Best 23 sightseeing spots of Gifu Prefecture

The recommended and must-see sightseeing spots ranking when you visit Gifu!

Other than classic spots, there are also hidden sightseeing spots of Gifu that are known only to locals!

Gifu, a sightseeing area that represents the Chubu region!

Gifu-Prefecture is one of the landlocked prefectures located in the Chubu region.

There are lined up various must-see places, including as the center, Gifu-City, where there is “Gifujo Castle” that was a base of unification of the whole country by Nobunaga Oda.

Also, natural hot springs, including “Okuhida Onsengo” and “Gero Onsen”, nostalgic townscapes, including “Hida Takayama” and “Magome Juku Post Town”, and natural scenery, including “Yoronotaki Falls” are there.

Also, “Hida Furukawa” where was a stage of “Your Name.”, a smash hit movie, is becoming popular rapidly as a pilgrimage spot (meaning visiting the location of scenes in novels, movies, dramas, and animation, considered these places as equivalent to holy places).

For this time, we will introduce you to sightseeing famous places selected by locals where you should visit during a Gifu trip!

A one-day model course around Gifu City by rental bicycle, Recommended for biginnersGifu City area is full of history and atmosphere, such as Gifu Castl...

Classic spots of Gifu where the first-time visitors wish to visit

Takayama-City / Shinhotaka Ropeway

Shinhotaka Ropeway is where you can enjoy the vast nature of the Japanese Alps mountains that is beautiful in each season as spring, summer, fall, and winter.

From the observation deck that is located on a rooftop of Nishihotakaguchi Station of 2,156-meter elevation, a large panoramic view, which was published in the “Michelin Green Guide Japan” as two stars, expands.

Please indulge by all means also a footbath of Shin-Hotaka Onsen Station and dining places of a local specialty.

Shirakawa-Village / Shirakawa-go Gassho Zukuri Community

Where surrounded by the vast nature, in one of the heaviest snowfall areas in Japan, there are still existing about 100 houses of Gassho Zukuri (with a steep rafter thatched roof), houses which mark the passage of time of several hundreds of years.

Registered also as the World Cultural Heritage in 1995, it is one of the largest classes nationwide of Gassho (steep rafter roof) communities.

While even today residents are living as actual life places, there are also spotted around many facilities that you can observe the inside, including Wada House of National designated important cultural property.

During the season of accumulated snow of the middle of January through early February, the fantastic illumination of the Gassho community is held.

Gassho Zukuri Folk Village & Hida Takayama Day Tour from Nagoya

Gasshozukuri Minkaen Outdoor Museum

The scenery of Shirakawa-go is lined with unique straw-roofed houses.

Nowadays, many tourist buses carrying people from overseas come here.

Then, I would like to recommend “Gasshozukuri Minkaen Outdoor Museum“, an outdoor museum.

There are 9 buildings of prefectural important cultural assets, including stables and warehouses as well as houses.

There are also stables and warehouses as well as houses.

"Gasshozukuri Minkaen" Takes You Nostalgic Shirakawa-go TourThe scenery of Shirakawa-go is lined with unique straw-roofed houses...

Takayama-City / Old town of Hida Takayama

Three lines of Kamimachi and Shitamachi of Takayama-City, which are developed as a castle town and a merchant town of the Edo Period, are called as “old town”, and it is the nationally-selected preservation districts for groups of historic buildings, where there are lined up with residences of that time.

Especially, around Kamisannomachi, Kamininomachi, and Kamiichinomachi, are also called as “Sanmachi(three town) Dori Street” and are the classic spot for strolling.

Along the street, there are lined up in a row with stores of Mitarashi Dango (skewered rice dumplings in a sweet soy glaze) and Hida beef gourmet, so you can also enjoy eating while walking.

Hida Takayama Best Food and Places to Eat Handpicked by Local Residents In Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture, I focused on gourmet dining i...

Gero-City / Gero Onsen Hot Spring

It is one of “the best three hot springs in Japan”, along with Arima of Hyogo-Prefecture and Kusatsu of Gunma-Prefecture.

