- The city is a traditional center for the production of 'Gifu Uchiwa' (paper fans) and 'Chōchin' (paper lanterns), a craft dating back to the Edo period.
- Gifu serves as a major hub for cormorant fishing, known as 'Ukai', a 1,300-year-old tradition practiced on the Nagara River using trained birds.
- The city was significantly shaped by the Sengoku-era warlord Oda Nobunaga, who used the local fortress as a base for his campaign to unify Japan.
- Gifu produces a significant portion of Japan's plastic food replicas, a specialized industry supplying restaurants across the nation.
- The city maintains a unique 'water city' identity due to its historical reliance on the Nagara River, which is one of the clearest rivers in Japan.
About Gifu
Gifu City, located in the Chubu region of Japan at the base of Mount Kinka, serves as a vital historical nexus associated with the unification of the country. The city is defined by the silhouette of Gifu Castle [3740], which sits atop a mountain overlooking the Nagara River. Visitors often explore the base of the mountain at Gifu Park [130749], a central hub that contains the impressive Statue of Oda Nobunaga. The city integrates its samurai legacy with tranquil spaces like the Inaba Shrine [199888] and the spiritual history found at Shōbō-ji [45314]. Modern observation points like Gifu City Tower 43 [36551] provide a contemporary contrast to the surrounding natural landscape.
Highlights of Gifu
The places our editors single out — and why they're worth your time.
Historical places
Ascend the mountain to reach the reconstructed keep and view the sweeping panorama of the Nobi Plain.
Parks
Explore the expansive grounds that serve as the main gateway to the hiking trails leading up to the fortress.
Temples
Visit this historic site to see the shrine dedicated to Inaba-no-Okami, set against a backdrop of forested slopes.
Temples
View the Great Buddha, a 13.7-meter tall statue constructed from dry lacquer over a wooden frame.
Places of interest
Access the free observation deck for a 360-degree view of the city skyline and the surrounding mountains.
Museums
Learn about the strategic importance of the region through artifacts related to Oda Nobunaga and the local Sengoku history.
Places of interest
View the gold-colored statue of the famous warlord who transformed the area into a powerful political stronghold.
Parks
Walk through this park which is home to over a thousand plum trees, making it a primary destination during the late winter season.
Top things to do in Gifu
The 448 highest-rated places in Gifu, ranked by travellers.
1
Historical places
Gifu Castle sits atop Mount Kinka, serving as a landmark that overlooks the Nagara River and the Nobi Plain. Originally...
2
Museums
The Gifu Kakamigahara Air and Space Museum is one of Japan's most comprehensive aviation museums, located at the birthpl...
3
Parks
Gifu Park serves as the base station for the Mt. Kinka Ropeway, providing direct aerial access to Gifu Castle and the Gi...
4
Temples
Inaba Shrine is a historic Shinto site situated at the base of Mount Kinka in Gifu, serving as the city’s primary guardi...
5
Temples
Kegon-ji is the thirty-third and final temple on the Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage, a 1,000-year-old route encompassing 33 s...
6
Zoos
Gifu Kinkazan Squirrel Village is an interactive enclosure situated near the summit of Mount Kinkazan where visitors can...
7
Parks
Manabi no Mori Park is a specialized municipal green space in Kakamigahara focused on outdoor learning and environmental...
8
Temples
Shōbō-ji temple houses the Gifu Daibutsu, a 13.7-meter-tall seated Buddha statue completed in 1832. Unlike bronze statue...
9
Historical places
Neodani Usuzumi Zakura is one of Japan's three most famous cherry trees, designated a National Natural Monument. This Ed...
10
Parks
Nagara Park is a neighborhood recreational space in Gifu City centered on open lawns and family-oriented amenities. The...
11
Parks
Kakamigahara City Park serves as a prominent recreational green space in Gifu Prefecture, featuring extensive grassy law...
12
Places of interest
Gifu City Tower 43 is a multi-purpose skyscraper featuring a free-access observation deck on its 43rd floor. The facilit...
13
Museums
The Gifu City Museum of History is located within the Gifu Park complex and focuses on the cultural and political evolut...
14
Museums
The Nagaragawa Ukai Museum serves as an educational center for the 1,300-year-old tradition of cormorant fishing on the...
15
Museums
The Gifu Prefectural Museum is a prominent art institution located within the Gifu Prefecture, featuring an extensive co...
16
Parks
Bairin Park is a specialized municipal park in Gifu City renowned for its extensive collection of approximately 1,300 pl...
17
Museums
The Nawa Museum of Insects is one of the oldest entomological museums in Japan, established in 1919 by Yasushi Nawa, a p...
18
Places of interest
The bronze statue of Oda Nobunaga stands directly outside the main entrance of JR Gifu Station as a tribute to the warlo...
19
Places of interest
20
Venues
The Nagaragawa Convention Center, also known as the Gifu Memorial Center, is a prominent multi-purpose venue situated al...
21
Historical places
22
Parks
23
Places of interest
24
Venues
25
Natural attractions
26
Temples
27
Places of interest
28
Temples
29
Parks
30
Temples
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Gifu on the map
Top attractions plotted across the city.
Plan your visit to Gifu
Late spring (April/May) for blooming scenery or autumn (October/November) for fall foliage on Mount Kinka.
2 days to cover the historical mountain sites and the local museum culture.
A well-developed bus network connects the JR Gifu Station to major parks and sights, though the central area is highly walkable.
Stay in the vicinity of JR Gifu Station or Meitetsu Gifu Station for optimal transport access to local buses and regional trains.
Mid-range; accommodation and dining are generally more affordable than in nearby major hubs like Nagoya or Kyoto.
Frequently asked
Aventuro lists 448 curated attractions in and around Gifu, ranked by traveller ratings.
Gifu Castle is the highest-rated place to visit in Gifu right now.
The largest category is temples, with 174 places to explore.
Travellers also explore Toshima, Osaka, Kyoto.
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