Gifu
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Shirakawa-go Gassho-zukuri Village
A mountain village where gassho-zukuri houses with steep thatched roofs remain as living spaces. The scenery changes beautifully through all four seasons, captivating travelers worldwide, and was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995.
Address: Ogimachi, Shirakawa Village, Ono District, Gifu Prefecture
Access: About 2 hours 40 minutes by express bus from Gifu Station
Transportation: Direct buses from Takayama or Nagoya are convenient
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Hida Takayama Old Town
Atmospheric streets lined with Edo-period merchant houses, miso storehouses, sake breweries, and souvenir shops. Morning markets, sake tasting, and Hida beef sushi food walks are popular.
Address: Around Kami-Ichinomachi and Kami-Sannomachi, Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture
Access: 10-minute walk from Takayama Station via JR Limited Express Hida from Gifu Station
Transportation: City loop bus also operates
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Gero Onsen
A historic hot spring town with 1,500 years of history, counted among Japan's three great hot springs. The alkaline simple hot spring water feels silky and is famous as a beauty bath. Open-air baths and foot baths along the Hida River evoke travel nostalgia.
Address: Koda, Gero City, Gifu Prefecture
Access: About 1 hour 30 minutes from Gifu Station via JR Takayama Line Limited Express to Gero Station
Transportation: Ryokan district is within walking distance from the station
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Gifu Castle & Mount Kinka
A mountain castle towering atop 329-meter Mount Kinka. Known as Oda Nobunaga's residence where he proclaimed unification of the realm, the observation deck offers panoramic views of the Nobi Plain.
Address: 18 Tenshukaku, Gifu City, Gifu Prefecture
Access: About 4 minutes via ropeway from Gifu Park
Transportation: 15 minutes by bus from Gifu Station to Gifu Park
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Magome-juku (Nakasendo Highway)
A mountain pass post town lined with water wheels and thatched roofs along stone-paved slopes. Home to writer Shimazaki Toson's birthplace memorial and chestnut confectionery shops, it's a popular old highway walking route for hikers.
Address: Magome, Nakatsugawa City, Gifu Prefecture
Access: From Gifu Station → JR Chuo Line to Nakatsugawa Station → about 30 minutes by bus
Transportation: Many also trek to Tsumago-juku
Model Courses
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2-Day World Heritage & Castle Town Tour
Classic plan efficiently touring Shirakawa-go, Hida Takayama, and Gujo Hachiman from Gifu Station.
- Capture spectacular views via ropeway
- Lunch and shopping in old townscape
- Gassho village illumination viewing
- Overnight at Gero Onsen
- Post town walk and chestnut kinton tasting