Discover the best travel guides, tips, and experiences for Gifu
Nagaragawa Seiryu Hotel, on the banks of the Nagara River in Gifu, is opening reservations September 1 for its 2027 New Year osechi — a 22-dish, Japanese-Western box built around Hida beef, Ibi tea, and seafood, paired with a half bottle of Veuve Clicquot champagne.
Minomachiya Co., Ltd.'s dispersed kominka hotel in Mino, Gifu Prefecture, is renaming itself from NIPPONIA Mino Merchant Town to NAE Mino on September 8, 2026, adding guided town walks, a local-news LINE account, a "Mino Najimifu" shop pass, and a share of lodging revenue donated back to the community.
Hirugano Highland Bokka no Sato in Gifu Prefecture hosts the 9th finals of its Original! Slipper-Throwing Contest on August 30, 2026, bringing together daily preliminary winners from spring and summer to compete for the championship, with every entry fee donated to a charity supporting hospitalized children.
Ahead of its September 14, 2026 rebrand opening in Hida Takayama, Gifu Prefecture, Hilton Takayama Resort has revealed details of its guest rooms, executive lounge, hot spring terrace, and four restaurants.
The National Confectionery Expo Council has chosen Ogaki, Gifu Prefecture, to host the 29th National Confectionery Expo from September 14 to 30, 2029, Gifu's first time hosting the event in about a century. Known as the "Musubi no Chi" where Matsuo Basho's Oku no Hosomichi journey ends, Ogaki will bring together confectionery culture from across Japan and create a new stage for exchange with the world.
Gibson Brands Japan is joining "Nakatsugawa WILD WOOD 2026," a two-day outdoor music festival in Nakatsugawa City, Gifu Prefecture on September 19–20, 2026, bringing premium live stages, talk shows, and a hands-on guitar exhibition booth to the event.
Taiheizan Eishoin, a Soto Zen temple in Mino City, Gifu Prefecture, has opened "Mino Seiryu no Oka," a satoyama park-style tree burial ground on a hillside overlooking the Nagara River, designed to ease the long-term burden of grave upkeep for families.
Vegan VISAI RAMEN, a new vegan ramen specialty shop, opens in Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture, on August 1, offering two signature ramens and three course menus built around plant-based ingredients, with vegan certification planned for the future.
Nagaragawa Seiryu Hotel in Gifu City is offering a limited-time autumn afternoon tea featuring chestnut, pumpkin, and caramel, available from September 1 to November 30, 2026, at ¥3,000 per person.
Hida Takayama Museum of Art is holding a special exhibition through February 15, 2027, exploring how Art Nouveau masters such as Emile Gallé drew inspiration from Japanese art and Japonisme, with a shared reverence for nature linking East and West.
From August 1 to mid-September 2026, Lounge Flora on the 1st floor of Miyako Hotel Gifu Nagaragawa is serving a dessert plate built around Okinawan mango, pairing cut mango with a fruit sorbet to highlight its melt-in-the-mouth texture and rich sweetness.
TPS Co., Ltd.'s mala tang specialty brand Fuen Mala Tang, known for the long lines at its stores, opens its first Gifu Prefecture location in Gifu City on July 25, 2026, as the chain expands toward a nationwide goal of 100 shops.
Nagaragawa Seiryu Hotel in Gifu is holding its popular annual summer event, the Nagaragawa Seiryu Summer Festival, for three days from August 14 to 16, 2026. The garden celebration features grilled ayu, somen noodle slides, festival-style food, make-your-own desserts, and classic games for visitors of all ages.
Sekigahara Warland's annual Wish-Making Wind Chime Festival returns with about 6,000 wind chimes strung along a 200-meter tunnel, joined this year by a new Shofu Uchiwa Matsuri displaying roughly 1,000 fans indoors, both running through September 30, 2026. Every visitor receives a free original uchiwa starting July 13, and an indoor Sennari Hyotan Matsuri gourd display continues into early December.
Card Shop Masters, a well-known trading card specialty shop in Gifu, has partnered with online oripa service Minna no Toreca. From 7:07 AM on July 7, 2026, the two are launching two limited-quantity collaboration gachas, a Pokémon card gacha with a 107% return rate and a One Piece card gacha with a 102% return rate.
On Saturday, August 1, 2026, kakigori specialist Asako Harada personally shaves premium shaved ice at the café 囲炉裏と甘味 gururi inside Nagaragawa Seiryu Hotel in Gifu, reviving a popular event held for the first time in Gifu Prefecture last year.
The Gifu Sekigahara Battlefield Memorial Museum will hold a summer special exhibition from July 14 to September 6, 2026, showcasing battle-scene folding screens that trace the dramatic conflicts of the Sengoku era, including a newly acquired "Battle of Sekigahara" folding screen.
Around 200 white and pink water lilies are now in peak bloom at Otani Weeping Cherry Park in Kiyomi-cho, Takayama City, adding a refreshing splash of color to the pond's surface.
