The Gujo Hachiman and Minokamo areas offer tourist attractions such as Kiyomizu Temple, Shinbashi, and Kibune Shrine; sightseeing events such as the Gujo Odori Dance, Tenno Festival, and Sakura Festival; and local delicacies such as botan nabe, Meiho ham, and tomato bowls.
Minokamo is located in the south-central part of Gifu Prefecture. The southern part is a residential area, while the Kiso River flows through the southern end, and the northern part is an area of lush greenery with many camping grounds and other leisure facilities. There are various sightseeing spots such as "Japan Line Rafting," "Kiyomizu Temple," "Japan Showa Village," "Minokamo Health Forest," and "Minokamo Cultural Forest.
Gujo Hachiman" is an area famous for its famous water and clear streams, and there are many areas around the area where you can enjoy the great outdoors. Visitors can also enjoy fishing and a variety of outdoor activities. Gujo Hachiman Castle" is a castle that was reconstructed based on Ogaki Castle.
The "Gujo Hachiman Museum" was built in the Taisho era (1912-1926) and has been left in its original appearance. The Hakusan Museum of Culture, which exhibits nationally important cultural properties, is just one of the many cultural facilities in the area.
If you go further north, you will find "Shirakawa-go Ogimachi Gassho-Zukuri Village," which is illuminated at night in winter, creating a fantastic atmosphere. Also nearby is the "Sekigahara Battlefield.
Behind Gifu Park are the ruins of Oda Nobunaga's residence. For a change of pace, take a stroll through the "Jomon Great Cave. If you are tired of strolling, stop by "Gero Onsen Gassho Mura" and take a hot spring bath. You can also stop by the Hirayu Bus Terminal to buy local souvenirs.
The food in this area has many of Gifu's unique characteristics, but the "natural sweetfish cuisine" and "Hida beef" are so delicious that they will make your taste buds roar. Nagaragawa maitake mushrooms," a delicacy from the mountains, is another attractive Goto dish.
This area has a great variety of Hida beef dishes. The sweet marbling is indescribably delicious, so please enjoy it.
River fish is also a highlight of this area. In particular, the king of river fish, such as iwana (rockfish) and yamame (mountain lionfish), are grilled with salt and are so delicious that once you try them, you will never forget them.
Gujo Odori is a traditional summer dance festival held in Hachiman-cho, Gujo City, Gifu Prefecture, from mid-July to early September each year. Known as Japan's longest-running Bon Odori festival, it features dancing over a total of 32 nights and attracts enthusiastic participants from across Japan. One of the festival's highlights is the all-night dancing event, known as Tetsuya Odori, when peop...»
A Beautiful Mountain Castle Overlooking a Historic Town Gujo Hachiman Castle stands near the summit of Mount Hachiman, at an elevation of approximately 130 meters, northeast of central Gujo City in Gifu Prefecture. Overlooking the historic castle town below, the castle rises dramatically above the surrounding landscape, earning a reputation as a castle in the sky. The present castle keep was rec...»
Monet’s Pond is a small, unnamed pond near Nemichi Shrine in Itadori, Seki City, Gifu Prefecture. Its crystal-clear blue water, floating water lilies, and colorful koi create a scene reminiscent of Water Lilies, the famous series of paintings by French Impressionist artist Claude Monet. After photographs of the pond attracted widespread attention on social media, it became known as “Monet’s Pond”...»
Gifu Seiryu Satoyama Park is an interactive theme park that recreates the atmosphere of a traditional Japanese rural village as it appeared in the 1950s. Visitors can enjoy a wide variety of activities, from nature walks and ziplining to shopping, dining, and relaxing in hot springs. The park features eight dining areas offering a diverse selection of food and drinks, from traditional Japanese mo...»
Nestled in the rich natural surroundings of Hirugano Kogen, a highland area approximately 1,000 meters above sea level, Bokka no Sato is a spacious, hands-on theme park where visitors can enjoy seasonal flower gardens, creative workshops, and close encounters with animals. Popular activities include horseback riding, milking Jersey cows, making bread and pizza, and crafting small accessories with...»
