Gifu · Things to do
Things to Do in Gifu: 16 Places with Hours, Prices and Access
16 things to do · checked October 22, 2026
16 things to do in Gifu, from Gifu city outward
Hours, prices and access checked against each place's own page on October 22, 2026. They change; check before you go.
1Gifu Kinkazan Ropewayぎふ金華山ロープウェー
Ropeway · Gifu Park, Mt. Kinka
A ropeway from Gifu Park to the top of Mt. Kinka, about 4 minutes each way with a car every 15 minutes. The Kinkazan observation deck is a short walk from the summit station.
- Access
- The lower station is in Gifu Park at the foot of Mt. Kinka (257 Senjojikishita, Gifu). Cars cannot drive up; the summit is reached only by the ropeway or the hiking trails.
- Hours
- First car up 9:00. Last car up 17:30 on weekdays and 20:00 at weekends (last down 18:00 / 20:30); hours vary by season
- Closed on
- Stops for inspection once or twice a year; dates are posted on the operator's notices
- Price
- Round trip ¥1,300 (age 12 or junior high and over), ¥650 (age 4–11); one way ¥800 / ¥400
2Gifu Castle岐阜城
Castle keep (closed for works) · Mt. Kinka summit
The castle keep on the summit of Mt. Kinka. It is closed for construction work, scheduled from 19 May 2026 to around 31 October 2027; the ropeway and the summit observation deck stay open.
Closed for works until around 31 October 2027.
- Access
- Kinkazan Ropeway to the summit station, or the Mt. Kinka hiking trails. Cars cannot reach the castle.
- Closed on
- Closed for works, scheduled 19 May 2026 to around 31 October 2027
3Gifu Park岐阜公園
City park and historic site · Foot of Mt. Kinka
A park at the foot of Mt. Kinka, opened in 1888 as Maruyama Park. The Mt. Kinka area, including the site of Oda Nobunaga's residence in the park, was designated a National Historic Site (Gifu Castle Ruins) in 2011; the park also holds a three-storied pagoda and the ropeway's lower station.
- Access
- Gifu Bus from JR Gifu or Meitetsu Gifu Station. By car: the riverside Teigai and Teigai No. 2 car parks, ¥310 per visit.
4Nagara River Cormorant Fishing (Ukai)長良川鵜飼
Cormorant fishing, watched from boats · Nagara River, Kawaramachi
Night fishing with trained cormorants on the Nagara River, watched from shared sightseeing boats. The season runs 11 May to 15 October, so the 2026 season has ended.
Season 11 May–15 October; the 2026 season has ended.
- Access
- Gifu Bus routes via Nagara-bashi (for example the Takatomi bus or the city loop line anticlockwise) from JR Gifu or Meitetsu Gifu Station, about 20 minutes, ¥250. Get off at Nagarabashi-minami / Kawaramachi; the boat office (1-2 Minatomachi) is about 1 minute on foot.
- Hours
- Shared boats leave at 18:15, 18:45 or 19:15; the fishing starts around 19:45 and boats come back 20:30–21:00
- Closed on
- Season 11 May–15 October. No fishing on 24 September or when the river is high
- Price
- Shared boat: junior high and over ¥4,200, age 3 to elementary ¥2,100; busy days ¥5,100 / ¥2,600. Food and drink not included
5Kawaramachi Old Streets川原町
Old merchant streets · Kawaramachi
The part of Gifu city where the most Edo-period townscape survives in one place. In July 2011 the city designated 11 buildings around Kawaramachi as Landscape Important Buildings.
- Access
- Gifu Bus to Nagarabashi-minami / Kawaramachi, about 20 minutes from JR Gifu or Meitetsu Gifu Station on routes via Nagara-bashi, ¥250. The ukai boat office is 1 minute from the stop.
6Shohoji Temple (Gifu Great Buddha)正法寺（岐阜大仏）
Temple with a Great Buddha · Daibutsu-cho
The temple of the Gifu Great Buddha, a kago (basket) daibutsu. The Buddha is a Gifu Prefecture Important Cultural Property and its hall a Gifu City Important Cultural Property.
