Location:  Tucked in the mountains of central Honshu Island, Gifu has many small villages and towns to explore

Look out for: While rightfully famous for its traditional nighttime cormorant fishing, Gifu also offers great skiing, amazing festivals (the Takayama Matsuri, for example), and villages of thatched-roof houses (Shirakawa-go and Gokayama). Hida also has a spectacular limestone cave, Tajimi offers pottery, and Mino is home to some of Japan's most important paper-making and lantern artisans. 

Food to try:  Hida beef is one of Japan's premium brands of wagyu, slightly sweet and so tender that it is sometimes served over rice, sushi style. Hoba miso, or miso paste grilled on a broad magnolia leaf along with veggies and meat or fish, has a simple and heathy taste. Ayu, or sweetfish, is what the famous cormorants catch. The ones the birds catch have beak marks on the fish) but those taken by fishermen are just as prized for flavor.  

Tips: Many attractions in Gifu are extremely well-known and popular with Japanese travellers, so making hotel and entry reservations well in advance is essential.

Tastings

Lodgings