Gifu » Gifu city, Ogaki, Sekigahara
Gifu City, Ogaki, and Sekigahara area have sightseeing spots such as Ibukiyama, Yakushiji Temple, and Yoro Falls, sightseeing events such as the Air Festival, Ibigawa Marathon, and Nagara River cormorant fishing, and local gourmet foods such as mizu-manju, sweetfish cuisine, and Kakamigahara kimchi.
Gifu is an area with a very large number of historical sites, including Hida Takayama, known as "Little Kyoto," and Shirakawa-go, a World Heritage Site. There are also many hot spring resorts scattered throughout the area, including the very famous Gero Onsen.
Gifu is also the birthplace of Saito Dozan, known as the "Mamushi," and is the site of the "Dozan Festival" and many other events.
Ogaki City is located in Gifu's Seino region and is the second most populous city after Gifu. Sekigahara is the site of the famous "Battle of Sekigahara," known as the "Battle of Tenka-Shime no Kassen" (Battle of Sekigahara).
This area is very much a tourist area with many historical sites and famous scenic spots, as well as a rich townscape culture and gourmet cuisine. Gifu has the famous morning market "Takayama Jinya" in the city, and it is a good idea to take a stroll through the old townscape on your way there.
Takayama's "old streets" present very picturesque scenery. Magomejuku, an inn town on the Nakasendo Highway, was the first inn town in Japan to be designated as a preservation area.
The Ogimachi Castle Ruins Observation Deck offers a wonderful view of the Gassho-zukuri architecture under the umbrella of the castle. Gifu Castle stands at the top of Mt. Kinkasan, and Koriyama Hachiman Castle, with its magnificent keep, can also be seen.
On the way back from Shirakawa-go, you may want to take a dip in Gero Onsen (Gero Hot Springs) to recover from your fatigue, or stay overnight and enjoy the famous "Hoba Miso Beef" (beef with miso paste).
There are many historical sites in Gifu, including the Hida Kokubunji Temple near Shirakawa-go and the Nagataki Hakusan Shrine, which is also known as the Shosoin of Okumino-area. In the Kakamigahara area, there is "Inami Shrine" located at the foot of Mt. Kinka, and "Sofukuji Temple" famous as the family temple of Nobunaga Oda.
Ogaki is famous for Ogaki Castle and Yokozo-ji Temple, which is said to have been built by Saicho, and the mummy of Myoshinboji enshrined there. There are so many historic sites and important cultural assets that there is no end to the list, such as the "Oku no Hosomichi Musubi no Chi and Sumiyoshi Lighthouse," the place where Matsuo Basho's Oku no Hosomichi ended.
Other seasonal attractions such as "Cormorant fishing," "Yoro Park," and "Sekigahara History and Folklore Museum" can also be enjoyed, while "River Environment Paradise Oasis Park" and "Aqua Toto Gifu, the World Freshwater Fish Aquarium" are family-friendly tourist spots that are great for children.
As for gourmet food, "Kuro-soba" (black buckwheat noodles), which can be enjoyed in Shirakawa-go, is famous here as well, and dishes made with "Hoba Miso" (bean paste) are so delicious that you will almost fall on your cheeks. Sweets are also famous, and you will want to compare their tastes.
A Mountain Castle with a Rich Samurai History Gifu Castle was a mountain fortress located on Mount Kinka, which rises 329 meters above sea level in Gifu City, Gifu Prefecture. Its history dates back to the Kamakura period (1185–1333), making it an important landmark in Japan's medieval history. Th...»
Yoro Tenmei Hantenchi is an extraordinary interactive art park featuring a huge oval-shaped depression dotted with Japanese archipelago formations of various sizes, hemispherical hills, and hollows. The park brings to life an artistic project by contemporary artist Shusaku Arakawa and poet Madeline ...»
The Gifu Great Buddha is housed at Shoboji Temple, a temple of the Obaku school of Zen Buddhism located in Gifu City, Gifu Prefecture. This seated statue of Shakyamuni Buddha is counted among Japan’s Three Great Buddhas and is particularly remarkable for its immense size and distinctive construction...»
Kegonji Temple, affectionately known as “Tanigumi-san,” is a historic Buddhist temple renowned as the 33rd and final temple on the Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage, a traditional pilgrimage route linking 33 temples dedicated to Kannon, the Buddhist goddess of mercy. It is the only temple on this pilgrimage...»
