Gifu
Cormorant fishing by firelight, a mountain castle at sunset, and paper lanterns made by hand
About Gifu
The ukai is what draws most visitors to Gifu, and it earns its reputation. Master fishermen in traditional dress command trained cormorants from boats lit by blazing fire baskets. The birds dive into the dark Nagara River water, catch ayu sweetfish, and return to the boat. You watch from a low tour boat on the same water, a few metres from the action. It has been practiced here for over 1,300 years. The season runs May 11 to October 15, and tickets for the shared tour boats (¥4,200 per adult, ¥5,100 on busy Saturdays and holiday weeks; boats leave between 6:15 and 7:15pm and the fishing starts around 7:45pm) should be booked ahead for weekends. It runs every night of the season except one rest day around the harvest moon and nights when rain has swollen the river, so check conditions when you arrive.
Gifu Castle sits at the summit of Mount Kinka (329m), a four-minute ropeway ride (¥1,300 round trip) above the city. The 1956 concrete keep and the castle museum are closed for renovation until late October 2027, with a reopening and new exhibits planned for November 2027, but the summit is open and the view was always the real draw: the Nagara River below, the Nobi Plain to the south, mountains in every direction. On night-view dates the ropeway runs into the evening, so a late visit can take in the sunset. Hikers can walk up from Gifu Park in 40 minutes to an hour; the Nanamagari trail (1.9 km) is the gentlest, and until the end of September 2027 the Meiso-no-komichi and Hanadaka trails stop short of the summit.
Gifu is 20 minutes from Nagoya by JR Tokaido Line (¥450, JR Pass covered), which makes it easy as a day trip or overnight from a Nagoya base. Ayu sweetfish is the local dish: order it salt-grilled (shioyaki) at one of the riverside restaurants near the ukai area for ¥1,800 to ¥2,500. Keichan, a miso-based chicken and cabbage stir-fry, is Gifu's everyday comfort food and shows up in izakaya across the city for around ¥1,000. The long afternoon before the 7:45pm ukai boats belongs to Gifu's other craft tradition: the city produces roughly 60 percent of Japan's traditional chochin paper lanterns, and workshops near Gifu Park let you see the bamboo frames and washi paper being assembled. The same lanterns hang from the ukai boats at night. Shirakawa-go's thatched village is in the same prefecture but a long day out from here: there is no bus from Gifu, so you go by JR to Nagoya and take the express bus from the Meitetsu Bus Center, 2 hours 42 to 55 minutes each way. From Takayama it is 50 minutes.
Top Attractions
Must-see landmarks, temples, and experiences in Gifu
Gifu Castle
Built atop the 329m peak of Mount Kinka and most associated with Oda Nobunaga, who used it as his base while unifying central Japan in the 1560s. The current keep is a 1956 concrete reconstruction, and it is closed for renovation, together with the castle museum, until late October 2027; Gifu City plans to reopen both with new exhibits in November 2027. What genuinely earns a visit is the summit view, which stays open: the Nagara River directly below, the flat Nobi Plain spreading south, and mountains filling every other horizon. The ropeway takes 4 minutes (¥1,300 round trip) and is the practical choice; hikers can reach the top from Gifu Park in 40 minutes to an hour, though the Meiso-no-komichi and Hanadaka trails dead-end below the summit until the end of September 2027.
Ukai Cormorant Fishing
One of Japan's most theatrical traditional experiences. Each evening from May 11 to October 15, six master fishermen (usho) work the Nagara River from wooden boats lit by hanging fire baskets, commanding trained cormorants on leashes to dive for ayu sweetfish. The birds catch the fish and return to the boat; rings around their necks prevent them from swallowing the larger catches. You watch from a low tour boat on the same water, typically 10 to 20 metres from the fishing boats. The full experience includes floating slowly downriver, the fire reflected on the water, and the fishermen calling to their birds in the dark. Shared boats leave at 6:15, 6:45 or 7:15pm, the fishing starts around 7:45pm, and you are back ashore by 8:30 to 9pm. The boats are roofed, so ordinary rain doesn't stop it; the only nights off are one rest day around the harvest moon (September 24 in 2026) and nights when the river runs too high. Book tickets at least a day ahead for weekends.
Gifu Park and Nagara Riverside
Gifu Park sits at the base of Mount Kinka, directly below the castle ropeway. It has a Nobunaga statue, cherry trees that put on a strong show in late March to early April, the Gifu City Museum of History (¥300, with detailed exhibits on Nobunaga and the ukai tradition), and the ropeway station. The walk along the Nagara River embankment from here to the ukai staging area takes about 20 minutes and passes traditional riverside restaurants where ayu is grilled on sticks out front. It is pleasant any time of day and becomes especially atmospheric in the evening when the restaurants light up before the ukai boats depart.