Amida Falls, located in Shirotori, Gujo City, Gifu Prefecture, is a spectacular waterfall with a drop of approximately 60 meters. Selected as one of Japan’s Top 100 Waterfalls, it stands amid lush greenery and has captivated visitors for centuries. A walking path leads close to the base of the falls, allowing visitors to experience the impressive force and beauty of the cascading water up close....»
Hirugano Picnic Garden is a highland resort situated at an elevation of approximately 1,000 meters, where visitors can enjoy outdoor activities surrounded by spectacular mountain scenery and seasonal flowers. From the entrance, a scenic chairlift ride of around eight minutes takes visitors to the flower gardens, offering a relaxing aerial journey over the highlands. In spring, approximately 40,00...»
Located within the Hida-Kisogawa Quasi-National Park, Oniiwa Park is renowned for its dramatic landscape of enormous and unusual granite rock formations. Sculpted by wind and rain over millions of years, these rocks create a striking contrast with the surrounding greenery. The park has been designated a Natural Monument of Japan. Near the summit of Eboshiiwa Mountain, visitors may occasionally se...»
Nichiryūbuji Temple, also known as Takazawa Kannon, is regarded as one of the oldest temples in Gifu Prefecture. Its main hall features a traditional elevated wooden stage reminiscent of Kiyomizu-dera Temple in Kyoto, earning it the nickname “Mino Kiyomizu.” The temple is located on the slopes of Mount Takazawa, at an elevation of approximately 283 meters, and offers sweeping views of the surround...»
Gujo Hachiman Hakurankan Museum is a unique museum that combines modern exhibits with a nostalgic atmosphere. It occupies a former tax office built in 1920, during the Taisho period, and preserves the building’s distinctive Western-style architecture. The museum introduces the many attractions of Gujo Hachiman, a historic castle town known for its close relationship with water and its lively trad...»
Hisui Gorge is a beautiful gorge stretching approximately 12 kilometers from Hichiso Town to Shirakawa Town in Kamo District, Gifu Prefecture. Its rugged cliffs, rushing waters, and extraordinary rock formations create a spectacular landscape that resembles a vast, mysterious sculpture carved by nature. In June, visitors can also see rock azaleas blooming with vivid red flowers among the rocky slo...»
Otaki Limestone Cave is located beyond a mountain from Gujo Hachiman in Gifu Prefecture. The cave was formed when underground water gradually eroded faults in limestone strata dating back to the Paleozoic Era. One of the cave's distinctive attractions is the unusual wooden cable car that carries visitors up a steep slope through a cedar forest to the cave entrance. This rare form of transport add...»
Miyama Limestone Cave is a large vertical limestone cave located in Gujo City, Gifu Prefecture. Formed over approximately 250 million years, the cave reaches a depth of 80 meters and extends across an area measuring about 160 meters from east to west and 130 meters from north to south. Its halls and tunnels spread across six vertically stacked levels, creating a remarkable three-dimensional labyr...»
A Local Specialty with a Savory Garlic Twist Keichan is a beloved regional dish from the Oku-Mino area of Gifu Prefecture, particularly Gujo City, Gero City, and the northern part of Nakatsugawa City. It consists of chicken and vegetables, such as cabbage, stir-fried in a specially prepared marinade based on soy sauce or miso, often enhanced with garlic and ginger. The seasoning and ingredients ...»
Magoroku Senbei is a popular traditional confection from Seki City in Gifu Prefecture, a place renowned for its centuries-old sword-making tradition. The crackers are named after Seki no Magoroku, a celebrated swordsmith associated with the region. Made primarily from just three ingredients—eggs, wheat flour, and sugar—these senbei have a delicate, castella-like sweetness and a satisfyingly crisp...»
Gujo Ayu is a high-quality sweetfish caught in the pristine Nagara River, which flows through Gujo City in Gifu Prefecture. Known for its natural sweetness and plump, tender flesh, this local specialty is a favorite among lovers of Japanese river fish....»
