Gifu city

Gifu city is the prefectrual capital of Gifu prefecture which is located in middle of Honshu island. The population is approximately 40 0,000 and it is the third populous city in Chukyo metropolitan area, after Nagoya and Toyota.

Kawaramachi district in Gifu.

There are numerous places in Gifu prefecture which is popular to foreign tourists including Takayama, Shirakawago and Gero, but Gifu city is an off the beaten track, not only in the prefecture but also in Japan.

However, the city is a worth place to visit if you are traveling between Tokyo and Kyoto. Although, there is no Shinkansen station in the city, there is Gifu-Hashima station which is approximately 30 minutes away from downtown Gifu.

Or, you can travel to Nagoya station by Tokaido Shinkansen and take JR Tokaido line to Gifu station if you are taking Nozomi trains between Tokyo and Kyoto.

Major tourist attractions in Gifu cities are:

Gifu castle

Kawaramachi district

Ukai(cormorants) fishing on Nagara river