Experiences

Set foot onto the grounds of Mino City, the renowned birthplace of the prestigious Minowashi paper, and uncover its 1,300 years of illustrious history, cherished tradition, and art of boundless potential through a series of special Mino-exclusive activities, with a choice between making Minowashi paper the time-tested way or joining a Minowashi paper crafts workshop. With an accompanying guide, stroll down the streets of what used to be a lively merchant district that grew prosperous from the sales of Minowashi paper, decorated with elaborate udatsu (pillars supporting firewalls) considered to be a rarity across all of Japan, dressed in kimono of your choosing - completing a look that harks right back to the Edo Period. Then, relish a sumptuous meal at the kaiseki restaurant Asadaya. You have the option of enjoying a tea ceremony in the peaceful and scenic compounds of a Japanese garden. 

Step into the shoes of a sake brewer! Get an exclusive taste of the magic that goes into the sake brewing process and how it differs to that of beer and wine with the help of a knowledgeable kurabito (brewery worker). With guidance from them, put rice through steps like polishing, steaming, molding, pressing, and more until it transforms into the liquid ambrosia recognized and valued worldwide for its sublime tastes. A local guide will also be with you to ensure that nothing gets lost in translation, making the very most of your sake brewery experience. There are slight variations in course content depending on the season. This course takes place during the sake brewing season from October to March.

Imagine the mighty roaring of a river wide, blue and crystal clear, in the depths of a mountain valley, coursing along boulder banks with traditional houses full of character, sprawling green trees of various hues, running still under a hefty stone bridge. That is the heartbeat of the Yoshida River, the lifeblood of Gujo Hachiman, the Town of Water, with canals girding and criss-crossing the region from the 17th century of the Edo Period. In summer from mid-July to early September, this sleepy, secluded town bursts into effervescent life as more than 300,000 people converge to join Japan's longest-running dance, the Gujo Odori (Dance)! Stroll down alleyways filled with traditional architecture from centuries gone by, and dive into daily life in an abundance of water along with exclusive local activities through this 5-hour guided walking tour showcasing all things Gujo. From the scenic Igawa Lane with its vivid, well-loved and well-fed carp, to a spectacle of energetic, lively Gujo Odori moves, to the grand Yoshida River that children leap into for respite from summer's sweltering heat. Enjoy opportunities to make food replicas and savor a special lunch with ingredients locally sourced. Feel vitality unending for yourself, bubbling just beneath the surface here in Gifu’s “Town of Water”.

Take the road less traveled - dotted with fresh, gushing springs and paved in epic history blending seamlessly into the present here in Ogaki. Stroll around this city of deep, understated beauty, which flourished as both a post town and a castle town on the Tokaido Highway during the Edo period, and you‘ll be quick to find vestiges of a bygone era sketched into its visage - from the boats ambling down in its river canals, to the sturdy remains of an old lighthouse and port, and the large storehouses that house elaborate festival floats. One can also easily find numerous, famous sites of natural spring water around the area, living up to its name, the “City of Water” from days of old. Delight in the fresh verdure of the cherry trees lining the banks of the Suimon River, the sight of the iconic red Sumiyoshi Bridge, the soughing of the lone weeping willow gently swaying in the wind as ducks and black carp swim idly by while you follow the footsteps of unparalleled haiku poet, Matsuo Basho at the final stop of his major journey on foot, and a setting from his masterpiece - Oku no Hosomichi, (often translated as The Narrow Road to the Deep North).

Try your hand at traditional crafts like mizu-manju (sweet water mochi) making and masu (wooden box) making, with steps inspired by techniques used in tasks like water transportation and sake brewing from the past, cultivated by the region’s abundance in water. Experience it all for yourself here, where folk tales are born of, that speak of the intimate connection between the lives of the local people and the sustenance afforded by water. Let your worries drift away as you soak in the goodness of life here at the Water Capital, rivers undulating like poetry in motion.