- Access
- Address: 8 Daibutsu-cho, Gifu. Opening hours and the visiting fee were not checked against an official page.
7Seki Traditional Swordsmith Museum (sword-forging days)関鍛冶伝承館（古式日本刀鍛錬 一般公開）
Sword-forging demonstration · Seki
The museum is closed for renovation, but public demonstrations of traditional Japanese sword forging continue at its forge: 1 November and 6 December 2026, 2 January 2027 (opening ceremony, morning only, free), 7 February and 7 March 2027. Up to 130 people per session.
Next public forging days: 1 November and 6 December 2026.
- Access
- About 5 minutes on foot from Sekiterasu-mae Station on the Nagaragawa Railway. About 10 minutes by car from Seki IC (Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway). Address: 9-1 Minami-Kasuga-cho, Seki.
- Hours
- Forging 10:30–11:00 and 13:00–13:30; entry opens 30 minutes before; afternoon tickets on sale from 11:00
- Closed on
- Museum closed for renovation 7 September 2026 – 31 March 2027 (dates may change)
- Price
- Demonstration: adults ¥300, high school ¥200, elementary and junior high ¥100
8Mino Udatsu Townscapeうだつの上がる町並み
Old merchant streets · Mino
Streets of Edo-period houses built by washi paper wholesalers, each topped with an udatsu firewall in its own design. Mino's 2026 Akari Art Exhibition of paper lights shows past winning works from 24 October to 30 November, lit 17:00–21:00, free.
- Access
- About 15 minutes on foot from Mino-shi Station on the Nagaragawa Railway. About 5 minutes by car from Mino IC (Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway); parking at the Kanko Fureai Hiroba.
9Mino Washi Museum美濃和紙の里会館
Paper museum and workshop · Mino
Mino City's museum of Mino washi, the handmade paper of the town, which also runs papermaking sessions; details are on the museum's own page.
- Access
- About 20 minutes from Mino-shi Station by the Noriai-kun shared taxi, booked by phone (0575-33-1231). About 20 minutes by car from Mino IC.
- Hours
- 9:00–17:00 (last entry 16:30)
- Closed on
- Tuesdays and the day after a public holiday (open if that day is a Saturday or Sunday)
- Price
- Adults ¥500; elementary and junior high ¥250
10Gujo Hachiman郡上八幡
Castle town · Gujo
A castle town in the mountains, known for the Gujo Odori summer dance, which has more than 400 years of history, and for the Sogi-sui spring, one of Japan's 100 Famous Waters.
- Access
- Gifu Bus highway Hachiman line from JR Gifu or Meitetsu Gifu Station. From Nagoya, Gifu Bus or Nohi Bus highway buses; the Nohi Bus stops at Gujo Hachiman IC, about 7 minutes by taxi from the town. The tourist association gives about 1 hour from Nagoya, Gifu, Takayama and Gero.
11Gujo Hachiman Castle郡上八幡城
Castle · Gujo Hachiman
The castle keep above the town, rebuilt in 1933; the first fort here was built in 1559.
- Access
- About 20 minutes on foot uphill from the town centre.
- Hours
- September–October 9:00–17:00 (last entry 16:45); other months not stated on the page read
12Gero Onsen下呂温泉
Hot spring town · Gero
A hot spring town counted among Japan's three famous hot springs. Gero Station does not accept IC transit cards such as TOICA, so buy a ticket for the whole journey before you set off.
- Access
- JR Gero Station on the Takayama Line, about 90 minutes by train from Nagoya Station.
13Gero Onsen Gassho Village下呂温泉合掌村
Village of gassho-style houses · Gero
A site of gassho-style houses in Gero Onsen, open every day, within walking distance of the hot spring town.
- Access
- On foot from the Gero Onsen hot spring town.
