Have you ever been to Gifu ?

[Riven]

This summer I will make my first trip to Japan. :lol: <--- Cho Tanoshimi !!
I will stay about 5 days in Tokyo, and in Gifu for the rest of my stay.
Has anyone ever been to Gifu-city or around Gifu-ken, Nagoya ?
PLease leave here experiences, feelings, interesting places to visit or cheap accomodations.
I haven't read all the forum :p , but I couldn't find anything about Gifu or Chubu (not so touristic yet). Let's start in there
:happy: :balloon:

[kirei_na_me]

My husband's mother's side is from Gifu and he knows about Gifu well. He spent much time in Gifu because his grandmother owns a huge rice farm there. He lived practically on the border of Gifu/Aichi, in Konan city and he worked in Inuyama. All the Japanese that I know are from that area, so I can ask them anything for you, if you want me to.

[Riven]

Thank you Kirei na me!! That would be so nice if you do.
Have you ever been there ?

[m477]

My girlfriend's parents live in Gifu, and I've gone with her to visit them once. I don't really know much about touristy stuff there, but you have to try the Hida beef! It is a product of Gifu-ken and even better than Kobe beef IMHO!

[Riven]

In Gifu I will live at my girlfriend's house (that's why I can stay that long, I asked about accomodation for a friend).
Hehe, thx for recommending beef lol.
I know that Gifu is not among the most touristic places in Japan. For what I heard it is so great to live in there.

[kirei_na_me]

Okay, here's a little info. He says it depends on what you like to do.

If you like cars or motorcycles, you can go to Suzuka Circuit(international raceway) or the Toyota museum.

If you like old buildings, Nagoya castle, Gifu castle, Inuyama castle(oldest castle in Japan), or Takayama-shi.

If you like knives, you should go to Seki-shi, because there are many knife manufacturers there and you can visit them.

Two good aquariums in the area. One in Toba-shi, which is really big, and then Nagoya-kou.

If you like shrines, the Ise-shi shrine is the biggest and oldest shrine in Japan. It is the shrine of the sun or whatever you call it.

He really wants to know what you like and what you would like to see or do, because there are lots of things to do, and you can go anywhere by train from Gifu-shi.

Have you asked your girlfriend about what there is to do around there? Where does she like to go?

[schwerpunkt]

Miho museum is in Gifu, and hour from Kyoto by bus. I remember our skillful bus driver managing difficult corners on the narrow roads in that rural area - kept one from falling asleep that's for sure. But the museum is a very nice piece of modern architecture and the collection inside is very good and unlike most museums, not overwhelming. It's something you can easily digest in an afternoon.

[Brooker]

I went to Gifu to check out cormorant fishing. I think it's a big attraction in Gifu. You get in these little wooden boats on the river (which are like floating izakayas with food and drink) and at night watch an old traditional way of fishing. At the front of the boat is a burning fire which attracts the fish then these cormorants (birds) on leashes dive in the water and catch the fish. Then the fisherman pulls the birds into the boat and takes the fish from the bird's mouth. Afterwards I saw a fireworks display. Most of the other tourists were Japanese, so it was nice to be off the beaten path from where gaijin tourists usually go. I also took a nice hike to Gifu castle.

[Riven]

I heard about Cormorant fishing !! If I can go to Gifu in October for sure I want to see it. I guess that, even if it appears in most guide books, there mustn't be more than one or two gaijins. (thanks for your detailed description).
I didn't know about MIHO museum though! I am really interested in it ! It's website is also very interesting http://www.miho.or.jp/english/

@Kireiname : Say Arigato to your husband !!
Well, yes, I already asked her lol, but I wanted to have point of you from a foreigner, or a tourist. She told me about things like Karaoke, onsen, amusement park and "common" things like that. She is not in tourist things or museums like me. Hence this topic :p
I am really interested in old Historical places. I planed to visit Takayama (they have wonderful Ryokan and onsen according to my girlfriend), and to Nagoya, Gifu and Inuyama Castles. I will also live close to Sekigahara (city with its famous battlefield).

I can't really say what I like or don't like because for now I only knew of what my girlfriend told me and what was written in my guidebook. I am really interested in everythings that were mentionned in this thread. I am really open and curious of a lot of things. If there are other things that are worth seeing them, then I am interested in.
Does anyone knows (except in Gifu-shi and Nagoya) big malls and interesting center towns or even country with beautiful landscape. I was told of Ampachi with its famous (?) Rose.

As I will stay about 2 months, I will be able to see and visit a lot of places
:D :happy:

Edit : What is name of your husband's grandmother's rice farm. Maybe my girfriend know ...
I know that her grandfather (mother's side) has a big knife blade factory. I will ask her if he is famous in anyway or not.

[kirei_na_me]

Riven, his grandmother's place is in the town of Tomika, which is about a 40 minute drive from Gifu-shi, I think. The family name is Itazu.

[Riven]

I told my girlfriend about Tomika. She said is it a nice small village, very quiet. But she doesn't know family name ^^ :p
Thanks again :)