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Gifu Lanterns andMino Washi Japanese Paper

12 MinoJapanese PaperCrafts

14 Seki Traditional Swordsmith Museum

Minoi Japanese paper has a proud tradition of more than 1,300
years and is made using a characteristic
method thatallows the beautiful paper to come out thin yet durable like cloth.
Minopaper is used in traditional craftwork such as Gifu
Japanese umbrellas and Gifu lanterns, and is designated anIntangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO.

Crafts16 Lifelike Food Replicas

Blades have been produced in Seki City for nearly 700 years.
The high quality products, which include katana (Japaneseswords), kitchen knives, scissors, nail clippers and more, arefamous even overseas. The methods used in making traditional
katana are on display at the Seki Traditional Swordsmith
Museum.

16Activities

Enjoy the experience of making wax-based foodreplicas, such as tempura and lettuce, that lookjust like the real thing! Gujo City is the birthplaceof these replicas often displayed in restaurant
storefronts, and products made here are sold allover Japan.

5 Takayama Festival

8 Shinhotaka RopewayFestivals

The Takayama Festival is held in April andOctober every year and is counted among
Japanʼs three most beautiful festivals. View
the extravagant workmanship of the
traditional ﬂoats up-close.

17 Winter Sports in Gujo

NatureShinhotaka boasts Japan's ﬁrst and only two-tiered
gondola. Visitors enjoy a panoramic view of theNorthern Japan Alps from the observation deck,
which stands at an altitude of 2,156 m.

Activities

At the many ski slopes in Gujo
one can take part in wintersports such as sledding, banana
boating, and rafting.

89 Okuhida Hot Spring Villages

5912141710 Osaka Falls

NatureThere are over 200 pristine waterfalls at thebase of Mt. Ontake. Explore the many falls
and enjoy the natural beauty of the forest bytaking one of the various hiking courses.

1313 Old Streets of Mino

MisoHistory

The ﬂavor of the Edo Period (17th ‒ 19th century) remains alivein these streets, with their traditional architecture andembellishedﬁrewalls. The Mino Washi "Akari" Art
Exhibition of Japanese paper sculptures is held in October ofeach year. These works on display are contributed from all overthe country, and their soft, delicate light illuminates the streets,
creating a dream-like atmosphere.

4 Takayama Jinya

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15 GujoDance FestivalTradition

The Gujo
is counted as one of the three most famous folk
dances in Japan. The, or “all-night dance,” heldeach year August 13th ‒16th sees tens of thousands of people
gather from all around Japan to dance the whole nightthrough.

18 Mt. Kinka & Gifu Castle

Mino 美濃Southern GIFU

History

19 Cormorant Fishing on the Nagara RiverHistory

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23 Magome-juku (Nakasendo)

1 World Heritage Site

Shirakawa-go

World Heritage6

110 folk houses with roofs
thatched in the, or“praying hands,” style stand in
this quiet mountain village
community. Shirakawa-go is a
registered UNESCO WorldHeritage Site.

The Furukawa Festival proclaims the arrivalof spring to the Hida region and is one of thethree largest festivals of its kind in Japan. A
crowd of energetic, bare-chested men
parade to the beat of large
drums.

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Hida Beef

FoodHida brand beef is succulent and melts in yourmouth. Try it as steak, sushi, Japanese hotpot, or anumber of other ways in which it is guaranteed
to satisfy your taste buds!

1

Designed by modern artist Shusaku Arakawa
and his partner, the poet Madeline Gins,
this work of art is designed to challenge
your preconceived notions of balance andperspective.

Hida

74 5
102Crafts

Doburoku Festival

Ogaki City is the number one producer ofwooden measures in Japan. In addition toits central use as a cup for drinking sake,wine, or beer, these boxes are also used ininterior design. The refreshing fragrance
and soft texture of the cyprus brings a lookof elegant sophistication.

Grilled Sweetfish

Food, or Sweetﬁsh, are a well known type ofriver ﬁsh found in Gifu Prefecture. The ﬁsh
are grilled simply with salt to accentuate
the delicate ﬂavor and texture of the meat.

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3

Thatched RoofHouses in Shirakawa-go

World Heritage

A traditional Japanese ﬁreplace called an
graces the communal rooms of most ofthese majestic houses. Guests can even stay
the night in an authentic
style folkhouse.

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Hida 飛騨Northern GIFU

24 MinoActivities

Ceramic Ware

Mino's pottery has a history of over 400 years
and was developed in this region, which
includes the cities of Tajimi, Toki, andMizunami. This area currently boasts over a
60% share of ceramic ware production
nationally. Visit the many galleries andexhibitions and even create your own
pottery piece.