Dojō Hachiya persimmons are a distinguished variety of astringent persimmon originating in Hachiya-cho, Minokamo City, Gifu Prefecture. For centuries, dried persimmons made from this variety have been prized by aristocrats and influential figures in Japan. The name “Dojō,” meaning “above the court,” reflects their prestigious reputation as a delicacy worthy of the highest-ranking people. Accordin...»
Harumachi carrots, whose name means “spring-waiting carrots,” are a distinctive local specialty grown on the Hirugano Plateau in Gujo City, Gifu Prefecture. Located at an elevation of approximately 900 meters in the headwaters of the Nagara River, the area experiences heavy snowfall and cold winters, creating ideal conditions for this unusual cultivation method....»
Meiho Ham is a beloved local specialty from Gujo City in Gifu Prefecture, known for its rich flavor and the care that goes into its production. Often described as a taste infused with the warmth and kindness of people from Japan's mountain villages, it has earned a loyal following both within and beyond the prefecture....»
Yōrōken's Fruit Daifuku is a luxurious Japanese confection that brings together fresh fruit, sweet bean paste, and whipped cream, all wrapped in soft, fluffy white mochi rice cake. Each piece contains strawberries, banana, chestnut, chunky red bean paste, and whipped cream, offering a delightful combination of flavors and textures in every bite....»
Yaotsu senbei are traditional Japanese wheat flour crackers from Yaotsu Town in Gifu Prefecture, an area known for its beautiful mountains, clear waters, and long-standing local food culture. With their gentle sweetness and fragrant, toasted aroma, these crackers offer a nostalgic taste that has been enjoyed by generations....»
Motai iburi tofu is a distinctive regional delicacy from Gifu Prefecture, made by smoking tofu to create a firm texture and rich, concentrated flavor. Smoked tofu is relatively uncommon in Japan, making this traditional specialty a particularly interesting discovery for visitors exploring the Gujo Hachiman and Minokamo area. Its origins are said to date back to the Kamakura period (1185–1333). At...»
Meiho Ladies Tomato Ketchup is a completely handmade condiment produced using 100% Momotaro tomatoes grown in Gifu Prefecture, Japan. The tomatoes are slowly simmered for approximately five hours, concentrating their natural flavor and creating a rich, satisfying taste....»
Kokin Denju no Sato Field Museum is an open-air museum dedicated to traditional Japanese poetry, known as waka, located in Gujo City, Gifu Prefecture. It preserves and makes use of the area's cultural heritage and natural environment associated with the Tō clan, which ruled the Gujo region for approximately 340 years from the Kamakura period (1185–1333) through the Muromachi period (1336–1573). O...»
Myoken Shrine, located in Gujo City, Gifu Prefecture, is known for its beautiful scenery, where a tunnel of cherry blossoms meets majestic cedar trees that are more than 700 years old. Some of these ancient trees are traditionally known as the Kami-mukae-sugi (Welcoming-the-Gods Cedar) and Kami-gaeri-sugi (Returning-the-Gods Cedar). Along the approximately 250-meter approach to the shrine, more t...»
The Mino Washi Paper Museum is a museum in Mino City, Gifu Prefecture, dedicated to Mino washi, a traditional Japanese handmade paper with a history spanning more than 1,300 years. The museum introduces the history, raw materials, tools, and manufacturing techniques of Mino washi. Visitors can also participate in hands-on workshops and make their own original Japanese paper. In addition to learni...»
Mino Bridge is a pedestrian bridge spanning the Nagara River in Mino City, Gifu Prefecture. Completed in 1916, it is recognized as Japan's oldest surviving modern suspension bridge. It received the Japan Society of Civil Engineers' Selected Civil Engineering Heritage designation in 2001 and was designated an Important Cultural Property of Japan in 2003. The bridge measures 113 meters in total len...»
The Mino Washi Akari Art Exhibition is an art competition held in Mino City, Gifu Prefecture, featuring illuminated artworks made from Mino washi, a traditional Japanese handmade paper. Artists from across Japan submit their creations, which are exhibited and judged every October. The exhibition takes place in Udatsu Wall Historic District in Mino Town, an area designated as an Important Preserva...»