Where to Stay in Gifu
Most visitors stay near Gifu Station for transport convenience, but the Nagara River area gives you riverside views and an easier walk to the ukai boats. The station area has reliable chain hotels and quick access to Nagoya by JR. The riverside area is quieter and more atmospheric but slightly less convenient for early departures.
Best Areas to Stay
Gifu Station Area
The practical choice. Business hotels are clustered within a 5-minute walk of the JR and Meitetsu stations. Everything is quick from here: Nagoya in 20 minutes, and a 15-minute walk or short bus ride to the river. Dormy Inn Gifu and Comfort Hotel Gifu are reliable options with English-speaking staff.
Best for: First-time visitors, day-trippers staying over, those combining with Nagoya
Nagara River Area
The riverfront hotels and inns here put you directly at the ukai staging area. Gifu Grand Hotel is the main option, a full-service riverside hotel with views of Mount Kinka and the river from upper-floor rooms. A more atmospheric base if the ukai is the main reason for your visit.
Best for: Those here for the ukai, couples, anyone wanting a more traditional feel
Types of Accommodation
Business Hotels
Clean, efficient hotels within walking distance of the station. The most practical base for a short visit.
Riverside Hotels
Hotels on or near the Nagara River, with views of the castle and ukai area. More character than a station business hotel.
Ryokans
Traditional inns in the Nagara River area, some with onsen baths and set ayu kaiseki dinners. Book direct for the best rates.
Best Time to Visit
Visit between May and October if you want the ukai. That is the single biggest reason to come, and the season is non-negotiable. Late May and early June are ideal: the ukai has just started, cherry blossoms are long gone, and the summer heat has not yet arrived. Autumn (October) is the last chance for both ukai and comfortable temperatures. Winter has little going on in the city itself, but makes Shirakawa-go look spectacular.
Spring (March-May)
8-22°C (46-72°F)
Cherry blossoms peak at Gifu Park in late March to early April, with the castle and mountain as a backdrop. The ukai season opens May 11. Weather is pleasant and crowds are thinner than in the summer ukai peak.
Pros:
- +Cherry blossoms at Gifu Park in late March to early April
- +Ukai season opens May 11
- +Comfortable walking temperatures
- +Fewer crowds than midsummer
Cons:
- -Ukai only starts mid-May, so early spring visitors miss it
- -Cool evenings require a layer
- -Some rain in late April to May
Summer (June-September)
22-34°C (72-93°F)
Peak ukai season. The Nagara River comes alive on summer evenings with firelit fishing boats. July and August are hot and humid during the day, but evenings are pleasant on the water. This is the city at its most atmospheric.
Pros:
- +Full ukai season in swing
- +Lively riverside in the evenings
- +Long daylight hours for castle visits
Cons:
- -Humid and hot in July to August
- -Mosquitoes near the river in the evening
- -Book ukai boats well ahead for weekends
Autumn (October-November)
10-22°C (50-72°F)
The last weeks of ukai run until October 15. After that, the city quiets considerably. Autumn foliage reaches the mountains around the castle in late October and November, and Shirakawa-go turns golden. A good shoulder season window.
Pros:
- +Last chance for ukai (closes October 15)
- +Autumn foliage on Mount Kinka in late October
- +Comfortable temperatures for walking
- +Shirakawa-go is beautiful in autumn colours
Cons:
- -Ukai season ends October 15
- -Less going on in November
- -Rain increases in late autumn
Winter (December-February)
-2-10°C (28-50°F)
The city is quiet and the ukai is finished. Gifu itself has limited appeal in winter, but it is the best time to visit Shirakawa-go: the thatched roofs under snow are one of Japan's most photographed winter scenes. Shirakawa-go lights up the village on a few January evenings, booked in advance (January 11, 17, 24 and 31 in 2027).
Pros:
- +Shirakawa-go snow season, including evening illuminations
- +Very few tourists in Gifu city
- +Winter comfort food: keichan and river fish stews
Cons:
- -No ukai
- -Cold, occasionally snowy
- -Shorter daylight hours
- -Some Shirakawa-go buses run on reduced schedules
Gifu Food Scene
Gifu's food identity is built around the Nagara River. Ayu sweetfish, caught locally from May to October, is the signature dish and the reason riverside restaurants stay full all summer. Beyond ayu, Keichan (a miso-glazed chicken stir-fry that has been Gifu's working-class staple for decades) and Hida beef from the mountains to the north give the city a stronger food story than most people expect. This is not a destination you visit primarily to eat, but you will eat very well.
