Enjoy the Charms of Old Japan at Gujo Hachiman: Summer Activities and Beautiful Sceneries

Gujo Hachiman, an Old Castle Town in Gifu

"I want to visit not only tourist spots that everyone visits, but also towns that only I know about."

If you're a travel lover, you've probably felt this way at least once, and spread out a map to find a town that interests you.

If you are looking for a town that only I know about during the summer/autumn tourist season of 2023, there is a town that I would like you to visit.

The town is Yahata-cho, Gujo City, Gifu Prefecture , a small former castle town deep in the mountains , commonly known as "Gujo Hachiman."

Little Kyoto of Gifu Prefecture and its Hidden Charms

Gujo Hachiman is located almost in the center of Japan and is a former castle town with a history of over 400 years.

Today, a castle still stands on top of the mountain, and more than 1,000 traditional wooden houses line the small town surrounded by mountains on three sides. Due to its beautiful scenery, it is also called "Gifu's Little Kyoto."

The clear and clear Yoshida River flows through the center of the town, and in the summer it is crowded with people fishing for sweetfish and children playing in the river. If you're lucky, you might be able to see children jump off the bridge, which is a summer tradition in Gujo Hachiman and a test of courage.

The town is rich in water, and springs, wells, and a network of canals are still used in daily life and can be found throughout the town. You can hear the sound of water flowing no matter where you walk in town, and if you look into the waterway you'll see lots of small fish and carp swimming around, so be sure to take a walk along the waterway.

In recent years, a large number of people have moved to the area, and many small shops, such as cafes, restaurants, and galleries, are opening one after another in renovated old buildings . There is a good mix of new and old-fashioned shops, and they are all concentrated in a compact area that takes about an hour to go around, making it a very easy town to explore.

＞Click here for Gujo city tourism information

Anyone can participate! UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage “Gujo Odori”

Gujo Hachiman's most famous traditional culture is Gujo Odori , which was selected as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2022.

It is also counted as one of the three major Bon dances in Japan.

It is held every year from mid-July to mid-September for 31 nights in various locations around town, and the dancers dance from around 8pm to around 11pm.

In particular, during the four days of Obon (August 13th to 16th), a unique and unique festival is held, called the "Night Night Odori" , where people dance every night until around 4:00 or 5:00 in the morning. Fans gather from

The special feature of Gujo Odori is that anyone can participate freely and can dance in their normal clothes. Of course, you are free to take a break or go out for drinks at any time.

However, Gujo Odori is originally performed by wearing a yukata, wrapping a tenugui around the neck, and dancing while making the sound of geta. Please try wearing just geta and enjoy dancing and making sounds.

Whether it's a day trip or an extended stay.

Although it is a town deep in the mountains, one of its charms is that public transportation is well established and it is easily accessible from the city .

You can stop by on a day trip or of course enjoy it for a long stay.

There are direct buses from Nagoya or Gifu City (20 minutes by conventional line from Nagoya), and you can get there in about an hour and a half.

Complete Access Guide to Gujo Hachiman in Gifu!

Alternatively, you can also take the train, which takes a long time but is very beautiful.For more information, please see the page below.

Summer to Autumn: Visiting Gujo Hacihman During the Best Season

Gujo Hachiman offers beautiful views no matter what time of year you visit, but we recommend visiting during the summer and fall seasons.

In the summer, it's common to play in the river during the day and go dancing at night, and in the fall, the best thing to do is stroll through the city while enjoying the autumn leaves.

This year's Gujo Odori will be the first to be held after it was selected as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, so it is sure to be a big hit with many people.

Please come to Gujo Hachiman this summer and fall!