- Hours
- 8:30–17:00
- Closed on
- Open every day
14Magome-juku馬籠宿
Post town on the Nakasendo · Nakatsugawa
A historic post town on the old Nakasendo road in Nakatsugawa city, among rice paddies and forest. The visitor centre, Magome-juku BASE, delivers and stores luggage, 8:30–17:00 every day; buses run on to Tsumago-juku and Nagiso Station.
- Access
- Kita-Ena Kotsu bus from JR Nakatsugawa Station. Or the Meitetsu highway bus from Meitetsu Bus Center (Nagoya Station) to Chuo-do Magome, then about 15 minutes on foot to the entrance of the post town.
15Gifu Sekigahara Battlefield Memorial Museum岐阜関ケ原古戦場記念館
Museum · Sekigahara
Gifu Prefecture's museum on the Battle of Sekigahara. Fees are higher during the autumn special exhibition, 6 October to 23 November 2026.
- Access
- JR Tokaido Main Line to Sekigahara, about 45 minutes from Nagoya. Address: 894-55 Sekigahara.
- Hours
- 9:30–17:00 (last entry 16:30)
- Closed on
- Mondays (the next weekday if Monday is a holiday); 29 December–3 January
- Price
- General ¥500, high school and university ¥300, junior high and under free (6 Oct–23 Nov 2026: ¥1,000 / ¥800)
16Yoro Park and the Site of Reversible Destiny養老公園・養老天命反転地
Park with an art site and a waterfall · Yoro
A park in Yoro with Yoro Falls and the Site of Reversible Destiny (Yoro Tenmei Hantenchi), a paid area inside the park. Children under high school age cannot enter the Site of Reversible Destiny alone.
- Access
- About 10 minutes on foot from Yoro Station on the Yoro Railway. About 20 minutes by car from Ogaki IC; free car park (9:00–17:15).
- Hours
- Park 9:00–17:00; Site of Reversible Destiny last entry 16:30
- Closed on
- Tuesdays (the next day if Tuesday is a holiday); 29 December–3 January
- Price
- Site of Reversible Destiny: adults ¥850, elementary and junior high ¥350, under elementary school age free
Good to know
Start in Gifu city. The Kinkazan Ropeway, Gifu Park, the Kawaramachi old streets and the cormorant-fishing boats on the Nagara River are all reached by Gifu Bus from JR Gifu or Meitetsu Gifu Station, about 20 minutes to the Kawaramachi stop. Gifu Castle on the summit is closed for works until around 31 October 2027; the ropeway still runs.
The day trips go three ways: Seki, Mino and Gujo Hachiman by the Nagaragawa Railway or highway bus; Gero Onsen on the JR Takayama Line and Magome on the old Nakasendo; and Sekigahara and Yoro to the west. Takayama, further up the Takayama Line, has its own pages, and Shirakawa-go has its own guide under In depth.
Dates to plan around: the cormorant fishing runs 11 May to 15 October, so the 2026 season is over. Seki's next public sword-forging days are 1 November and 6 December 2026. Mino's Akari Art Exhibition is lit 17:00–21:00 until 30 November 2026, and the Sekigahara museum charges ¥1,000 until 23 November during its autumn exhibition.
In depth
Gifu city, the day trips north, east and west
How each place is reached and what it costs to get in. Adult prices; children's prices are on each card above.
