What are the recommended tourist spots in Gifu Prefecture?

Gifu Prefecture, located almost in the center of the Japanese archipelago, is dotted with many spots where you can feel history and culture, such as the atmospheric old townscape of "Hida Takayama" and the World Heritage site "Shirakawa-go", famous for its Gassho-style houses. You can also enjoy rich nature and hot springs, such as "Gero Onsen", one of the three most famous hot springs in Japan, "Norikura-dake / Tatami-daira", which offers a magnificent view of the Northern Alps, and "Shinhotaka Ropeway".

How to enjoy Gifu Prefecture depending on the season

Gifu Prefecture is rich in nature and you can enjoy the scenery of each season, but in winter you can see the beautiful and fantastic scenery covered in snow. Among them, the "Shirakawa-go go Illumination" which can be enjoyed only on a limited number of days in winter is a popular event. Besides winter, you can enjoy the vivid autumn leaves in the midst of nature at places like Norikura Skyline and Yoro Park in autumn, and the beautiful cherry blossoms at Neodani Usuzumi Sakura, one of the three most famous cherry blossoms in Japan, and Gifu Castle in spring. In summer, the city is famous for the traditional event "Nagara River Cormorant Fishing," which has a history of about 1,300 years.

What kind of travel plans are there for Gifu Prefecture?

For first-time visitors, we recommend a plan that visits the classic tourist spots such as Hida Takayama, Shirakawa-go, Gero Onsen, etc. For those who want to enjoy the great outdoors, there are also plans to enjoy mountain climbing such as Mt. Norikura. We offer a wide variety of plans that allow you to enjoy Gifu Prefecture's gourmet food, hot springs, and natural beauty.

What local delicacies are there in Gifu Prefecture?

There are many delicious delicacies, such as Gifu Prefecture's proud brand beef "Hida beef", the local dish of the Hida and Takayama region "Hoba miso", the local dish "Torichan" made with chicken from the Hida and Okumino regions, and the local ramen "Takayama ramen". In particular, there are many delicacies using Hida beef in Hida Takayama, and "Hida beef nigiri" is very popular.

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Introducing popular spots and attractions in Gifu Prefecture

Gifu Prefecture tourist spots

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Gero Hot Springs

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It goes without saying that this is one of the "The Great Hot Springs of Japan", along with Arima and Kusatsu. It is also an old hot spring that has been around since Heian period. Hot spring inns line the banks of Hida River, and there are as many as nine "foot baths" in the hot spring town. Locals and tourists can be seen relaxing together in the foot baths, and unexpected conversations can break out. You won't understand the warmth of this famous hot spring until you've tried it, as the water clings to your skin. Not just once, but twice or thrice. This is a famous hot spring that you'll want to visit again and again.

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Hida Takayama

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The "Old Streets," with its impressive red Nakabashi bridge over Miyagawa River, is one of the most visited sightseeing spot in Hida area, where you can enjoy a stroll while admiring the atmospheric scenery. Another attraction of this area is browsing the stores filled with folk crafts and local specialties, and enjoy eating snacks such as "grilled beef skewers" and "Mitarashi dumplings". Along Miyagawa, the "Miyagawa Morning Market," known as one of the three largest morning markets in Japan, is open from early in the morning.

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Gujo Hachiman

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Famous for the Gujo Odori dance Gujo Hachiman has a charming, quaint townscape. Nurtured by abundant water flow and mountains, Gujo Hachiman is a place where pure water is a part of everyday life. Just by strolling around the town, you can see how the people of Gujo Hachiman have valued water and lived with it since ancient times, with things like a system that uses spring water, known as "mizufune," for domestic use without waste, and "Igawa no Komichi," an irrigation channel where carp and river fish swim. There are also many other sights to see, such as Gujo Hachiman Castle and Sogi-mizu. We recommend taking a leisurely stroll around the town.

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Want to know more about Gifu Prefecture? Check out these attractions!

