Gifu
Discover Gifu
The local Convention and Visitors Bureau has a Japanese-only guide site with integrated machine translation. Gifu is a station on the JR Tokaido Main Line and JR Takayama Line. Frequent services on the Tokaido Line run to Gifu from Nagoya Station (18-25 min, ¥450). From Tokyo it takes approximately 2¼-2½ hrs via the Tokaido Shinkansen Nozomi service, changing at Nagoya (¥11,000). The Nozomi is not covered by the Japan Rail Pass; Hikari services from Tokyo will slightly increase the travel time. From Kyoto and Osaka, it takes slightly over an hour to reach Gifu via Nozomi, changing in Nagoya (¥6,100).
Taste of Gifu...
There are numerous business hotels near JR Gifu Station. Stingy backpackers may wish to note that whilst Gifu does have one manga cafe, it offers a single tatami with a table covering half of it as its flat booth, making it not really one suitable for sleeping within.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsGifu is a station on the JR Tokaido Main Line and JR Takayama Line. Frequent services on the Tokaido Line run to Gifu from Nagoya Station (18-25 min, ¥450). From Tokyo it takes approximately 2¼-2½ hrs via the Tokaido Shinkansen Nozomi service, changing at Nagoya (¥11,000). The Nozomi is not covered by the Japan Rail Pass; Hikari services from Tokyo will slightly increase the travel time. From Kyoto and Osaka, it takes slightly over an hour to reach Gifu via Nozomi, changing in Nagoya (¥6,100). The Nagoya to Gifu journey is actually one in which travel by JR line is faster and cheaper — the private Meitetsu Railway runs from Nagoya into Meitetsu-Gifu Station (30 min, ¥540). The Meitetsu Station in Gifu is about 400 m NE of the JR station. Limited Express trains on the JR Takayama Line run from JR Gifu to Gero Onsen (80 min, ¥3,300) and Hida-Takayama (2 hr 15 min, ¥4,800). There is also Limited Express service via Maibara to Kanazawa (2½ hours, ¥6700) and Toyama (3 hr 15 min, ¥7800)....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
Gifu City is serviced by the Meitetsu-run Gifu Bus as well as JR Buses. JR passes are accepted on JR buses. Gifu Park, where the castle and other popular sites are located, is about a 45 minute walk from Gifu Station, so most travelers opt to take a bus. Buses to the area run about every 10 minutes. There are three rent-a-cycle stations in downtown Gifu (JR Gifu Station, Gifu City Hall South Branch, and Gifu Park). Rental bikes for ¥100 per day. Ukai (cormorant fishing) occurs every year between May 11th and October 15th on the Nagara River. Gifu City is the only place where this tradition has continued uninterrupted for 1300 years. Silent film actor Charlie Chaplin requested to stop in Gifu for the event on 2 separate visits to Japan, describing it as "Japan's highest art form". You, too, can watch this spectacular event by boarding a viewing boat or watching from the banks of the river. Most of the action is upriver from Nagara-bashi.
Where to Stay
There are numerous business hotels near JR Gifu Station. Stingy backpackers may wish to note that whilst Gifu does have one manga cafe, it offers a single tatami with a table covering half of it as its flat booth, making it not really one suitable for sleeping within.
Money & Budget
The traditional industries of Gifu City are Japanese umbrellas (wagasa) and lanterns, both of which are made of hand-made paper. There are numerous business hotels near JR Gifu Station. Stingy backpackers may wish to note that whilst Gifu does have one manga cafe, it offers a single tatami with a table covering half of it as its flat booth, making it not really one suitable for sleeping within.