Perhaps most foreign people imagine "Kyoto" when they are asked where old Japan could be felt in Japan. Even Japanese associate the question with Kyoto. However, Gifu Prefecture has places to appeal old Japan as well! so let's join the tour and experience old Japan in Gifu!
In this tour, I want you to experience Japanese culture, which still retains the same culture it had in the past, as a participant. In short, you'll taste through this tour a part of Japanese history, so the tour is classified into cultural tourism. The target for the tour is people who are interested in a different culture and history: young adults and older people. On the other hand, the tour is fewer activities for kids, so it might not be suitable for families. Mainly, participants walk around in two areas out of 5 areas in Gifu. Participants can enjoy Onsen (hot spring), which is one of Japanese symbols, with great nature, and they can also experience Japanese traditional culture. In Gifu, they can actually try it, not only watching! so they'll learn how Japanese ancients lived in the past and what their amusements were.
Suggested Itinerary (3 days)
Day 1:
Go to Hida Takayama Matsuri-no-mori (飛騨高山まつりの森)
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In here, you'll see the big festival stands called matsuri-yatai.
These stands are used for Takayama Matsuri festival, which is one of Japanese three major beautiful festivals (the festival is held on April 14-15th and October 9-10th every year).
Also, you'll look at unique mechanical dolls, which are traditional entertainment
from Edo era (more than 100 years ago) up to the present.
There is the biggest wooden drum in the world, and you can listen a performance by the drum, too.
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(mechanical doll)
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| (wooden drum) |
Check in Yunohirakan (湯の平館)
In Gifu, there are many spots of hot spring called Okuhida-onsen-gou (奥飛騨温泉郷),
and Japanese love taking a bath to relax their body.
In Yunohirakan, you can definitely relax your body with nice hot spring!
Day 2:
Check out the hotel, Yunohirakan
Go to Hida Folk Village - Hida-no-sato (飛騨民俗村-飛騨の里)
The village museum, which old living in Hida, Gifu is reproduced in abundant nature. You can watch old houses and agricultural tools. Also, you'll try some cultural things like playing old games and making traditional stuff. You might feel as if you have been transported to a past age!!
Check in Wanosato (倭乃里)
You can enjoy a room of old Japanese-style as well as hot spring.
After dinner, people who live in Hida, Gifu talk a folk tale
while sitting around Japanese-style fireplace.
Also, you can listen history about plants and food in Hida
with traditional sake called Kappo-sake!!
(Kappo-sake)
Day 3:
Check out the hotel, Wanosato
Go to Gifu castle (岐阜城)
Perhaps most travelers visit temples and shrines when they come to Japan,
but also they should visit Japanese castle! Each castle has different beauty,
and Gifu castle has a captivating point as well.
My recommendation is taking a ropeway to see beautiful nature,
especially you should take it in fall (the season of red leaves).
Gifu castle is on the top of a mountain called Kinkazan,
so taking a ropeway is a useful way to go to Gifu castle.
Also, you can enjoy the beautiful view of Gifu!!
(taking a ropeway in the season of red leaves)
Participate in Cormorant fishing (ぎふ長良川鵜飼)
The cormorant fishing is the way of fishing, which has traditionally been protected,
so it has a long history in more than 1000 years.
This fishing is that an usho (cormorant fishing master) and u (cormorant birds)
work together by using the flames of kagari-bi (fishing fire lanterns)
reflecting on the dark surface of Nagara river.
(the season: from May 11th to October 15th)
Check in Juhachiro (十八楼)
This hotel is also old Japenese-style called Ryokan as well as Wanosato,
which you'll stay for one night on the second day.
Juhachiro has more than 150 years of history, so you can taste old atmosphere there.
Also, the hotel is located near Nagara river,
so the view of the river makes you feeling better!!
Transportation:
Seattle(SEA) to Narita(NRT) by airplane
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Narita to Tokyo by train
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Tokyo to Gifu Prefecture by bullet train
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Around Gifu by car, train, bus, or taxi
Estimated cost:
$750 for two people (only including hotels and tour)
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