Gifu Prefecture

Let me tell you of a place of natural diversity, where each town and region has its own distinct culture, where historical stories seep from every corner, where traditions are preserved and modernized to meet modern needs. Let me share with you the crossroads of Japanese history and commerce. Let me share with you a place where the people welcome with open arms, delicious local food and drink. Welcome to Gifu.

Gifu-Jewel of Natural Beauty: Where the high-peaked mountains of the north in Hida reach to the sky and the low fertile basin of the south in Gifu lets you see for miles; where one can get lost wandering the valleys of the east in Tono and hike the deep ravines graced with waterfalls of the west in Seino.

Gifu-Jewel of History: Where the past comes alive in feudal battle re-enactments at Sekigahara and you can walk in the footsteps of history on the Nakasendo which connected Kyoto and Edo (Tokyo); where you can spend a night in a UNESCO thatched roofed Gassho houses in Shirakawa-go or pretend you are a daimyo in the castles of Gifu, Gujo and Ogaki.

Gifu-Jewel of Creation: Where traditional crafts of pottery in Toki, textiles in Gujo, woodcraft in Takayama, washi in Mino, swords and cutlery in Seki meet modern technology of aerospace, green energy equipment, biotechnology, software research and manufacturing.

Gifu-Jewel of Culinary Delights: Where the the lushest persimmons, the greenest of vegetables, the sweetest chestnuts can grace the same plate as a thick juice-steaming Hida steak.

Gifu-Jewel of Activities: Where a person can downhill ski in Oku-Hida and Oku-Mino, hike in Tono and Seino and whitewater raft the rivers of Chuno or visit museums of modern and traditional art in Gifu City and Tajimi, see Kabuki of Nakatsugawa, and join amazing festivals of Takayama, Hida-Furukawa and Gujo.

In Gifu, there is something for everyone from the outdoors enthusiast to the historian, from the culture-seeker to the arts and crafts collector. A visitor could easily spend a lifetime in Gifu and still have more to see and enjoy. Gifu: Jewel of Discoveries.