Ayu (Sweetfish)
The Nagara River ayu is considered the best in Japan, fed on river algae that give the fish a mild, slightly sweet flavour. Order shioyaki (salt-grilled on a bamboo skewer over charcoal) for the clearest expression of the taste. Best eaten May to October when the fish are fresh. Riverside restaurants near the ukai area grill ayu out front and charge ¥1,800 to ¥2,500 per fish. You can also try it as ayu no kanroni (simmered in sweet soy) at lunch sets year-round.
Where to try:
Keichan
Chicken thigh and cabbage stir-fried in a miso and sake sauce, served sizzling on a cast-iron plate with steamed rice. This is Gifu's comfort food, originally from the mountain villages of the Hida and Oku-Mino areas, and now on the menu at most izakaya in the city. The sauce varies between shops (some add garlic, some lean sweeter) but it is always hearty and goes well with cold beer. A reliable order at any Gifu izakaya; expect ¥900 to ¥1,200 for a single portion.
Where to try:
Hida Beef
Premium wagyu from the Hida cattle ranches to the north. Gifu city is the most accessible place to try it outside of Takayama itself. Teppanyaki lunch sets start at ¥3,500 and let you sample the marbling without committing to a full dinner. The beef is mild and fatty in the way good wagyu should be. A few steak houses near the station and around Gifu Park stock it.
Where to try:
Suggested Itinerary
Day 1: Castle, Lanterns, Ukai
Day 2: Shirakawa-go Day Trip
Nearby Day Trips
Shirakawa-go
About 3 hours each way: JR to Nagoya, then the express bus (2 hours 42 to 55 minutes)
The UNESCO World Heritage village of gassho-zukuri thatched farmhouses in a mountain valley. The houses have roofs pitched at 60 degrees to shed heavy snow, and from the Shiroyama viewpoint above the village they look almost implausibly photogenic. Wada House is the most impressive of the open farmhouses (¥400). Go on a weekday if possible: the village is compact and weekend crowds can make it feel like a theme park. Winter is the most dramatic season, especially on the few lit-up evenings in January, which must be booked ahead.
Nagoya
20 minutes by JR
Nagoya is closer to Gifu than most visitors realise, and a combined trip makes a strong day. At Nagoya Castle the keep is closed, but the Honmaru Palace, rebuilt in wood and finished in 2018, is open, its painted panels copied from the originals that survived the war. The city also has excellent miso katsu (pork cutlet in red miso sauce) at Yabaton, morning coffee culture unique to the region at Komeda Coffee, and a busy underground food hall at Nagoya Station. A natural pairing if you have an extra day.
Practical Information
Getting to Gifu
From Tokyo
2 hours via Tokaido Shinkansen to Nagoya then JR Tokaido Line (¥11,540, JR Pass covered)
Daily Budget Guide
Hostel or budget business hotel, convenience store meals plus one riverside ayu lunch, self-guided castle and park
Business hotel, ayu dinner, castle ropeway, and ukai boat tour
Riverside ryokan with ayu kaiseki dinner included, private transport, ukai boat tour
Essential Gifu Tips
Book ukai boat tickets at least 2 to 3 days ahead for weekends, and check conditions when you arrive: the ukai stops only on its harvest-moon rest day (September 24 in 2026) and when rain has swollen the river. If you are not staying on the Nagara riverside, ask your hotel to confirm the night before.
Take the ropeway early in the day, or on a night-view evening when it runs late; midday brings the tour groups. Until late October 2027 the keep is shut for renovation, so budget time for the summit view rather than the museum.
For Shirakawa-go, catch a JR train to Nagoya by about 7:15 for the 7:50 express bus from the Meitetsu Bus Center, which reaches the village at 10:32. The village is small, so an early arrival makes a real difference. Check the return times before you explore: the last bus to Nagoya leaves at 17:15.
Ayu sweetfish is genuinely seasonal. The fish are best June to September when they are at full size. Order shioyaki (salt-grilled on a skewer) at a riverside restaurant rather than at a general dining chain near the station. The price is roughly the same and the fish are fresher.
Gifu Station has both JR and Meitetsu lines. For Nagoya, use JR Tokaido Line (¥450, 20 minutes, JR Pass covered). The Meitetsu line also serves Nagoya but is a separate fare not covered by the JR Pass.
Ten trails climb Mount Kinka, 40 minutes to an hour each; the Nanamagari trail from the south end of Gifu Park (1.9 km) is the gentlest, and the Umanose trail the steepest. Until the end of September 2027 the Meiso-no-komichi and Hanadaka trails dead-end below the summit. In summer heat, take the ropeway.
