Gifu (岐阜)

Map

Getting There

• train
• bus
• car

Best Times to Visit

• spring: Cherry blossoms, pleasant walking conditions, and seasonal gardens make spring especially attractive for Gifu Park and Mount Kinka.
• summer: Cormorant fishing operates seasonally, while ayu is in season and riverside scenery offers a refreshing complement to hot weather.
• autumn: Colorful foliage enhances Mount Kinka, Gifu Park, and river views, while comfortable temperatures suit sightseeing and hiking.

What's There

• birds: Traditional cormorant fishing features trained birds working on the Nagara River.
• castle: Gifu Castle crowns Mount Kinka and offers historical exhibits and expansive city views.
• cherry blossoms: Gifu Park and surrounding areas provide seasonal cherry blossom scenery in spring.
• culture: The city preserves cormorant fishing, castle history, traditional foods, sake brewing, and regional cultural practices.
• festival: Seasonal river and cultural events complement Gifu’s historic attractions and traditional entertainment.
• fishing: Nagara River cormorant fishing is a distinctive traditional attraction with approximately 1,300 years of history.
• food: Ayu, Hida beef, magnolia-leaf miso, sweetfish-shaped confections, and regional cuisine are notable specialties.
• hiking: Mount Kinka offers forested trails and routes connecting Gifu Park with summit viewpoints.
• history: Gifu Castle, Oda Nobunaga-related sites, and the city history museum highlight regional history.
• mountain: Mount Kinka dominates the city landscape and supports the castle, ropeway, trails, and viewpoints.
• museum: The Nagaragawa Ukai Museum and Gifu City Museum of History interpret local heritage and traditions.
• nature: The Nagara River, forested Mount Kinka, gardens, and seasonal landscapes provide varied natural scenery.
• park: Gifu Park surrounds Mount Kinka’s foothills and provides gardens, historical sites, museums, and walking areas.
• river: The Nagara River shapes Gifu’s scenery, cuisine, fishing traditions, and riverside tourism.
• sake: Clear local water and regional rice support Gifu’s established sake-brewing tradition.
• views: Gifu Castle, Mount Kinka, and the ropeway provide broad views across Gifu City and the Nagara River.

Specialties

• Ayu Sweetfish (鮎): Ayu sweetfish from the clear Nagara River is one of Gifu’s best-known local foods. It is traditionally enjoyed simply salted and grilled.
• Hida Beef (飛騨牛): Hida Beef is a highly marbled brand of Japanese wagyu from Gifu Prefecture. It is commonly served as steak, sukiyaki, sushi, and other regional dishes.
• Nagaragawa no Ukai (長良川の鵜飼): Nagara River ukai is a traditional nighttime fishing practice in which trained cormorants catch ayu under torchlight. The Gifu tradition has a history of approximately 1,300 years and is held seasonally.
• Hoba miso (朴葉味噌): Hoba miso is miso grilled on a magnolia leaf, often with leeks, mushrooms, or meat. It is a regional dish associated particularly with Gifu’s mountain culture and traditional inns.
• Ayugashi (鮎菓子): Ayugashi are sweetfish-shaped confections made from castella wrapped around soft gyuhi rice cake. They reflect Gifu’s close cultural connection with ayu and the Nagara River.
• Gifu Saké (岐阜の酒): Gifu’s clear water and locally grown rice support a long-established sake-brewing tradition. The prefecture is home to numerous small and medium-sized breweries producing varied regional styles.