The hot water of alkaline simple spring of pH value 9.2 is reputed as a hot spring that is good for the skin, which makes the skin smooth with a natural soap effect.

The centralized control system of hot spring is equipped, and you can bath the original spring of the same spring quality at all the participated inns.

Besides, it is also recommended for you to fully enjoy the famous springs with “Yumeguri Tegata (a ticket for hot spring hopping)” that you can bath three hot springs among the participated inns.

Let's look for frogs in Gero Onsen Hot Spring in GifuAt Gero Onsen, which is counted as one of the best three hot springs...

Gujo-City / Gujo Odori (dancing)

“Gujo Odori” is said that it became flourished with the encouragement that tried to harmonize the Shi-no-ko-sho (a social order of four divisions that are samurai, farmers, artisans, and merchants) during the Edo Period.

It has about 400 years of history and is also designated as the national important intangible folk culture property.

During nights of about 30 days for two months in summer, there are held dancing everywhere inside the city, and four nights particularly between the 13th and 16th of August there are held “Tetsuya Odori” that they will dance all night long until dawn.

About several hundred thousands of people from nationwide will join to circles of dancing.

What is the charm of the Gujo Odori? How to have fun All Night DanceGujo Odori should be enjoyed by adults. With these thoughts in mi...

Gujo-City/Gujo Hachiman

Gujo-Hachiman, an urban area of Gujo City in Gifu Prefecture, is known for the summer tradition of the “Gujo Odori” dance.

Gujo Hachiman flourished as the castle town of Gujo Hachiman Castle and is a fun place to stroll through with its old streets and waterways running all around.

Gujo City boasts the largest share of food sample production in Japan, and sample-making workshops are also popular.

After visiting Gujo-Hachiman Castle, don’t forget to take a walk through the old castle town.

There are beautiful waterways here and there in the old castle town, where you can relax and enjoy your time.

Yoro-Town / Yoronotaki Falls

It is the famous waterfall known for a legend of a dutiful son of “the story of Yoro Koshi (a dutiful son)”, as said that the water of the fall changed to a sake wine.

Flowing down among big rocks and old trees of Yoro Mountains, a majestic appearance of about 30-meter height and about four-meter width is a must-see.

In vast Yorokoen Park that expands as wide as about 78.6 hectares, with this waterfall as its center, there are facilities, including a park golf course, a tennis court, and Kodomonokuni (Children’s Park), and it is also famous for the beauties of cherry blossoms and autumn leaves.

Gifu-City / Gifu Nagaragawa Ukai (Cormorant fishing on the Nagaragawa River)

What “Ukai (fishing with cormorants)” is a traditional fishing method that a cormorant fisherman manages cormorants and catches fish.

Protected by persons of the period, such as Nobunaga Oda, it is a seasonal feature of Nagaragawa River, Gifu in summer.

Ukai, which is performed in darkness of jet black night with burning torch fire of bright red, can be observed besides from a sightseeing boat with fares, also from riversides.

The full set of tools for the Ukai of Nagaragawa River is designated as the National important tangible folk culture property, and the technique is also designated as the National important intangible folk culture property.

Gifu-City / Gifujo Castle

Located on the peak of Mt Kinkazan, it is a symbol of Gifu where you will access by a ropeway.

During the Sengoku Period (approx. 1467 – 1568), it was a residence castle of Dosan Saito, and later, Nobunaga Oda became the lord of the castle and made it as a base of unification of the whole country.

The current castle is rebuilt on the Showa 31st (1956), and it is structured three layers and four stories of reinforced concrete construction.

The inside of the castle is opened to the public as a reference exhibition room and the castle tower as an observation deck.  From after sunset until 11 PM, it is illuminated beautifully.

A powerful night view looking down from Gifu CastleGifu Castle, located in Gifu Prefecture, was conquered by Oda Nobuna...