The Gujo Hachiman Old Government Building Memorial Museum is a historic modern building located in Gujo City, Gifu Prefecture. Completed in 1936 as the Hachiman Town Office in Gujo District, it served as the town's administrative headquarters until 1994. Today, the building houses a tourist information center for Gujo City and is registered as a Tangible Cultural Property of Japan under the offici...»
Oyada Shrine has long been revered as the “Inner Shrine of Mino” and is particularly famous as a destination for autumn foliage. Its main hall and worship hall, rebuilt in the early Edo period (1603–1868), are designated Important Cultural Properties of Japan. The shrine enshrines Takehayasusanoo-no-Mikoto and Amenowakahiko-no-Mikoto. Approximately 3,000 wild Japanese maple trees grow naturally w...»
Suhara Shrine was founded in 717, by imperial order of Empress Genshō, by Taichō, a Buddhist monk renowned for his practice of mountain asceticism associated with Mount Hakusan. The shrine was established to enshrine a sacred spiritual presence. After five years of construction, an impressive shrine complex was completed in 721, and the deities were enshrined there. Since ancient times, the shrine...»
Mount Koka is a mountain standing 1,224.20 meters above sea level in the eastern part of the Etsumi Mountains, straddling Gujo City and Seki City in Gifu Prefecture. It lies near the northern edge of the Nōbi Plain, in the middle reaches of the Nagara River, and is also known as Kōgadake. Since ancient times, the mountain has been an important center of Kōga-san worship, a tradition associated wi...»
Japan's Oldest Stone Museum opened in 1996 to commemorate the discovery of what was then identified as Japan's oldest stone in Hisuikyo Gorge along the nearby Hida River in 1970. In addition to this remarkable rock, the museum displays a wide variety of stones and geological specimens, presenting the 4.6-billion-year history of Earth from its formation to the present day....»
Amidagataki Falls is a magnificent waterfall located in Shirotori Town, Gujo City, Gifu Prefecture. With a drop of approximately 60 meters, it has been selected as one of Japan's Top 100 Waterfalls. Surrounded by lush greenery, the waterfall impresses visitors with its powerful presence and has been cherished by local people for centuries. A walking trail leads close to the base of the waterfall,...»
Roadside Station Meiho is located along National Route 472 in Gujo City, Gifu Prefecture, near the midpoint of the Hida-Mino Seseragi Kaido, a scenic driving route through the mountains. Surrounded by beautiful countryside, the station is a popular place to sample local specialties, including the famous Meiho Ham. Situated between Gujo Hachiman and Hida Takayama, the roadside station stands besid...»
Roadside Station Minami is located in Minami Town, Gujo City, Gifu Prefecture, along National Route 156. Boasting an excellent location overlooking the clear waters of the Nagara River, it is a convenient stop for travelers on long drives and a welcoming place to enjoy the region's natural beauty, fresh local ingredients, and traditional foods. The station also has a morning market where visitors...»
Kamagataki Falls is a beautiful natural attraction surrounded by lush greenery in Minami Town, Gujo City, Gifu Prefecture. Its dramatic series of three waterfalls creates an impressive landscape that captivates visitors. The name “Kamagataki” is associated with the distinctive rock formations around the second waterfall, where the rock basin resembles a giant traditional cooking pot....»
Roadside Station Kokin Denju no Sato Yamato is located in Tsurugi, Yamato Town, Gujo City, Gifu Prefecture. Surrounded by beautiful natural scenery, this roadside station celebrates the spirit, history, and cultural heritage of traditional Japanese poetry, known as waka, and seeks to pass this rich literary tradition on to future generations. In addition to the usual services of a roadside statio...»
Roadside Station Hakusan Bunka no Sato Nagataki is located in Nagataki, Shirotori Town, Gujo City, Gifu Prefecture. Situated near the upper reaches of the clear Nagara River, it is surrounded by rich natural scenery and a long history of religious and cultural traditions. Next to the roadside station, Seiryu Nagara River Ayu Park introduces visitors to ayu sweetfish, a regional specialty of Gujo....»