Gifu Prefecture is located in central Japan’s Tōkai region, with its capital in Gifu City. It is a typical inland prefecture with no coastline, yet it features diverse geography ranging from the high mountains of the north to the broad plains of the south. Historically part of the Tōsandō route of the Gokishichidō system, today it is grouped with Aichi and Mie as the “Three Tōkai Prefectures.” Its southern Nōbi Plain is closely integrated with the Nagoya metropolitan area, functioning as an important satellite region.
Gifu consists roughly of two areas: Hida in the north and Mino in the south. The Hida region is dominated by the Hida Mountains (Northern Alps), with few flatlands but soaring peaks exceeding 3,000 meters and deep valleys. The Mino region forms part of the Nōbi Plain, a low-lying area where the Kiso, Nagara, and Ibi rivers converge, creating extensive wetlands—some areas even lie below sea level. To cope with flooding, the area developed the distinctive wajū levee settlement culture.
The climate varies greatly due to topography. The Hida mountains experience harsh winters with heavy snowfall and extreme cold, sometimes below –20°C, while summers remain relatively cool at high elevations. The Mino plains, by contrast, have a typical inland climate with hot summers and cold winters, along with large diurnal temperature variations. Tajimi City has recorded 40.9°C, among Japan’s highest temperatures, while Gero reached 41.0°C. In the west, winter winds known as the Ibuki-oroshi bring severe cold and heavy snow.
Gifu offers abundant tourism resources. The Shirakawa-gō gasshō-zukuri villages in northern Hida, together with Gokayama in neighboring Toyama, are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, famed for their steep thatched-roof houses and snowbound scenery—icons of Japan’s rural heritage. Takayama, often called “Little Kyoto,” preserves Edo-period castle town streets such as Sanmachi Suji and Shimoni-no-machi. In the south, Mino City is renowned as the “hometown of washi paper.”
Natural highlights include the Neodani Fault, a Special Natural Monument linked to the 1891 Nōbi Earthquake, as well as the chrysanthemum-shaped stones of Neodani and the giant Itoshiro cedar trees. Oniiwa Park is famous for its oddly shaped rocks, while Kasamatsuzaka in Ikeda is a popular cherry blossom spot.
Cultural heritage is also rich: Ankokuji Kyōzō, Eihōji Kannon-dō and Kaisandō are designated National Treasures. Traditional townscapes such as Gujō Hachiman Kitamachi and Iwamura in Ena are preserved as Important Preservation Districts.
In lifestyle and traditions, Gifu’s culture is deeply tied to rivers. The cormorant fishing (ukai) on the Nagara River continues every summer, blending tourism with ancient tradition. The Gero Onsen in the south, one of Japan’s “Three Famous Hot Springs,” is celebrated for its high-quality waters and extensive facilities.
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