If you miss the ukai season or the tour is cancelled, the Gifu City Museum of History inside Gifu Park (¥300) has a detailed model of the Nagara River ukai setup and historical footage. Not the same as the real thing, but useful context for the rest of your visit.
Keichan is on almost every izakaya menu in the city and is consistently good at ¥900 to ¥1,200. The chicken is marinated in miso, sake, and sometimes garlic before stir-frying. It is a better order than anything described as 'Gifu specialty' at tourist-facing restaurants near the castle.
Book tours & activities in Gifu
Skip the line with pre-booked tickets and guided tours
via Klook · Affiliate link
Other Destinations
Tokyo
The world's greatest city: 14 million people, 200+ Michelin stars, and more to discover than any single trip can hold
Hiroshima
Peace Park, Miyajima's floating torii, and the best okonomiyaki in Japan: a city that turned tragedy into hope
Kyoto
A thousand years as Japan's capital: geisha in Gion, vermillion torii tunnels, and kaiseki cuisine elevated to art
Osaka
Kuidaore city: Dotonbori's neon, Shinsekai's kushikatsu, and Japan's friendliest strangers
Kamakura
Tokyo's favorite day trip: the Great Buddha since 1252, zen temples, hydrangeas at Hasedera, surf beaches, and shirasu-don an hour from the city
Yokohama
Japan's largest Chinatown, Cup Noodles Museum, and a waterfront that actually breathes (25 minutes from Tokyo)
Hakone
Two hours from Shinjuku: volcanic onsen, the Hakone Loop, and Mt. Fuji (when she shows up)
Nikko
Gold-leaf Toshogu, 97m Kegon Falls, and yuba soba: Japan's most opulent shrine town, 2 hours from Asakusa
Nara
Nearly 1,700 bowing deer, the world's largest bronze Buddha, and temples that predate Kyoto, 50 minutes from Osaka
Kanazawa
Kyoto's calmer cousin: Kenroku-en at dawn, Omicho seafood, and 99% of Japan's gold leaf
Takayama
Preserved Edo streets, world-class Hida beef, and six sake breweries you can walk between in the Japanese Alps
Fukuoka
Yatai stalls at sunset, the best tonkotsu ramen in Japan by the Naka River, and all of Kyushu on your doorstep
Sapporo
Miso ramen at midnight, powder snow at Niseko, and a beer garden in Odori Park: Hokkaido's capital delivers
Nagoya
Miso katsu, golden shachihoko, and Toyota's textile-to-car story: the city everyone skips on the Shinkansen, and shouldn't
Kobe
Kobe beef that ruins all other steak, historic Kitano mansions, and Arima Onsen in the mountains
Himeji
The largest of Japan's 12 original castles, nine walled gardens next door, and oden eaten with ginger soy
Nagasaki
Japan's only window to the outside world for 200 years: now champon, Dejima, and the Peace Park
Hakodate
Mount Hakodate's three-Michelin-star view, a star-shaped fort, and the freshest kaisen-don in Japan at sunrise
Otaru
Gas-lit canals, port-fresh sushi, and Hokkaido's most romantic winter festival
Asahikawa
The zoo that redesigned how Japan thinks about animals, a ramen style with a pork-fat layer to beat the cold, and the gateway to Japan's largest national park
Sendai
Tohoku's capital: grilled beef tongue since 1948, Date Masamune's ornate mausoleum, and streamers across the sky every August
Aomori
Honshu's northern edge: Japan's most electrifying summer festival, world-class Jomon archaeology, and one of the last virgin beech forests on Earth
Morioka
Three completely distinct noodles, 1,000 cherry trees on a ruined castle, and Hiraizumi's Golden Hall under an hour south
Akita
Gravity-defying lantern poles at the Kanto Festival, Tohoku's finest samurai streets in Kakunodate, and sake from over thirty breweries
Yamagata
Yamadera's 1,015 steps, Ginzan Onsen's gaslit snow, sacred mountains, and Japan's best cherries
Fukushima
A blossom-covered mountain, a volcanic sky road, 200-yen Edo bathhouses, and Japan's best peaches, 90 minutes from Tokyo
Matsushima
One of Japan's three great views: 260 pine-clad islands, Date Masamune's Zen temple, and oysters grilled on the bay
Hirosaki
Japan's greatest cherry blossom castle, fan-shaped warrior floats at Neputa, and a city that produces one in five of Japan's apples
Aizuwakamatsu
A red-tiled castle, nineteen graves of teenage samurai, thatched Edo villages, and some of Japan's most decorated sake
