Experiences

Uncover the multifaceted beauty of Gujo Hachiman in this e-bike cycling tour of about 30km, starting and ending at Gujo Hachiman Station. Spend the morning surrounded by nature's wonders, before moving on to the satoyama (rural areas where foothills and farmlands overlap), catching a glimpse into the idyllic life of the locals spent in the Japanese countryside. Pass mountainstreams of pristine clarity, and in the noontime, the historical castle town of Gujo Hachiman. There will be opportunities to enjoy times of serenity in the traditional Japanese garden of Jionzenji Temple, and teatime to look forward to! Move at your own leisurely pace in this private tour. Your guide will provide you with any necessary support, making this course accessible for bikers of all levels, even beginners. 

Enter the sanctuary of the Hakusan Shinko (Hakusan Faith), which began at the foot of Mount Hakusan, one of Japan's three holy mountains alongside Mount Fuji and Mount Tateyama. Discover its history at the Hakusan Culture Museum, then move to the Nagataki Hakusan-jinja Shrine, where your guide will show you the ins and outs of correct etiquette when visiting a shrine, and walk you through powerspots and local sites of Important Cultural Properties of Japan. 

A valuable opportunity to experience a formal worship ceremony awaits you at the worship hall. Step up to the stage, normally off-limits to visitors, and receive blessings dedicated solely to you by the chief Shinto priest of the shrine. After that, you will receive a traditional goshuin (red seal), featured in a Taiga (historical) drama, as a memorable token of your journey. 

Take on this very special hands-on tour of the factory behind the highly sought-after and constantly sold-out premium, cemented carbide kitchen knives - a first in Japan, right here in Gifu! Watch the production process, help with sharpening and testing blades. After the tour, create your very own original pocketknife by affixing the cemented carbide (said to be the hardest material next to diamond) blade to the handle, made of wood produced in Gifu. For lunch, enjoy an enticing serving of Hida beef miso sukiyaki with salad sliced and diced with KISEKI: knives at Hana, a restaurant in a traditional Japanese house. Share conversations with the owner of the restaurant, who can vouch for the many excellent features of the KISEKI: knives, adding a little something to your visit.

Fish for Gifu's renowned ayu (sweetfish), and one of Japan's finest, using a traditional method tried and tested by time! Presenting the tomozuri (live decoy fishing) style, which you will be introduced to through training videos in a lesson before putting it to practice fishing using live sweetfish as bait in the Nagara River with support from a professional guide. While tomozuri usually requires expensive specialized fishing gear, you will have free rental of the necessary equipment. Then, dig in to the freshly caught wild sweetfish, salted and grilled. Enjoy its mouth-watering taste and compare it to that of the locally farmed ayu. Ayu rice will also be served. Discover the goodness of "Ayu of the Nagara River System," a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS).

Channel the pilgrims of old and follow their footsteps, embarking on your own day-long journey in honorable shiroshozoku (white robes) with staff in hand. Encounter the deeply divine and historical as you travel along a sacred route at the foot of Mount Hakusan, one of Japan's three holy mountains alongside Mount Fuji and Mount Tateyama, the origin of the Hakusan Shinko (Hakusan Faith), revered as a symbol of nature's abundance and Japan's spirituality. Discover the rich historical legacy of the Hakusan Faith at the Hakusan Culture Museum, then move to the Nagataki Hakusan-jinja Shrine, where a guide will show you the proper rituals for worship when visiting and praying at a shrine. Be astounded by an afternoon visit to the dynamic Amidaga Falls, one of Japan‘s top 100 waterfalls and a subject of a majestic ukiyo-e piece done by Katsushika Hokusai, a leading artist in Japan's Edo period. Next, draw close to the spiritual grounds of the Hakusan Chukyo-jinja Shrine, the main place of worship for Hakusan followers, before treading stone steps leading you to the Itoshiro Osugi - a great, sacred cedar tree of about 1800 years said to mark the beginning of the trail made by Taicho Daishi, the founder of Mount Hakusan. Enjoy a refreshingly delightful lunch of delicious nagashi somen near Amidaga Falls while rejuvenating your mind and body amidst nature's wonders. Finally, receive your hakui (the top half of your white robes), a tenugui (a handtowel), and a special goshuin (red seal) as treasured mementos of your spiritual sojourn. 