Aquatotto Gifu is a four-story aquarium that recreates aquatic ecosystems ranging from the headwaters of the Nagara River to rivers and lakes around the world. Visitors can explore a fascinating world of water inhabited by approximately 250 species and more than 22,000 animals and plants, including ...»
Located in central Gifu City, Gifu Park is an expansive historic park stretching across the foothills of Mount Kinka. The area is closely associated with the Sengoku-period warlords Saito Dosan and Oda Nobunaga, and is believed to include the site of Nobunaga’s former residence. Rich in history and ...»
Yoro Falls is a magnificent waterfall measuring approximately 30 meters in height and 4 meters in width. Its crystal-clear waters plunge over rugged rocks, creating a powerful and impressive natural spectacle. The waterfall has been selected as one of Japan’s Top 100 Waterfalls and is associated wit...»
Chiyobo Inari Shrine, affectionately known as “Ochobo-san” or “Ochobo Inari,” is a popular shrine in the western Mino region of Gifu Prefecture and the Owari region of Aichi Prefecture. It is believed to bring good fortune in business prosperity and family safety. Many worshippers from within and be...»
Ogaki Castle played an important role in Japanese history from the Sengoku period (the Warring States period) through the Edo period. During the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600, the castle served as the main stronghold of the Western Army led by Ishida Mitsunari. Even after Mitsunari moved toward Sekig...»
The Sekigahara Battlefield is where the famous Battle of Sekigahara took place, pitting the Eastern Army led by Tokugawa Ieyasu against the Western Army led by Ishida Mitsunari. Today, the former battlefield is surrounded by peaceful rural scenery, with stone monuments and banners bearing the crests...»
The Kinkazan Ropeway connects Gifu Park at the foot of Mount Kinka with the summit area of the 329-meter-high mountain in approximately four minutes. It provides a convenient and scenic route to Gifu Castle, which stands near the summit. Under normal conditions, gondolas depart every 15 minutes, wi...»
Sunomata Ichiya Castle is associated with a famous legend about Kinoshita Tōkichirō, the future Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who served under Oda Nobunaga. According to tradition, Tōkichirō built the castle in a single night. The story became an important part of Hideyoshi’s rise from humble beginnings to on...»
Located at the foot of Mount Iwakura, Sekigahara Limestone Cave offers a fascinating underground world formed by countless stalactites and stalagmites. Also known as Iwakurayama Limestone Cave, it was designated a natural monument of Sekigahara Town in 1968. The cave extends approximately 518 meter...»
Kannami-ji Temple is a Buddhist temple belonging to the Myoshin-ji branch of the Rinzai school of Zen Buddhism. Located beside Lake Ijira in Yamagata City, Gifu Prefecture, it is renowned for its magnificent cherry tree, which is more than 350 years old. The tree has a trunk circumference of approxi...»
Sekigahara War Land is a unique, privately operated historical attraction in Japan that recreates the famous Battle of Sekigahara using humorous concrete statues. Covering an expansive site of approximately 10,000 tsubo (about 33,000 square meters), the park features more than 200 life-sized figures...»
Ayu (sweetfish) cuisine is a treasured part of Gifu Prefecture’s culinary heritage, deeply connected to the region’s history, rivers, and traditional fishing culture. Sweetfish raised in Gifu’s clear streams are renowned for their delicate flavor. The ayu caught during the traditional cormorant fish...»
Mizu manju is a traditional Japanese confection from Ogaki, in Gifu Prefecture, a city long known as the “City of Water” for its abundant, delicious groundwater and clear natural springs. This delicate sweet is especially popular in summer, when its translucent appearance and cool, jelly-like textur...»
Kaki yōkan is a traditional Japanese sweet made with persimmons, a fruit for which Gifu Prefecture is well known. This celebrated confection from O-kashi Tsuchiya uses Dōjō Hachiya persimmons, a premium variety of dried persimmon historically presented as a tribute to the Imperial Court and shoguns....»
Ayu gashi is a traditional Japanese confection shaped like an ayu, or sweetfish, a fish closely associated with the clear waters of the Nagara River in Gifu Prefecture. Inspired by the region's famous traditional cormorant fishing, this distinctive sweet is a seasonal favorite that heralds the arriv...»