Nakatsugawa-City / Magome-Juku Post Town

Magome-Juku Post Town a post town of Nakasendo road where many people were crossing over for fulfilling Sankin koutai (an administrative system that feudal lords must serve to the Edo once two years) of the Edo Period.

The historical houses of that time are still existing along a slope of cobble paving.

There are must-see points lined up, including a water mill hut and Toson Memorial Museum that is a remain of Magome Honjin (an inn officially designated as lodging for a feudal lord in the Edo period) also that is the house where Toson Shimazaki was born, and also places like Minshuku (private home that runs an inn providing room and board), cafes, and souvenirs shops.

There is also well arranged a trail that you can enjoy Nakasendo Hiking of about eight kilos until Tsumagoi-Juku post town that is located in Nagano-Prefecture, a neighbor.

Toki-City / Toki Premium Outlets

Located in a place of scenic beauty and excellent view, Toki Premium Outlets is an outlet mall, which makes you imagine townscape of Colorado, USA, where is embraced by majestic the Rocky Mountains.

There are lined up with about 180 shops, including directly managed stores of prestigious brands of out and inside of Japan, and whenever you visit, you can enjoy shopping at outlet prices.

There are also fulfilled with gourmet restaurants that prepare seasonal menus.

There is also a direct bus from Nagoya.

Recommended hidden spots of Gifu that are known only to locals.

Ena-City / Enakyo gorge

Enakyo Gorge is a man‐made lake as a result of damming up the Kisogawa river at the Ooi dam, and it was named “Enakyo Gorge” by Shigetaka Shiga, a geographer, in the Taisho 9th (1920).

There are many places of beautiful scenery, including Shishiiwa (lion-shaped rock) and Byobu-Iwa (sheer cliff) on both sides of the gorge, and a panoramic cruising on a sightseeing boat is popular.

In “Sazanami Koen Park” on the right side of the dam lake, there is well arranged strolling trails, and with a background of the lake, you can fully enjoy the scenic landscape by four seasons, including cherry blossoms, wisteria flowers, and torch azaleas.

Nakatsugawa-City / Kur Resort Yubunesawa

Kur Resort Yubunesawa is an aqua facility that utilizes Nakatsugawa Onsen, which is alkalescent and is reputed as hot spring that is “good for the skin”.

It is fully equipped with facilities, including natural hot spring Zone, such as an open-air bath of full of spaciousness, Bade Zone that lined up with 13 kinds of functional baths that you bath in swimming suits, and Pool Zone where is equipped with a heated water pool of 20 meters and water slider.

Besides an indoor park that parents and children can play together and dining places, an accommodation package of the adjoined “Hotel Hanasarasa” are also recommended.

Hida-City / Hida Folk Village

Hida Folk Village is a facility that reconstructs and restores the traditional Gassho-zukuri houses and shrines unique to the Hida region where there is a lot of snowfall.

Visitors can experience the nostalgic lifestyle of the Hida farming and mountain village.

Hida Folk Village, in addition to the exhibition, there are also demonstrations of straw crafting, folk tool making, vegetable and flower cultivation, and more.

It’s rare opportunity to see the intangible culture of Hida.

Hida-City / Old town of Hida Furukawa

Called also as an inner parlor of Takayama, “Hida Furukawa” is the other remaining old town in Hida.

There remain looks of the castle town of full of sentiment, including town planning like a go board (a grid design), old merchant houses, and white walls storehouse street that continues for about 500 meters.

Among them, with a background of white walls storehouses, Setogawa River, where a thousand more carps swim, is the main spot for photo shooting.

During later November through early April, carps are in a pond of a ruin of Masujimajo Castle for passing the winter.

Let's run on the railway! "Rail-MTB (mountain bike) Gattan Go!” in GifuIn Kamioka-Town, Hida-City, Gifu-Prefecture, there is an activity of...

Hida-City / Hida Furukawa Station

It is a station of JR Takayama Main Line and is the station representing Hida-City, a town of tourism.