| Where | Getting there | Entry (adult) | Dates and closures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gifu city: Mt. Kinka, Gifu Park, Kawaramachi, cormorant fishing | Gifu Bus from JR Gifu or Meitetsu Gifu, about 20 min to Nagarabashi-minami / Kawaramachi, ¥250 | Ropeway ¥1,300 round trip · Ukai boat ¥4,200 (¥5,100 busy days) · Kawaramachi and Gifu Park free | Gifu Castle closed to around 31 Oct 2027 · Ukai 11 May–15 Oct |
| Seki: sword forging | Nagaragawa Railway to Sekiterasu-mae, about 5 min on foot | Demonstration ¥300 | Museum closed to 31 Mar 2027 · Forging days 1 Nov, 6 Dec 2026 |
| Mino: Udatsu streets, Washi Museum | Nagaragawa Railway to Mino-shi, about 15 min on foot to the streets; museum about 20 min by shared taxi | Streets free · Museum ¥500 | Museum closed Tuesdays · Akari exhibition to 30 Nov 2026 |
| Gujo Hachiman | Gifu Bus highway Hachiman line from JR Gifu or Meitetsu Gifu; about 1 hour | Town free · Castle fee not checked here | Castle 9:00–17:00 in Sep–Oct |
| Gero Onsen | JR Takayama Line to Gero, about 90 min from Nagoya; no IC cards at Gero | Gassho Village fee not checked here | Gassho Village open every day |
| Magome | Bus from JR Nakatsugawa, or highway bus from Nagoya to Chuo-do Magome + about 15 min on foot | Free to walk | Visitor centre 8:30–17:00 every day |
| West: Sekigahara, Yoro | JR to Sekigahara, about 45 min from Nagoya · Yoro Railway to Yoro + about 10 min on foot | Sekigahara museum ¥500 (¥1,000 to 23 Nov 2026) · Site of Reversible Destiny ¥850 | Sekigahara closed Mondays · Yoro closed Tuesdays |
By kind of trip
First day in Gifu city
The ropeway's lower station is in Gifu Park, and its first car up leaves at 9:00. Gifu Park and Kawaramachi are free to walk.
Gifu Kinkazan Ropeway · Gifu Park · Kawaramachi Old Streets · Shohoji Temple (Gifu Great Buddha)
After dark
From 11 May to 15 October the ukai boats leave between 18:15 and 19:15 from Kawaramachi. At weekends the last ropeway car up Mt. Kinka is at 20:00.
Nagara River Cormorant Fishing (Ukai) · Kawaramachi Old Streets · Gifu Kinkazan Ropeway
Swords and washi paper
Seki's forging days are on set Sundays and on 2 January; the Mino Washi Museum is closed on Tuesdays. Both towns are on the Nagaragawa Railway.
Seki Traditional Swordsmith Museum (sword-forging days) · Mino Udatsu Townscape · Mino Washi Museum
Hot springs and old post towns
Gero Onsen is on the JR Takayama Line and Magome is reached from JR Nakatsugawa Station. Magome-juku BASE stores and delivers luggage, 8:30–17:00.
With children
Junior high and under enter the Sekigahara museum free, under elementary age enter the Site of Reversible Destiny free, and the ropeway is ¥650 round trip for age 4–11.
Gifu Sekigahara Battlefield Memorial Museum · Yoro Park and the Site of Reversible Destiny · Gifu Kinkazan Ropeway · Mino Washi Museum
Questions
Is Gifu Castle open?
No. The castle on Mt. Kinka is closed for construction work, scheduled from 19 May 2026 to around 31 October 2027. The Kinkazan Ropeway still runs, and the observation deck is a short walk from the summit station.
When is the Nagara River cormorant fishing season, and how much is a boat?
11 May to 15 October, with no fishing on 24 September or when the river is high. Shared boats leave at 18:15, 18:45 or 19:15, and the fishing starts around 19:45. Fares are ¥4,200 for junior high and over and ¥2,100 for age 3 to elementary, rising to ¥5,100 / ¥2,600 on busy days.
Can I see sword forging in Seki while the museum is closed?
Yes. The Seki Traditional Swordsmith Museum is closed from 7 September 2026 to 31 March 2027, but public forging continues on 1 November and 6 December 2026, 2 January 2027 (morning only, free), and 7 February and 7 March 2027, at 10:30 and 13:00. Adults pay ¥300.
How do I get to Gero Onsen, and can I use an IC card?
Take the JR Takayama Line to Gero, about 90 minutes from Nagoya Station. Gero Station does not accept IC cards such as TOICA, so buy a ticket for the whole journey in advance.