Kushikatsu, or deep-fried food served on skewers, is one of the signature street foods around Chiyoho Inari Shrine in Kaizu City, Gifu Prefecture. Visitors can enjoy these freshly fried treats in a lively atmosphere, often standing at counters outside the shops....»
Kakamigahara Kimchi is a regional specialty created as part of a community revitalization initiative in Kakamigahara City, located in the Nobi Plain in southern Gifu Prefecture. Its distinctive feature is the combination of locally grown carrots and pine nuts, a specialty of Chuncheon, South Korea, ...»
Kakamigahara Kimchi Hot Pot is a local specialty from Kakamigahara City in Gifu Prefecture, inspired by the city’s friendship with Chuncheon, South Korea. Kakamigahara and Chuncheon established a sister-city relationship in 2003, fostering cultural exchange between the two communities....»
In western Gifu Prefecture, botan nabe, a hot pot made with wild boar meat, is a popular winter specialty. The dish comes into season around the time cold winter winds begin to scatter the autumn leaves, offering a warming taste of the region’s mountain bounty....»
Fuyu persimmons are one of Japan's most popular sweet persimmon varieties. Originating in what is now Mizuho City in Gifu Prefecture, this celebrated fruit was first discovered in the former Motosu District during the Meiji period (1868–1912). Its excellent quality quickly earned it popularity, and ...»
Bijin-hime, meaning “Beautiful Princess,” is a premium strawberry variety developed in Gifu Prefecture. Some fruits weigh more than 80 grams, making them as large as small persimmons. Great care is taken to perfect their size, shape, and color, resulting in strawberries that are as impressive in app...»
Tōkurō ginkgo nuts are a well-regarded variety of ginkgo nuts known for their large size, consistent appearance, excellent flavor, and good storage qualities. The variety was named after Tōkurō Inoue, whose home in the former Hozumi Town, part of what is now Mizuho City in Gifu Prefecture, once had ...»
Jūroku sasage is a traditional Japanese legume that has been cultivated in the Owari region since the Taishō period (1912–1926). Its name means “sixteen sasage,” referring to the traditional observation that each pod contains around 16 beans. In Gifu Prefecture, this vegetable is grown mainly in Ha...»
Genkidama Garlic is a locally produced specialty of Yamagata City in Gifu Prefecture. It is sold in several forms, including fresh garlic, fermented black garlic, and processed products such as noodles infused with black garlic. The ingredient has also inspired a variety of original dishes, includin...»
Sengoku beans, also known as fujimame or hyacinth beans, are a traditional vegetable classified as one of the Mino Traditional Vegetables. They have been cultivated in southern Gifu City since the Meiji era (1868–1912), with local farmers carefully preserving this agricultural heritage for generatio...»
Shima burdock root is a traditional vegetable renowned for its rich aroma. Its main growing area is the Shima district of Gifu City, Gifu Prefecture, where farmers have cultivated it for generations....»
Sawa azami is a perennial plant in the thistle genus of the daisy family. It grows naturally along mountain streams and in other moist mountainous environments, reaching heights of approximately one to three meters. From around September to October, it produces downward-facing flower heads in pale p...»
Myōga bochi is a traditional Japanese confection from the area around Gifu City and Kitagata in Gifu Prefecture. Made with a wheat-flour dough filled with mashed broad bean paste and wrapped in fragrant myōga ginger leaves, this rustic sweet is especially associated with the arrival of early summer....»
Minna no Mori Gifu Media Cosmos is a multifunctional cultural complex in Gifu City, Gifu Prefecture. Its central facility is the Gifu City Central Library, but the complex also serves as a hub for civic activities, multicultural exchange, art, and community interaction....»
Located at the summit of Mount Kinka in Gifu City, Gifu Prefecture, Gifu Kinkazan Squirrel Village is a unique animal attraction where visitors can interact with Taiwan squirrels. Opened in 1965, it was Japan's first squirrel park. The squirrels have been trained over many years and live freely in ...»
Nagaragawa Onsen, located in Gifu City, Gifu Prefecture, is a popular hot spring destination renowned for its scenic riverside setting and the traditional cormorant fishing known as ukai, a practice with a history spanning approximately 1,300 years. Held annually from May 11 to October 15, the fishi...»