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A new hiking trail to the historic Mount Norikura

Mount Norikura is one of the 100 famous mountains in Japan. Located at the southern end of the Hida Mountains, this mountain has long been a sacred mountain where Azusa Water God (Norikura Gongen) resides and has been a place of worship for people.
It has 23 peaks, including the highest peak, Kengamine (3,026m), and has many hiking trails for beginners to advanced climbers, making it a popular introductory mountain for those wishing to attempt a relatively easy 3,000m climb.
Among the many hiking trails on Mt. Norikura, the one that is attracting attention is the "Norikura New Hiking Trail," which underwent large-scale maintenance in 2018. This trail runs from Hirayu Onsen, which is said to have the longest history in the Oku-Hida Onsen area, to Mt. Norikura, and has long been maintained by local volunteers alone. However, as the safety of the hiking trail could not be ensured with the previous maintenance alone, crowdfunding for large-scale maintenance was launched around 2016. The construction of the new hiking trail was made possible with the cooperation of the Hirayu Onsen Tourism Association, as well as supporting outdoor manufacturers, the media, and ordinary hikers who participated as supporters.
The newly restored mountain trail is a long course with a total distance of about 11.6 km, offering great views and a challenging walk. If you are visiting Mt. Norikura, be sure to check it out.

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Hida Takayama 's soul food: "Tsukemono steak"

Hida Takayama is famous for its "pickled red turnips." Winters in Hida Takayama are so cold that temperatures can drop below freezing, so pickled red turnips have been made as a winter preserved food since ancient times. According to various theories, turnips were introduced to this region during the Muromachi period, but the exact date is unknown.
The soul food of Hida Takayama, a city familiar with pickles, is "tsukemono steak"!
This is a local way of enjoying fried pickles, bound with egg and sprinkled with dried bonito flakes. Originally, it was fried to melt frozen pickles that had frozen in the cold, and later, when eggs and dried bonito flakes were added, it came to be called "pickle steak."
Now that it has become known as a specialty gourmet dish of Gifu Prefecture, some restaurants add chili pepper or butter flavorings to it, and other variations are added. Some even contain Hida beef, making it a truly luxurious dish. If you visit Gifu, be sure to enjoy the various flavors of Tsukemono Steak.

: Gifu Prefecture, located almost in the center of the Japanese archipelago, is dotted with many spots where you can feel history and culture, such as the atmospheric old townscape of "Hida Takayama" and the World Heritage site "Shirakawa-go", famous for its Gassho-style houses. You can also enjoy rich nature and hot springs, such as "Gero Onsen", one of the three most famous hot springs in Japan, "Norikura-dake / Tatami-daira", which offers a magnificent view of the Northern Alps, and "Shinhotaka Ropeway".

: Gifu Prefecture is rich in nature and you can enjoy the scenery of each season, but in winter you can see the beautiful and fantastic scenery covered in snow. Among them, the "Shirakawa-go go Illumination" which can be enjoyed only on a limited number of days in winter is a popular event.
Besides winter, you can enjoy the vivid autumn leaves in the midst of nature at places like Norikura Skyline and Yoro Park in autumn, and the beautiful cherry blossoms at Neodani Usuzumi Sakura, one of the three most famous cherry blossoms in Japan, and Gifu Castle in spring. In summer, the city is famous for the traditional event "Nagara River Cormorant Fishing," which has a history of about 1,300 years.

: For first-time visitors, we recommend a plan that visits the classic tourist spots such as Hida Takayama, Shirakawa-go, Gero Onsen, etc. For those who want to enjoy the great outdoors, there are also plans to enjoy mountain climbing such as Mt. Norikura.
We offer a wide variety of plans that allow you to enjoy Gifu Prefecture's gourmet food, hot springs, and natural beauty.

: There are many delicious delicacies, such as Gifu Prefecture's proud brand beef "Hida beef", the local dish of the Hida and Takayama region "Hoba miso", the local dish "Torichan" made with chicken from the Hida and Okumino regions, and the local ramen "Takayama ramen". In particular, there are many delicacies using Hida beef in Hida Takayama, and "Hida beef nigiri" is very popular.