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Major city · Japan

Gifu岐阜市

Give Gifu one night as a Nagoya side trip: castle and cormorant fishing, then move on. Two nights only if you add Sekigahara or a festival.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
JPY
Best months
Mar–May, Oct–Nov
avoid Jul–Aug (hot and humid), Golden Week
Airports
NGO · NKM
Nights
1
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 5
  • East Asia ↗Every border in East Asia is a full international border, Hong Kong and Macau included: an entry permission for one never covers the next.
  • East Asia ↗Ferries between Korea, Japan and China cancel in rough seas and typhoons; keep a flight or a spare day behind every sea leg.
  • Japan ↗IC cards (ICOCA/Suica) are topped up with cash at station machines.
  • Japan ↗Smoking while walking is banned in most city centres; use designated areas.
  • Japan ↗Shinkansen bags 160–250 cm (L+W+H) need a seat reserved with the oversized-baggage area.

Gifu is the capital of Gifu Prefecture and a 20-minute train ride from Nagoya, which is why most travellers see it as a half-day rather than a base. The draw is Mt. Kinka with Gifu Castle on top, the Nagara River cormorant fishing season from mid-May to mid-October, and the Great Buddha at Shōhō-ji. It is also the rail gateway to Takayama, Gero Onsen and Shirakawa-gō, so it works as a first or last stop on an Alps run.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Gifu, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee2026 estimate¥400–700 (≈ US$3–5)
  • Street or quick mealNoodle soup (ramen or kishimen)2026 estimate¥800–1,300 (≈ US$6–9)
  • Beerdraught in a bar / can at a konbini2026 estimate¥500–750 (≈ US$4–6)¥250–350 (≈ US$2–3)
  • Taxi, about 5 km5 km taxi2026 estimate; late-night surcharge after 22:00.¥1,800–2,400 (≈ US$13–17)
  • Metro or bus rideGifu Bus ridecheck¥200–300 (≈ US$2–3)
  • Museum or sight ticketGifu Castle admission¥200 (≈ US$2)
  • Budget bedHostel or capsule bed, a night, per person¥3,000 (≈ US$25)
  • Mid-range bedBusiness-hotel double room, a night, per room¥13,000 (≈ US$90)
  • High-end bedBusiness-hotel double room, a night, per room¥28,000 (≈ US$190)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget ¥6,500 (≈ US$45) · Mid ¥12,000 (≈ US$85) · High ¥22,000 (≈ US$150)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Gifu Castle on Mt. KinkaNagara River cormorant fishing (ukai)Gifu Great Buddha at Shōhō-jiGateway to Takayama and Gero Onsen
Airports
NGO Chubu Centrair (Nagoya) (Meitetsu trains run direct to Meitetsu Gifu about three times an hour, roughly 1 h; reserved seat needed on μSKY services.) · NKM Nagoya Komaki (Domestic flights only; onward by bus and train to Gifu.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Gifu: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

9°C

0°C

7 rd

Feb

10°C

0°C

7 rd

Mar

14°C

3°C

9 rd

Apr

20°C

9°C

9 rd

May

25°C

14°C

10 rd

Jun

28°C

19°C

12 rd

Jul

32°C

23°C

13 rd

Aug

33°C

24°C

10 rd

Sep

29°C

20°C

11 rd

Oct

23°C

13°C

8 rd

Nov

17°C

7°C

7 rd

Dec

12°C

2°C

7 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

Gifu Bus and JR buses cover the centre; Gifu Park is about a 45-minute walk from the station, so most people take a bus, roughly every 10 minutes. Three rent-a-cycle stations downtown (JR Gifu Station, City Hall South Branch, Gifu Park) rent bikes for about ¥100 a day. JR Gifu and Meitetsu Gifu stations are about 400 m apart.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Sekigahara

go

Door to door: About 1 h 15 min

JR Tokaido Line to Sekigahara, then walk or local bus to the battlefield sites

Half day of battlefield markers and the museum; go early, there is little shade.

Magome (Nakasendō)

go

Door to door: About 2 h

JR to Nakatsugawa, then bus up to Magome

Walk the old post road toward Tsumago if you have the legs; buses are sparse, check the last one.

Takayama

overnight

Door to door: About 2 h 15 min

JR Takayama Line limited express from JR Gifu

Old merchant streets and morning markets; too far for a comfortable return day.

Gero Onsenovernight

Door to door: About 1 h 20 min

JR Takayama Line limited express from JR Gifu

One of Japan's noted hot-spring towns; sleep over to use the baths properly.

Shirakawa-gō

overnight

Door to door: 3.5–4 h

Train to Takayama, then the Nōhi bus to Shirakawa-gō

Thatched farmhouses; buses need booking in busy seasons, so treat it as a night, not a day.