The 14th Hida Takayama Ultra Marathon takes place on June 14, 2026, drawing approximately 3,600 runners from Japan and abroad to tackle challenging 71km and 100km courses through the scenic landscapes of Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture.
The public outdoor hot spring "Shin-Hotaka no Yu" at Shin-Hotaka Onsen will feature a fresh green illumination event from June 23 to 29, with extended hours until 9:00 PM.
Eau Voyage, based in Gifu City, has launched luxury overnight stay packages that pair traditional Nagara River cormorant fishing (ukai) with French full-course dinners and private villa accommodations, available from May 11 to October 15 each year.
The 76th Hida no Aji Matsuri gathers local specialties from across the Hida region in Takayama on June 6 and 7, 2026, featuring Hida beef skewers, local sake, and special vendors from sister cities.
Hilton Takayama Resort, the first Hilton Hotels & Resorts property in Gifu Prefecture, will open on September 14, 2026. Reservations open on June 1 at 11:00 AM via the official website.
Two traditional events celebrating the hot spring waters and the start of mountain season take place at Hirayuu Onsen in Okuhida Onsenkyo on May 15.
As spring snowmelt progresses on Mt. Kasagatake (2,898 m) in Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture, the remaining snow takes on the shape of a white horse — a natural sign that has long been used as a guide for the rice planting season.
The Ginza-born fried sandwich specialty shop Age.3 opened its Hida Takayama location on May 3, 2026. Lines have been forming every day since opening, with made-to-order sandwiches and a Hida beef exclusive drawing visitors to the historic street food destination.
The Okuhida Sanno-mura Farm (Sky Pasture), perched at approximately 1,000m elevation in Hida City, Gifu Prefecture, opens for the 2026 season on April 25. New this year are the Yamap Shindo hiking trail to Mt. Tengai and a new bus stop enabling car-free visits.
DISHES and TART SAN is launching three seasonal limited tarts featuring freshly ripened fruits and matcha, available at locations across Aichi and Gifu prefectures.
A new facility celebrating manga artist Momoko Sakura and her beloved town of Gujo Hachiman in Gifu Prefecture is set to open on July 4, 2026, with a specially commissioned key visual now revealed.
The Kamioka Castle Sakuramori no Kai has resumed spring activities after a COVID-induced hiatus, working to bring back the 450 cherry trees that once adorned Kamioka Castle in Gifu Prefecture's Hida City — and new members are welcome.
Age.3 HIDA TAKAYAMA, a new branch of the deep-fried sandwich specialty shop born in Tokyo's Ginza, opens on May 3, 2026, in central Hida Takayama — offering freshly fried sandwiches made to order, perfect for exploring the town's vibrant food walk scene.
Miyako Hotel Gifu Nagaragawa will host its Sky Beer Garden SOT△DE from June 11 through September 30, 2026, offering a buffet-style dinner with over 70 drink varieties 40 meters above ground, with advance tickets available from April 13.
Okuhida Onsenkyo welcomes spring about a month later than the lowlands, celebrating the season with two cherry blossom illumination events and the 65th Banryu Festival, featuring traditional performing arts and mountain prayers from late April through May.
Sakaba Yamato, a casual izakaya just a 3-minute walk from Gifu Station, reopened on April 7 after renovations, offering handmade dishes at wallet-friendly prices for everyday dining.
The "Tulip Festival 2026 in Kaizu" is being held at Kiso Sansen Park Center in Kaizu City, Gifu Prefecture from March 28 to April 19, 2026. The large flower bed, designed to evoke the flow of the Kiso Three Rivers with colorful tulips and blue muscari, is now at peak bloom.
A special limited-edition DOUTOR Coffee Piyorin, combining rich espresso with the beloved Piyorin sweets, will be available for dine-in only every Monday in April 2026 at Doutor Coffee Shop Asty Gifu.
hotel around TAKAYAMA, Ascend Hotel Collection™ in Gifu Prefecture has received Level 4 "Gyoiko Cherry Blossom" certification under Sakura Quality An ESG Practice, recognizing its commitment to sustainable tourism and deep ties with local Hida Takayama culture.
Kasamatsu Town in Gifu Prefecture hosts its annual spring festival, featuring a cherry blossom festival from March 21 to April 5 and the traditional Honmatsuri on April 12.
The "Sekisui Castle Fresh Green Festival 2026" is scheduled to run from April 29 to May 24 at Gujo Hachiman Castle in Gifu Prefecture. Visitors can meet the actual castle lord, enjoy quiz battles, try on samurai armor, and take part in a variety of seasonal events celebrating the castle's lush spring greenery.
To mark its 4th anniversary, Miffy Snack Shop is offering a limited-edition A5 washi paper file as a gift with purchases of ¥4,000 (tax included) or more, available at all six Japan locations starting March 30, 2026.
Spring-inspired treats featuring fresh strawberries and pistachio gelato are available for a limited time at all H's CREAM dessert shop locations across Japan.
On March 25, the 192nd Nagaragawa Concert takes place at Gifu Grand Hotel, offering a seasonal French lunch followed by a violin, cello, and piano ensemble performing works by Bizet and Fauré.
