Gifu: Best Things to Do
SIGHTSEEING
Gifu Castle is a popular attraction in the city to visit. This place is located along with Mount Kinka and the Nagara River. This 16th-century place is one of the main symbols of Gifu city. Enjoy the panoramic views of the mount, river, and the city. Explore this cultural castle, built with Japanese architecture. Don't forget to visit the Gifu Castle Museum near the castle too!
Gifu Castle
DOWNTOWN
Gifu Park is a cool destination in downtown city. This is a busy park in the city with its cultural buildings, fountains, and sakura trees around the park. You can take a walk and watch people in this place. Also, there are Kato Eizo & Toichi Memorial Art Museum and Oda Nobunagai Ruins to explore Japanese culture and history at this park.
Gifu Park
SHOPPING
長良川デパ (Nagara River Depa) is a store to get local souvenirs. This nice store sells items, from accessories to local sake. Check out its crafts because they are so beautiful. If you prefer local drinks to bring home as the souvenir, you can come to 松山商店 (Matsuyama store). This is a liquor store with various local drinks to offer. Sake and wine are the main options at this store. They sell the drinks with high-quality.
長良川デパ (Niagara River Depa)
松山商店 (Matsuyama store)
FOOD & DRINK
The authentic food to eat in the city is Hida Beef. Most people like it cooked with sushi-style, raw, over vinegared rice. You can get it at many local restaurants in the city. Keichan-yaki, Takayama ramen, and soba miso are also the local cuisines from Gifu city. Don't forget to try some local sake!
CULTURE
Gifu is a city in central Japan. This city is famous for its beautiful parks and museums to explore. There are about 403.647 people live in the city. Mostly the speak Japanese with the Mino dialect. It's hard to find people who speak and understand English in the city. So, you will need a dictionary or language application! Prepare your money in the Japanese Yen (¥) currency to pay everything in the Gifu. For the cultural event, there is a famous festival called the Gifu Nobunaga Festival you might join.
BEST TIME TO VISIT
The best time to visit the city is between May and June or August and October. It's when the weather is so pleasant and warm to explore the great places in the city. Keep a close watch on weather forecast. There is a slight chance of rain in these months.
HOTEL
Stay at Gifu Grand Hotel when you visiting the city. This hotel is so comfortable to sleep in. Come with your family or friends because they offer huge bedrooms and excellent facilities, like bathhouses. Also, you can enjoy the Niagara River from your window. This hotel is located 2 km from iconic Gifu Castle. Also, you can stay at Dormy Inn Gifuekimae. This luxurious hotel offers the best comfort to stay while exploring the city. It's located near the Gifu train station, Yanagase shopping arcade, and Gifu Castle.
Gifu Grand Hotel
Dormy Inn Gifuekimae
RESTAURANT
Have dinner at Bakuro Ichidai Gifukanda. This yakiniku restaurant is so Japanese! You will like the decor and the seating. They serve delicious local cuisines and drinks to taste. The shabu-shabu, sukiyaki, and nigiri are highly recommended at this place. Also, you can enjoy the foods at 京風 一豚 (Kyōfū Ichi buta). This is a Japanese restaurant, popular for its shabu-shabu. But, don't forget to try the dashi or pork dishes too! Beer and wine are also served here.
Bakuro Ichidai Gifukanda
京風 一豚 (Kyōfū ichi buta)
CAFE
Chill out at Shikishima Coffee. This cafe is a destination for coffee lovers. The place is so warm to relax. They serve delicious coffee in various ways. For the foods, the parfait and curry are the favorite options. You can also come to the Pronto cafe. This place is so cozy to read books or hang out with your travel buddies. The spaghetti and cakes are so yummy, as well as coffee and tea.
Shikishima Coffee
Pronto
BAR AND NIGHTLIFE
Bar Sabio is a Spanish restaurant, but it's a favorite place to enjoy the night. The place is warm and shady. They have a nice outdoor seating, delicious late-night foods, and good vibe to offer. Don't forget to taste its amazing paella and al ajillo ! For the drink, there is delicious wines you can try. Also, you can come to Marquee Sports Bar Gifu. This nice cafe has a nice space and karaoke. They serve a huge array of cocktail to choose from and order.
Bar Sabio
Marquee Sports Bar Gifu
INTERESTING PLACE
World Freshwater Aquarium Aquatotto Gifu is a must to visit in the city. This huge modern aquarium is home for sea animals. Meet cute fish, birds, and sea lions! You can visit its gift shop and restaurant before you leave. Another cool place is Kogane Shrine. This is a sacred and cultural shrine you can visit and enjoy the Japanese atmosphere. Explore the area and its informative stories that you won't find anywhere else.
World Freshwater Aquarium Aquatotto Gifu
Kogane Shrine
INSTAGRAMMABLE SPOT
The Great Buddha of Gifu (Shōbō Temple) is a Buddist temple with a vintage area of Japan. There are so many spots for taking photos, like with the statues, buildings, or streets. Also, there is the Kakamigahara Air and Space Museum with its Japan Air-Defence Force. This place is located in Kakamigahara. You can take pictures of the cool exhibits in this museum!
Great Buddha of Gifu (Shōbō Temple)
Kakamigahara Air and Space Museum
