Best places to visit in Gifu Prefecture

Gifu Editor's Choice

Gifu Prefecture showcases Japan's rural heritage and alpine scenery. The UNESCO-listed village of Shirakawa-gō features steep-roofed gassho-zukuri farmhouses built to withstand heavy snowfall, while Takayama’s Sanmachi Suji district preserves merchant houses and sake breweries from the Edo period. The Hida Folk Village offers a curated open-air museum of regional architecture. In the Northern Japan Alps, the Shinhotaka Ropeway provides access to high-altitude vistas, and Mt. Kengamine on Mount Norikura offers a 3,026-meter volcanic peak accessible via Japan’s highest bus road.

Karl Baron / CC BY 2.0

Shirakawa-go

The Historic Village of Shirakawa-gō is located in the beautiful valley, surrounded by mountains known for heavy snowfall.

Ankur P / CC BY 2.0

Takayama Old Town, Sanmachi Suji

This historic district features well-preserved wooden merchant houses and sake breweries dating from the Edo period (1603–1868). The narrow streets are lined with traditional lattice-walled buildings, museums, and craft shops, reflecting Takayama's history as a wealthy commercial hub.