Tajimi

caution

Door to door: About 1 h 30 min

JR Tokaido Line to Nagoya, then JR Chuo Line to Tajimi (check a direct service)

Ceramics and the Mino-yaki kilns; a half day only if you care about pottery. Route check.

Yaotsu

skip

Door to door: About 2 h (check)

Route check: JR to Mino-Ōta, then onward by local transport

Far for a short visit unless you are following the Chiune Sugihara story.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

JR Gifu Station area

Business hotels within a few minutes of the JR and Meitetsu stations; best for one night with bags and early trains.

Yanagase

Downtown drinking and eating district, a short bus or taxi ride from the station; louder at night.

Gifu Park side

Closer to the castle ropeway and the river; quieter, fewer beds, check bus times back after dark.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
¥6,500–10,000 (≈ US$45–70) excl. bed
Mid
¥10,000–17,000 (≈ US$70–120) excl. bed
High
¥17,000 (≈ US$120)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Business-hotel double room1 × 1 night × ¥13,000¥13,000
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × ¥12,000¥24,000
Meitetsu from Centrair to Meitetsu Gifu, both ways2 × ¥2,620¥5,240
Gifu Bus one-day pass, one day2 × ¥700 · check¥1,400
eSIM, about a week of data2 × ¥2,500¥5,000
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge¥4,860
Trip total≈ ¥26,750 per person per day, bed included¥53,500≈ US$400

2026 estimate in yen; flights and rail passes excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee2026 estimate¥400–700 (≈ US$3–5)
Noodle soup (ramen or kishimen)2026 estimate¥800–1,300 (≈ US$6–9)
Gyoza plate2026 estimate¥500–900 (≈ US$4–7)
Beer: draught in a bar / can at a konbini2026 estimate¥500–750 (≈ US$4–6) / ¥250–350 (≈ US$2–3)
5 km taxi2026 estimate; late-night surcharge after 22:00.¥1,800–2,400 (≈ US$13–17)
Gifu Bus ridecheck¥200–300 (≈ US$2–3)
Mt. Kinka ropeway, round trip¥1,050 (≈ US$8) adult, ¥520 (≈ US$4) child
Gifu Castle admission¥200 (≈ US$2)
Cormorant fishing viewing boatSeason May 11–Oct 15; book ahead in summer.check with the operator

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Gifu is a low-risk city; the real issues are summer heat, the steep Mt. Kinka trails and late-night Yanagase bars with no posted prices: ask the total before you sit.
  • Cormorant fishing runs May 11–Oct 15 only; boats board from about 18:00 and the show ends by 21:00.
  • The castle keep sits on Mt. Kinka: ropeway or a steep hike, no road to the top.
  • Summer is hot and humid; the castle opens late on summer nights but daytime walking is draining.
  • Few highway buses stop in Gifu; coming by bus is usually easier via Nagoya.

Emergency numbers

Police
110
Fire and ambulance
119

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

Gifu岐阜市

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

ここまでお願いしますTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police110
  • Fire and ambulance119

Embassy

No embassies in Gifu; most countries keep embassies in Tokyo and consulates-general in Nagoya or Osaka (check yours).

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Centrair → Meitetsu Gifu, Meitetsu: about ¥1,310 (≈ US$9) unreserved, about 1 h
  • Nagoya → Gifu, JR Tokaido Line: about ¥450 (≈ US$4), 18–25 min
  • Nagoya → Meitetsu Gifu, Meitetsu: about ¥540 (≈ US$4), 30 min
  • JR Gifu → Takayama, limited express: about ¥4,800 (≈ US$35), 2 h 15 min

Say or show

  • すみません — Excuse me / Sorry (sumimasen)
  • ありがとうございます — Thank you (arigatō gozaimasu)
  • これをください — This one, please (kore o kudasai)
  • いくらですか？ — How much is it? (ikura desu ka)
  • カードで払えますか？ — Can I pay by card? (kādo de haraemasu ka)
  • トイレはどこですか？ — Where is the toilet? (toire wa doko desu ka)

Cormorant fishing (ukai) runs May 11–Oct 15 on the Nagara River; boats board from about 18:00 and the show ends by 21:00.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Gifu. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Mar–May, Oct–Nov · avoid Jul–Aug (hot and humid), Golden Week · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 7 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for NGO: last Meitetsu departures field-checked, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: JR and Meitetsu stations, Yanagase, Gifu Park and Mt. Kinka, the Nagara riverbank.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (Gifu Castle, Shōhō-ji, Nawa Insect Museum, Museum of Fine Arts) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Ukai season fixtures so the May–October window and boat boarding times can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to Japan

Sources