Inaba Shrine, located in Gifu City, Gifu Prefecture, is a historic Shinto shrine with a history of more than 1,900 years. It was traditionally recognized as one of the three major shrines of Mino Province, the former name of this region. Dedicated primarily to Prince Inishiki-Irihiko-no-Mikoto, the ...»
Gifu Gokoku Shrine stands at the northern foot of Mount Kinka, the mountain crowned by Gifu Castle, in Gifu City, Gifu Prefecture. The shrine enshrines the spirits of more than 37,800 people from the Gifu, Chuno, and Tono districts who died in service during conflicts from the Boshin War through Wor...»
The Nawa Insect Museum is located in Gifu Park in Gifu City, Gifu Prefecture. Recognized as Japan’s oldest museum specializing in insects, it houses more than 300,000 specimens representing approximately 12,000 insect species from around the world. In addition to displaying specimens, the museum als...»
Sofukuji Temple is a Buddhist temple belonging to the Myoshinji branch of the Rinzai school of Zen Buddhism. Located in Gifu City, Gifu Prefecture, it is known for its historical connections with the famous warlord Oda Nobunaga and the Arisugawa-no-miya Imperial family. The temple's mountain name is...»
The Nagaragawa Cormorant Fishing Museum, officially known as the Gifu City Nagaragawa Ukai Tradition Museum, is located in Gifu City, Gifu Prefecture. Dedicated to the traditional fishing practice known as ukai, or cormorant fishing, the museum introduces visitors to the history, culture, and techni...»
The Gifu-Kakamigahara Aerospace Museum, affectionately known as Sorahaku, is a specialized museum featuring comprehensive exhibitions on both aviation and space exploration. It is unique in Japan for bringing these two fields together in one facility. The museum offers approximately 9,400 square me...»
Kogane Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine in Gifu City, distinguished by its striking golden torii gate. It is widely worshipped as a deity associated with financial prosperity, good fortune, and success in business. The shrine has a long history, and archaeological discoveries behind its grounds i...»
Kamagatani Valley, located in Ikeda Town, Gifu Prefecture, is a scenic destination renowned for the beautiful harmony between cherry blossoms and its rugged gorge. Approximately 1,500 cherry trees representing around eight varieties, including mountain cherry, Yoshino cherry, and weeping cherry, blo...»
Nangu Taisha Shrine, located in Tarui Town, Fuwa District, Gifu Prefecture, is the Ichinomiya, or highest-ranking shrine, of the historic Mino Province. It is also revered as the principal shrine for the mining and metalworking industries throughout Japan. All of the shrine buildings were destroyed...»
Mino Kokubunji is a historic Buddhist temple in Ogaki City, Gifu Prefecture. It is the successor to the provincial monastery established in Mino Province during the Nara period under an imperial decree issued by Emperor Shōmu in 741. The emperor ordered the construction of provincial temples through...»
The Oku no Hosomichi Musubi no Chi Memorial Museum is dedicated to Oku no Hosomichi (The Narrow Road to the Deep North), the famous travelogue by the celebrated haiku poet Matsuo Bashō. Opened in 2012, the museum introduces visitors to Bashō's life and travels, as well as the history and culture of ...»
The ruins of Ochaya Yashiki are the remains of an exclusive lodging facility built for the Tokugawa shogun family by Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa shogunate, for use during journeys to and from Kyoto. The complex was laid out in an almost square, castle-like formation and surrounded ...»
Asakurayama Shinzen-in is an ancient Buddhist temple of the Tendai school located in Tarui Town, Gifu Prefecture. Founded in 739 by the revered Buddhist priest Gyōki, the temple has long been known as a sacred place associated with miraculous spiritual powers. The temple grounds contain several imp...»
Goma no Sato is a theme park dedicated to sesame, located in Sekigahara Town, Gifu Prefecture. The facility features a sesame museum where visitors can learn about the history, varieties, cultivation, and cultural significance of sesame around the world. There is also a shopping area offering a wide...»
The Feather Museum is the world's first comprehensive museum dedicated to cutting tools. Operated by Feather Safety Razor Co., Ltd., a company founded in 1932, this interactive corporate museum specializes in razors and precision cutting instruments. Upon entering the museum, visitors are greeted b...»