Take your very own awe-inspiring photo of Gifu Castle atop Mount Kinka with a supersized full moon as a magnificent backdrop, using only a smartphone at a photography course supervised by Gifu's expert photographer, Atsushi Kobayashi! Enjoy lunch and then, a soak in a private rotenburo (open-air bath) while you take in the grand scenery of nearby Gifu Castle and Mount Kinka from a different viewpoint at Hotel Park, a ryokan with an illustrious history of 130 years. Look forward to a special menu highlighting local specialties and Gifu’s history such as the prized salt-grilled sweetfish and sarasa salmon, with dishes inspired by the cuisine that the local fishermen dined on and more! (Optional) There are also riceballs and the Shokado refreshments available for those who prefer a lighter meal. 
 

Step into the daring domain of the Japan’s historical warriors with this travel plan featuring sword forging, iai-jutsu (sword drawing), Zen history, philosophy and meditation embodied by the samurai spirit. The best part is experiencing it all firsthand - start by watching the sparks fly up close as master bladesmith Fujiwara Kanemasa puts tried and trusted techniques to astounding work, hammer the steel fashioned into a blade at the workshop of the Cutler SANSYU / Seki Hamono Museum, before calming your heart and mind with Zazen meditation amidst the tranquil surroundings of the Ryutai-ji Temple, and finally, witness the swift but deadly motions of iai-jutsu with a genuine katana on the temple grounds. Unleash the fighter in you.

Take in the marvelous sights along the pristine Nagara River, one of Japan's three clearest rivers as you e-bike for about 70km from Gujo Hachiman to Gifu City, surrounded by abundant nature, history, and local culture. Stop by popular destinations like the Udatsu Wall Historical District of Mino City, Gifu’s Great Buddha, Kogane Shrine and the Seki Hamono Museum, where you get to not only observe a traditional sword smithing demonstration, but also hammer a katana the way it's been done for centuries at the workshop of renowned bladesmith Fujiwara Kanefusa, whose family has been crafting swords for the Tokugawa family from the Muromachi Period for generations. Truly an exclusive experience! This course is recommended for those staying overnight in Gujo City and are planning to travel southwards the day after. Luggage will be delivered separately to your destination, further adding to your convenience with light and easy travel.

Enwrap yourself in the fine art, history, and process of traditional Japanese papermaking. Put your knowledge to practice as a master craftsman guides you with creation from kozo (paper mulberry) to fine Minowashi. As the washi dries, savor an appetizing bento (packed lunch) in the comforts of a rustic Japanese home with a history of over 70 years. Soak in the idyllic atmosphere before leaving with your original Minowashi paper, a tangible reminder of a priceless memory.

Add another unforgettable chapter to your travels by choosing the transportation option, where you’ll get to stop by the picturesque Monet's Pond before your journey’s end. With water lillies floating in glass-like water and colorful carp swimming about, a visit to this vivid painting come to life is sure to leave a lasting impression.

Create your original razor-sharp Damascus knife using traditional Japanese methods from start to finish, from blade and handle sharpening, assembling, to engraving your name onto your handmade masterpiece, under the guidance of master swordsmiths. Choose from Gyuto and Santoku Damascus cooking knives, Damascus hunting knives and Damascus folding knives.

Then, enjoy a visit to the nearby Knife Museum and buy from a wide variety of top quality knives available onsite.

You can also choose to have lunch, and tuck into a delicious meal at a local restaurant where dishes like sushi, tempura, eel, and tonkatsu can be prepared to your preferences (optional).