What to See in Gifu - Top Sights and Attractions

Arcade in Gifu, Japan. Yanagase is a downtown covered shopping arcade that serves as the main shopping area in the city of Gifu in Gifu Prefecture, Japan.^[1]

Rebuilt, 16th-century castle with museum. Gifu Castle is a Japanese castle located in the city of Gifu, Gifu Prefecture, Japan. Along with Mount Kinka and the Nagara River, it is one of the main symbols of the city. The caste is also known as Inabayama Castle. It was designated a National Historic Site in 2011.^[2]

Museum in Gifu, Japan. The Gifu City Science Museum is a city-supported museum in Gifu, Gifu Prefecture, Japan. It was built in 1955 and was moved to its present location and renamed the Gifu City Children's Science Center in 1980. When the planetarium was added in 1988, the name was again changed to the Gifu City Science Museum. There are many hands-on exhibits in the museum.^[3]

Museum in Gifu, Japan. The Nawa Insect Museum is a museum in the city of Gifu, Gifu Prefecture, Japan. It is operated by the Nawa Insect Research Center.^[4]

Museum in Gifu, Japan. The Gifu City Museum of History is a city-supported history museum located in the city of Gifu, Gifu Prefecture, Japan. Located in Gifu Park at the base of Mount Kinka, it is in the heart of Gifu City's sightseeing area.

The museum primarily focuses on the history and traditional crafts of the surrounding area and includes a recreation of a Warring States Period free market that was created by Oda Nobunaga, a leading feudal lord of the 16th century, as well as many hands-on exhibits. However, the museum often hosts special exhibitions, which cover a wide variety of themes.^[5]

Shinto shrine in Gifu, Japan. Kogane Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Gifu, Gifu Prefecture, Japan. First built in 135, it has long been considered a place to pray for financial blessings. Because it is located near the city center, approximately 150,000 worshippers visit the shrine over the three-day New Year's period. On April 5, the shrine hosts the Gifu Festival with Inaba Shrine and Kashimori Shrine. The nearby Kogane Hall can be used as a communications place for the citizens of the city.^[6]

Convention center in Gifu, Japan. The Nagaragawa Convention Center is a multi-purpose convention center in the city of Gifu, Gifu Prefecture, Japan. The name literally translates to Nagara River International Convention Center, but the official English translation drops "international."

Along with the Gifu Memorial Center, the Nagaragawa Sports Plaza and Mirai Hall, it is part of the World Event and Convention Complex Gifu.^[7]

Park in Gifu, Japan. Bairin Park is a city-supported park located in Gifu, Gifu Prefecture, Japan. In Bairin Park, there are a total of approximately 1,300 plum trees, which represent approximately 50 different varieties.^[8]

The Eizō & Tōichi Katō Memorial Art Museum is a museum located in Gifu Park in the city of Gifu, Gifu Prefecture, Japan. It is dedicated to the works of the brothers Eizō and Tōichi Katō, who were born in the city. It is part of the Gifu City Museum of History.^[9]

City park in Gifu, Japan. Gifu Park is a public park located at the base of Mount Kinka in the city of Gifu, Gifu Prefecture, Japan. Inside the park, there are many attractions, including Gifu Castle, Mount Kinka, the Mt. Kinka Ropeway, the Gifu City Museum of History, the Eizō & Tōichi Katō Memorial Art Museum, and the Nawa Insect Museum. In 2006, it was selected as one of Japan's Top 100 Public Historical Parks.^[10]

Shinto shrine in Gifu, Japan. Gifu Gokoku Shrine is a Shinto shrine located at the base of Mount Kinka in Gifu, Gifu Prefecture, Japan. The shrine is dedicated to the 37,000 residents of Gifu Prefecture who have died in wars since the Meiji Restoration. Official ceremonies are also held at the neighboring Hotel Seiran, which is part of the shrine facilities.

The shrines two festivals are April 12 and October 5.^[11]

Shinto shrine in Gifu, Japan. Inaba Shrine is a Shinto shrine located at the base of Mount Kinka in Gifu, Gifu Prefecture, Japan. Originally, its name was written 稲葉神社, which is pronounced the same way. It is the main shrine that is celebrated by the city of Gifu in its annual Gifu Festival on the first Saturday of each April. Because of its size, it is a popular spot for hatsumōde and Shichi-Go-San.^[12]

Museum in Gifu, Japan. The Museum of Fine Arts, Gifu is art museum located in the city of Gifu, Gifu Prefecture, Japan. The focus of the museum is on art and artists related to Gifu Prefecture, but the museum also collects pieces from other places in Japan and overseas.^[13]

Temple in Gifu, Japan. Shōhō-ji is a Buddhist temple of the Ōbaku school of Buddhism in Gifu, Gifu Prefecture, Japan. It is a branch temple of Mampuku-ji in Uji, Kyoto Prefecture. The temple has many aspects of the Ōbaku school, but its building style and sacraments are in the Chinese style. Additionally, it is much larger than the average Japanese temple. The temple's official name is Kinpōzan Shōhō-ji.^[14]

Museum. The Cormorant Fishing House is a museum dedicated to Cormorant Fishing on the Nagara River and located in the city of Gifu, Gifu Prefecture, Japan. In addition to viewing artifacts from the history of cormorant fishing, visitors can also view the cormorants actually used in the process. The museum is run by the cormorant fishing masters, who are Imperial Agents of the Royal Household Agency.^[15]

Temple in Gifu, Japan. Zenkō-ji is a Buddhist temple of the Shingon sect in Mino Province. It is a branch temple of Daigo-ji in Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. It is also referred to as Gifu Zenkō-ji and Inaba Zenkō-ji. It is not known when the temple was built, though it assumed to have been built between 1592 and 1600 when Oda Nobunaga was living in nearby Gifu Castle. During the early Edo period, it received the name Zenkō-ji Anjō-in because the two temples were merged at the time.^[16]

Shinto shrine in Gifu, Japan. Kashimori Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Gifu, Gifu Prefecture, Japan. From long ago, it has been considered a good place for married couples and children to go for good luck. One legend associated with Kashimori Shrine is that when Tenma, a mythical horse, landed behind the shrine, it left a hoof print in stone that can still be seen today. Each year, on April 5, the shrine hosts the Gifu Festival, along with Inaba Shrine and Kogane Shrine.^[17]

Temple in Gifu, Japan. Zuiryū-ji is a Buddhist temple of the Rinzai sect built in Mino Province. It is a branch temple of Myōshin-ji in Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan.

After entering the main gate there are six temples: three are located on the left of the main path (Tentaku-in, Kaizen-in, Unryu-in) and three are on the right (Zuiun-in, Kakusei-in, Gaun-in). The graves of Saitō Myōchin and Toki Shigeyori are also located on the compound.^[18]

Shinto shrine in Gifu, Japan. Nagara Tenjin Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the Nagara area of Gifu, Gifu Prefecture, Japan. It is a Tenman-gū dedicated to the worship of Sugawara no Michizane.^[19]

Shinto shrine in Gifu, Japan. Kanō Tenman-gū is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Gifu, Gifu Prefecture, Japan. It was built as the shrine to protect Izumii Castle. As a Tenman-gū, it is dedicated to Tenjin, the deified form of Sugawara no Michizane. Additionally, Matsudaira Mitsushige, who first created Gifu Umbrellas, is also canonized on the shrine grounds. The shrine's festival is held on the third Saturday and Sunday of October each year.^[20]