure forest data, test the harvesting of various resources, and verify the effects of the interactions between people and the forest.
At Hidakuma/FabCafe Hida, the forest is utilized for activities that explore ways to use forest spaces—such as the “Mountain Viewing Day” and “Forest Café” events—as well as for various tours and as the harvesting site for the kuromoji used in the “Kuromoji Coffee” served at the café.
It also serves as a space to open up the forest and foster collaboration with various partners. Activities include the harvesting of forest products by sculptors, landscape architects, and food experts; experiments by research institutions using drones and ground-based radar to conduct 3D measurements of broadleaf forests; trials of small transport vehicles for micro-forestry by businesses; and simulations of forest architecture by architects.
■ Related Article: Why We Invite Architects to the Forest. The Magical Ideas They Conceived There.