As this station was drawn in the animated movie “Your Name.” that was screened in August 2016, it is a popular spot of, so to speak, “a pilgrimage (meaning visiting the location of scenes in novels, movies, dramas, and animation, considering these places as equivalent to holy places)”.

Hidakuro, a mascot character of Hida beef, which was also appeared in the movie, is settled down in the station building, and it is a given that you shoot photos here just like Taki, the main character, and friends did.

It is a base of a townscape strolling of Hida Furukawa.

Gero-City / Kinkotsu Meguri (exploring narrow alleys)

What Kinkotsu (muscles and bones) is “narrow and winding alleys” in words of the Hida region.

It is said that the muscles and bones of a body are compared to alleys and streets that are complexly interwound.

In “Kinkotsu Meguri (exploring narrow alleys)” that is of reservation system and is accompanied by a guide, you can enjoy the exploration of retro alleys, which are created by traces of flourishing as Kanayama-Juku of Hida Kaido Road, and by wooden houses of the Meiji – Showa Period.

You can also enjoy a simple-eating-while-walking at a Japanese-style confectionery store, etc. along the way of the course!

Seki-City / Monet’s pond

Located in the ground of Nemichi Jinja Shrine of Itadori, Seki-City, it is a pond without even a name.

Water lilies that bloom in spring water of high degrees of transparency and swimming postures of varicolored carp are very beautiful.

And because it looks similar to “a water lily” that was drawn by Claude Monet, a French painter, it is called by a common name “Monet’s pond“.

It has also been introduced over the Internet and TV, and especially in a season of early summer when water lilies bloom, it becomes a shooting spot of many photographers regardless of pro-am.

Like a painting? "Monet's pond" is a new famous sightseeing place of GifuLocated in Itadori, Seki-City, Gifu-Prefecture, "a pond without a na...

Takayama-City / Nagase Suppon Farm (Suppon: a soft‐shelled turtle)

At Nagase Suppon Farm of Okuhida Onsengo Hirayu Onsen at the foot of the Northern Japanese Alps, Suppons are farmed in abundant hot spring and in the water of melted snow of the Japanese Alps.

Suppons are processed to dietary supplement nutraceutical, and at the store, you can try drinking a sample and buy products.

A small aquarium is adjoined also, and you can observe by free of charge, including a giant tortoise and tropical fish of freshwater.

Yoro-Town / Site of Reversible Destiny Yoro Park

Yoro Park is a theme park that realized the idea of Mr. Shusaku Arakawa, the world’s famous artist, and his partner and a poet, Mrs. Madeline Gins.

You can experience wondrous art space, in which a sense of balance of your body will be tested, including the main pavilion “Critical Resemblance House”, the Japanese islands various sized, big and small, that were created in a huge basin hollowed out in ellipse shape, and as many as 148 winding paths of strolling around.

Kagamihara-City / World Freshwater Aquarium Aquatotto Gifu

Aquatotto Gifu is the aquarium specialized to freshwater fish of the world’s largest class.

With the theme of “From the headstream of the clear stream Nagaragawa River of Gifu-Prefecture to the mouth of a river, and freshwater fish in the world”, the natural environment is reproduced inside of the building and exhibited.

And there, from living things of familiar to large freshwater fish of the world are being reared.

Mekong giant catfish, the world’s largest catfish lives in Mekong River, and a pirarucu, a big fish that lives in Amazon River, are full of impact.

A performance of sea lions and feeding experience are held every day.

Kaizu-City / Chiyoho Inari Jinja Shrine

Chiyoho Inari Jinja Shrine is loved with a nickname of “Ochobo-san”, and it is an Inari Jinja Shrine that is said that brings luck for good commerce and family safety.

Many worshipers visit for “a visit of over the month-end” that from the end of every month through the next first day.

And in front of the worship building, it is so crowded that you can hardly move about, and such a crowd continues from around midnight until early morning.

On the approach where around 120 stores are lined up, please also check specialty dishes, including grilled catfish that grew in Kiso Sansen three rivers basin and deep-fried skewered meat and vegetables.

Gifu’s Attraction Map

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