The Different Regions Within SHIRAKAWA-GO 白川郷 ▶P32 Located precisely in the center of the country, has long been an important crossroads HIDA of east and west Japan. The culture of Gifu has therefore been heavily influenced by both, resulting in a 飛騨 ▶P28 great diversity of traditions nurtured here. Gifu is also a land of varied terrain, from the majestic moun- tains of Hida to the north - which stretch to heights of up to 3,000 meters above sea level - to the fertile, expansive plains and riverlands of Mino to the south - which are located right at sea level. Gifu Prefec- ture is broadly divided into these two regions, which used to exist independently - as and - before Japan’s adoption of the prefectural system. The Mino region - a term often used A UNESCO World Heritage Site deep in to refer to the entire southern half of Gifu Prefecture, corresponding to the territory of Mino Province - is the mountains that boasts an idyllic village today further divided into four sub-regions: the western region of Seino, the eastern region of Tono, the of gassho-zukuri thatched roof houses. central region of Chuno, and the Gifu region that encompasses the capital of Gifu City. Take particular A city with distinctly Japanese town- care not to confuse the Hida region and the Mino region with Hida City and Mino City! scapes, particularly in the white-walled storehouse district of Furukawa. Towards Toyama

GUJO ▶ MINOKAMO ▶ OKUHIDA HOT SPRING 郡上 P56 美濃加茂 P70 VILLAGES 奥飛騨温泉郷

World WorldHeritage Heritage Site Site Shirakawa-goShirakawa-go ▶P24 The site of one of Japan’s most A place where ShinhotakaShinhotaka Ropeway Ropeway Five onsen districts nestled in nature famous summer dance festivals, townscapes remain preserved. that, together, boast the most open-air the Gujo Odori. hot spring baths of any region in Japan. Hida-FurukawaHida-Furukawa SEKI MINO TAKAYAMA 関 ▶P66 美濃 ▶P62 高山 ▶P14

TakayamaTakayamaJR JR Takayama Main Line

HIDA The blade capital of Japan and Home of Mino Washi , one of REGION Internationally famous for its pictur- its historical center of sword the most celebrated types of esque old quarter and home to one production. traditional Japanese paper. of Japan’s most beautiful festivals.

GIFU Ski ResortSki Areas Resort Areas OsakaOsaka Falls Falls GERO ▶ in Gujo in GujoNagaragawa Nagaragawa ▶ 岐阜 P48 Railway Railway 下呂 P40

Gujo Odori Gujo Odori DanceDance Festival Festival

Gero Gero Gujo- Gujo- Gero HotGero Spring Hot Spring HachimanHachiman Home to the spectacle of cormorant An onsen paradise which has fishing, a tradition that has continued historically been counted among on the for 1,300 years. GIFU Japan’s Three Great Hot Springs. REGION Towards Nagano OGAKI・SEKIGAHARA・YORO Tarumi Tarumi Mino-shiMino-shi NAKATSUGAWA 大垣 関ヶ原 養老 中津川 ▶P76 Tarumi Railway Tarumi Railway CHUNO Seki Seki REGION Ibi Ibi Yoro Railway Yoro Railway NakatsugawaNakatsugawa MagomeMagome- - ▶ CormorantCormorant Fishing Fishing Mino-OtaMino-Ota Ena ValleyEna Valley juku juku P84 on the Nagaraon the RiverNagara River The “water capital” of the region, the site of Famous for the old post town of Ena Ena Japan’s most famous battle, and a place of Towards Kyoto GifuGifu Mitake Mitake Magome and its superb wagashi rejuvenating natural beauty, respectively. SekigaharaSekigaharaOgaki Ogaki Japanese sweets. JR Taita LineJR Taita Line JR Tokaido Main Line MeitetsuJR Tokaido Main Line Meitetsu ・TOKI・MIZUNAMI Yoro Yoro MizunamiMizunamiAkechi RailwayAkechi Railway ENA Meitetsu Meitetsu ▶ 多治見 土岐 瑞浪 Yoro Yoro Gifu- Gifu- Tokishi Tokishi 恵那 P80 WaterfallWaterfall Tajimi Tajimi HashimaHashimaTokaido ShinkansenTokaido Shinkansen Akechi Akechi

Yoro Railway Yoro Railway SEINO JR Chuo MainJR Chuo Line Main Line TONO ▶P74 REGION REGION The production centers and home NagoyaNagoya Home of Ena Valley, a site of of Mino Yaki , the dominant type of great natural beauty through all pottery in Japan. four seasons.

4 Towards Tokyo 5