GIFU
Sightseeing Spots

25 Kobei-gama Workshop

CraftsThis ceramics studio has a history of 200years, and the works produced here arerepresentative of Mino
Tour theexhibition hall, which is a reconstruction of a
traditional folk house, and shop for ceramics.

FoodThe mountain cities of Nakatsugawa and Ena
produce, or chestnuts, which are the main
ingredient in this traditional autumn sweet.

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Uncover, Rediscover ‒ Experience Gifu

12 13

Festivals

This festival is held at three shrines inShirakawa-go to celebrate the harvest
in autumn.
, a ceremonialsake brewed at the shrines, plays animportant role in the festival.

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2 Shirakawa-go

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Northern GIFU

21 Ogaki Wooden Measures

Festivals

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116 Furukawa Festival

20 Site of Reversible Destiny

Activities

22and Playhouses

Tradition
Referring to a variety of kabuki that is
performed not by professionals but by
local amateurs,
is a tradition
that has continued for hundreds of years.
Manyplayhouses remain in
the eastern region of Gifu Prefecture, andthe plays and choreography particular
to this practice continue to be protected
and passed down by the locals.

HistoryThis post town once thrived along the Nakasendo, a road that connected Edo(Tokyo) and Kyoto during the Edo Period (17 th ̶19 th century). The area has
been beautifully restored and the cobblestone streets, latticed storefronts, tea
houses, and gift shops bring one back to a time long ago.

Crafts20Hot Springs

Mino 美濃Southern GIFU

4Clear lacquer is applied to wood to bringout the natural beauty of the grain.

(Yoro Park)

11 Gero Hot Spring

Counted as one of the three most famous
hot springs in Japan, the luxurious waters ofGero are said to work wonders on the skin.
The riverbed features a natural outdoor bath(pictured here) that can be used for free.

This facility was used as a government
oﬃce during the Edo Period (17th ‒ 19thcentury). Today, it is the only remaining
facility of its kind.

7 Hida Shunkei Lacquer Ware

Tradition

10Regional miso, or soy beanpaste, is grilled with fresh
ingredients over a magnolia
leaf.

Mt. Kinka rises to an elevation of 329 m in the center of Gifu City. Gifu
Castle stands at its peak with the beautiful waters of the Nagara River
ﬂowing at its base. The top ﬂoor of the castle keep features anincredible panoramic view of the surrounding area. Visitors can alsoride a cable car up the mountain.

This ancient ﬁshing method known as, in which cormorants are usedto catch ﬁsh, has been a tradition in Gifu for 1,300 years. The six boats with
their beacons of ﬂame and the cormorant ﬁshing masters directing
their birds make for a fantastic sight.

FoodHot Springs

This regionʼs abundant natural hot springs make it number
one in Japan in terms of the sheer number of open-air baths.
Enjoy the feeling of freedom through the year's four seasons.

Gifuʼ s central location means easy access from anywhere in the nation.
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Mino

Southern GIFU

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As a central crossroads of east and west Japan, Gifu boasts a unique history and diverse
culture, which has been fostered by the prefecture's rich yet diverse natural terrain.
Gifu Prefecture is truly a place that brings together the greatness of Japan.
26 Ena Valley

NatureEna Valley is a man-made lake formed by theconstruction of the Oi Dam. Sightseeing boats
cruise upon its waters, showing visitors t h emagniﬁcent rock formations that line the valley'sbanks, as well as seasonal attractions such as cherry
blossoms in spring and changing leaves in autumn.

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Kansai InternationalAirport

Kanazawa(Kenroku-en Garden)

World Heritage Site
Shirakawa-go

Hida Takayama(Morning Market)

Bask in the wonders of the great outdoors and the rejuvenating power of hot springs.
Osaka

Hida Takayama H

H

Gero Hot Spring H

Magome-juku

Tateyama Kurobe
Alpine Route

Unazuki Hot Springs

HTokyoOsaka Falls

H

Narita International
AirportGifu Prefecture, situated between
Tokyo and Osaka

Kenroku-en Garden

Tateyama Kurobe
Alpine Route●Tourism Promotion Division, Gifu Prefectural Government
2-1-1 Yabutaminami, Gifu City, Gifu 500-8570 Japan Phone: 058-272-1111（8：30am〜5：15pm）
E-mail：c11335@pref.gifu.lg.jp Closed: Weekends, holidays, New Year's holiday season