Embark on a special journey along the Nakasendo Trail (also known as the Samurai Trail for its regular use by Shogun rulers traveling with samurai guards) tailor-made just for you. From giant working waterwheels, to traditional wooden townscapes of post towns dotted with radiant seasonal flowers, to cobbled stone pavements surrounded by massive centuries-old cedar trees, step back in time on a path filled with history, culture, and nature, as a knowledgeable accompanying guide takes you far beyond the pages of a travelogue. The high degree of flexibility available on this tour means that you are free to adjust the length of the schedule within a range of 5.5 hours to 8.5 hours to your liking. You also get to decide to challenge yourself with steep slopes and long distances by travelling on foot, or breeze through them in comfort by car. Whether you prefer to take time to slowly soak in the Edo atmosphere, or cut through different areas at a quicker pace - the choice is yours. You can even customize the direction of the course to fit the rest of your Japan travel plans. Walk the Samurai Trail, your way. 

Here at Gifu City’s Oblige International Preschool, experience firsthand how traditional Japanese culture is fostered through education, with the following features as their foundation.​

1. Greetings from oneself (for building positive relationships with others)​

2. Replying "Yes!" (for cultivating a readiness to earnestly listen to others)​

3. Arranging shoes and pushing in chairs (for developing habits in keeping tidy and finishing well)​

Ritsuyou education, which means "hip bones in good stature", is a highlight of the educational philosophy here, with the belief that children having the discipline for correct posture builds a unified mind and body, laying the foundation for willpower, concentration and perseverance. ​

How about trying out these classroom staples yourself? Start by joining the students and teachers with a session of cleaning up, before moving on to an exciting line-up of educational and fun lessons! Class is in session so come along, pull up a chair, and join in the daily life at school! The joy of learning never ends.​

Harvest tea leaves and stroll through the lush, verdant tea fields at an altitude of 300 metres, at the Kamigare Tea Plantation in Kasuga Village, Ibigawa Town - a little-known region dubbed "Gifu's Machu Picchu" on social media. Take home processed tea leaves with a gentle, sweet aroma ready for brewing as a souvenir of your sojourn. Please note that due to time constraints the tea leaves you will be bringing home are different to the ones from your harvest. For lunch, look forward to a delicious and wholesome meal made from Ibi medicinal herbs unique to Kasuga Village - the village of medicinal herbs, cultivated at the foot of Mount Ibuki from days of old and fresh, local Mino vegetables. Next, head to Tanigumi-san Kegon-ji Temple, a destination along the Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage route, Japan’s oldest pilgrimage route with about 1,300 years of history. Experience the legendary and the spiritual for yourself as you make your way along this sacred path, and learn of yet another, separate way through the "kaidan meguri" ritual (the practice of going down to the basement of the main hall of the temple to search for a lock in complete darkness). 

Go beneath the surface, right into the heart of the hidden gems of the Hida Region, with a guide familiar with the insides and outs of the area, helping you uncover not just the usual tourist locations, but the local, cultural spots and eateries only the locals know of. Start from Hida Takayama, to Hida City, to the World Heritage Site of Shirakawa-go Village, and finally, the famous hot springs of Gero City in this special day-long tour with a private guide, made convenient and very accessible by car. Customize various parts of the tour such as stops and activities based on your preferences.

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. 

Invigorate your senses as you experience the way of life in Hida Furukawa - a fascinating and beautiful hidden gem without the throngs of tourists, only about a 30-minute car ride from Hida Takayama. Enjoy this day tour at a leisurely pace with travels by car accompanied by an English-speaking guide and a schedule chock-full of local specialties. Visit the Hida no Takumi Bunkakan (Takumikan Craft Museum) and learn of the exceptional local master craftsmen and their works, walk around the old town of great white-walled storehouses with a canal home to 1,000 brilliant carp of many colors, have a taste of a variety of sake brands exclusive to this tour from an award-winning local sake brewery, try out a herb-mixing activity and feast on a tasty, healthy meal made with local medicinal herbs. Hida City is considered a treasure trove of medicinal herbs with more than 245 varieties growing in the wild. Unsurprising, given that 90% of its expansive area consists of forests filled with nature's goodness. Herbs rich in minerals, though not classified as pharmaceuticals, are carefully selected and cooked into nourishing, delicious dishes. Learn of the wisdom behind life lived in harmony with nature here in the mountains of Japan as you create new, unforgettable memories of your stay in Gifu.