Chiba
Narita-san Shinsho-ji, Tokyo DisneySea, and 100 km of Pacific coastline: most visitors see only the airport terminal
Saitama
Kawagoe's Edo warehouse street, Japan's first Shinkansen prototype, and the Chichibu Night Festival: Saitama earns a day
Mito
Japan's first flower season: Kairakuen's 3,000 plum trees six weeks before sakura, one of Japan's Three Great Gardens
Utsunomiya
Japan's gyoza capital: 200 shops, underground volcanic caverns at Oya, and Nikko 41 minutes by train
Maebashi
A free rose garden with 7,000 blooms, a volcanic caldera you can walk around, and the budget base for Kusatsu Onsen
Niigata
Japan's sake heartland: 90-plus breweries, Sea of Japan sushi at half the Tokyo price, and a ferry to Sado Island
Toyama
Base camp for the Tateyama snow walls, with white shrimp, firefly squid, and Sea of Japan sushi at half Tokyo prices
Fukui
Japan's dinosaur prefecture: a world-class museum, volcanic sea cliffs, the strictest Zen monastery, and Echizen crab in winter
Nagano
Zenko-ji pilgrims, snow monkeys in hot springs, and Hakuba powder: Japan's alpine heart
Shizuoka
Japan's tea capital: pine-framed Fuji views, the Tokugawa shrine that predates Nikko, and tiny pink shrimp found only in Suruga Bay
Kofu
Japan's wine capital: cellar tours a short walk from the station, hoto noodles, and the granite cliffs of Shosenkyo Gorge
Hakuba
Olympic powder, alpine hiking, and the most international mountain town in Japan
Matsumoto
Japan's oldest five-tiered castle keep, alpine gateways, and a city that punches well above its size
Wakayama
Pilgrimage country: sleep in Koyasan's temples, walk the Kumano Kodo, and stand under Japan's tallest waterfall
Otsu
Kyoto's lakeside escape: Enryaku-ji's World Heritage halls, Japan's largest lake, and hotel rates Kyoto forgot, 10 minutes away
Tsu
Ise Jingu 50 minutes, Matsusaka wagyu 20 minutes: Tsu is the affordable base for the best of Mie Prefecture
Miyajima
A floating shrine gate, a 535-metre sacred mountain, and Hiroshima oysters grilled on the waterfront
Okayama
Korakuen garden, Crow Castle, Kurashiki canals, plus Naoshima art island 50 minutes away
Tottori
Japan's only coastal sand dunes, 50 meters high and 16km wide, where the desert meets the Sea of Japan
Matsue
One of Japan's five National Treasure castles, moat boats through samurai streets, and Lake Shinji sunsets, with mythical Izumo next door
Yamaguchi
Ruriko-ji's 1442 national treasure pagoda, Japan's largest limestone cave, and the gateway to Hagi and fugu country
Matsuyama
Japan's oldest hot spring, one of 12 original castles, and the gateway to the Shimanami Kaido cycling route
Takamatsu
Japan's udon capital, a Michelin three-star garden, and the ferry gateway to Naoshima's art islands
Tokushima
Japan's wildest dance festival, vine bridges over mountain gorges, and tidal whirlpools at the edge of Shikoku
Kochi
One of Japan's 12 original castles, a 300-year-old Sunday market, and katsuo no tataki seared over straw flames
Kumamoto
Japan's fiercest castle, garlic-laced ramen, and the world's largest active caldera: Kyushu's samurai heart
Beppu
Seven volcanic 'hells,' Takegawara sand baths, and Japan's densest onsen: steam rises from every corner
Kagoshima
Sakurajima erupting on the horizon, kurobuta pork on your plate, and Yakushima's ancient cedars a jetfoil ride away
Miyazaki
Takachiho Gorge by rowboat, a shrine built into a sea cave, and chicken nanban from the city that invented it
Saga
The birthplace of Japanese porcelain, a hundred balloons over a river at dawn, and A5 wagyu at a fraction of Kobe prices
Oita
12th-century stone Buddhas in a cedar valley, toriten from its originator, and Beppu's steaming hells 12 minutes down the line
Naha
Shuri Castle, Kokusai-dori, and goya champuru: Japan's subtropical capital where Ryukyu royalty once ruled
Ishigaki
Kabira Bay emerald waters, world-class diving, and Japan's southernmost island gateway
Miyako Island
7km of turquoise sand, Ikema Bridge views, and Japan's clearest snorkeling
Ready to Explore Gifu?
Add Gifu as a stay in your trip and we'll help you find hotels and suggest activities