From March to April 2026, thirteen restaurants and hotels across Japan will offer special spring-themed afternoon tea featuring strawberries and cherry blossoms, celebrating the season with elegant sweets and savory dishes.
On February 8th (Sunday), Kasamatsu Racecourse in Gifu Prefecture hosts "Kaso no Utage 2026," a unique event where participants can run the actual horse track in horse racing-themed costumes.
Gifu Grand Hotel is hosting two special events in February and March 2026 to honor Head Chef Yoshio Mori's prestigious "Contemporary Master Craftsman" award from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.
Starting January 21st, Toriaezu Gohei izakaya launches its second wave of winter delicacies featuring snow crab and milt dishes, along with Italian-inspired gianduja hot chocolate.
The annual cold-water soaking process for Shogawa Kanzarashi Soba begins in Takayama's Shogawa Town, utilizing the region's harsh winter climate to create this specialty soba with enhanced sweetness and reduced bitterness.
A traveling oyster shack serving fresh seafood from across Japan opens at AEON Mall Ogaki on January 17. First 10 groups daily receive complimentary crab miso shell grills during the 6-day opening event.
From early January through early March 2026, the Hida Great Limestone Cave near Takayama City will showcase the "Ice Valley," featuring massive ice formations up to 30 meters high and 200 meters wide. The event includes Saturday night illuminations in February and a photo contest now in its 19th year.
Hotel Amaneku Hida Takayama is hosting special events featuring koto and taiko performances by local high school students, offering guests a chance to experience traditional Japanese music up close on January 17 and February 8, 2026.
The outdoor museum Hida Folk Village in Takayama, Gifu will hold its annual winter illumination event from January 10 to February 28, 2026, lighting up snow-covered gassho-style and shingle-roofed traditional houses.
Fairfield by Marriott Gifu Mino hosts a special hands-on workshop where guests can create their own Mino washi paper crafts in a historic 270-year-old building, experiencing the region's UNESCO-recognized papermaking tradition.
On November 1, 2025, a new bespoke fragrance shop is set to open in Hida Takayama, Gifu Prefecture. MY ONLY FRAGRANCE, a Kyoto-based brand, will launch its 13th location in a renovated 256-year-old machiya building.
The Hida Takayama Town Experience Exchange Hall will host its autumn festival on October 18-19, 2025, featuring traditional craft workshops and cultural experiences.
The formerly closed meet tree Café NAKATSUGAWA has reopened as meet tree HITO to KI Shinmachi Store on September 13, 2025, offering exquisite chestnut sweets including the popular Nakatsugawa Premium Mont Blanc.
The autumn tradition of illuminated foliage returns to Okuhida Onsen in Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture. Experience the magical nighttime autumn leaves at 1,000m elevation, offering beauty that cannot be found in urban areas.
Overview of “Okuhida Onsenkyo” “Okuhida Onsenkyo” is a hot spring area located in the northeastern part of Gifu Prefecture, spread at the foot of the beautiful mountains of the Northern Alps. This region is part of the Chubu Sangaku National Park, and its natural beauty is remarkable. “Okuhida Onsenkyo” is composed of the following five […]
The Hida-Takayama area in Gifu Prefecture transforms into a captivating landscape of natural beauty and cultural richness in spring. With famous cherry blossom spots, traditional festivals, and unique experiences, there’s no shortage of ways to enjoy this season. In this article, we delve into the charms of Gifu Prefecture in spring. This article introduces the […]
Gifu Prefecture is filled with attractive spots for tourists visiting in summer. The cool climate, beautiful nature, and rich culture and gourmet delights captivate visitors. In this article, we will introduce the features and attractions of summer in Gifu Prefecture, including climate and clothing tips, scenic spots, fireworks festivals, and recommended summer gourmet. *Please note […]
Autumn in Gifu Prefecture is a special season where the beauty of nature and rich culture merge. The autumn leaves turn vibrant colors, and various events and delicious seasonal foods can be enjoyed, attracting many tourists. Here is the information to make the most of your autumn in Gifu Prefecture. *Please note that the event […]
Winter in Gifu Prefecture offers a plethora of special delights such as beautiful snowy landscapes, warm hot springs, and enchanting illuminations. Discover the diverse climates and activities in each region to enjoy a fulfilling trip. In this article, we will introduce must-visit spots and highlights in Gifu during winter! *Please note that the event schedules […]
History and Features of Gero Onsen History The origins of “Gero Onsen” can be traced back to the Heian period (947–957). During the Edo period, the Confucian scholar Hayashi Razan praised it as one of the “Three Great Hot Springs of Japan” alongside “Arima Onsen” and “Kusatsu Onsen.” Water Quality and Benefits The water quality […]
Overview of the Film “Your Name” The film “Your Name” is a Japanese anime movie that was released in 2016. Directed and written by Makoto Shinkai, the main cast includes Ryunosuke Kamiki and Mone Kamishiraishi, who provided the voices for the characters. The story revolves around a boy named Taki, who lives in Tokyo, and […]