Major city · Japan
Yaotsu八百津町
Go only with a car: the Sugihara Memorial Hall and Gohou falls need one, and no bus reaches them. Without a car, skip or use a guided day trip.
Yaotsu is a small Kiso River town in south Gifu, known almost entirely for the Chiune Sugihara Memorial Hall, which tells how a Japanese diplomat in Lithuania issued visas that let thousands of Jews leave Europe. It is a half-day stop, not a base: the museum sits outside the centre, buses do not reach it, and most visitors come by car or as a day trip from Nagoya or the Kiso Valley.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- JPY
- Best months
- Mar–May, Oct–Nov
- avoid Jul–Aug (hot and humid), mid-August Obon
- Airports
- NGO · KIX
- Nights
- 0–1
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.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Yaotsu110 ▾
- Police110
- Fire and ambulance119
- Japan Visitor Hotline (JNTO, 24 h, English)050-3816-2787
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Yaotsu, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Cities are increasingly cashless; temples, small restaurants and some lodging taxes still want cash.Japan-wide
- SIM or eSIMData-only eSIMs are the easy route: buy before you fly; voice SIMs need a residence card.Japan-wide
- Tap waterSafe from the tap everywhere; stations and parks have fountains.Japan-wide
- TippingRestaurants and bars: No tip; staff will chase you to return money left on the table.Japan-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 100 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Japan-wide
- SafetyVery safe.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsFree, clean public toilets in stations, parks and konbini; paper goes in the toilet.Japan-wide
- Emergency numbers110 police · 119 fire and ambulance · 050-3816-2787 Japan Visitor Hotline (JNTO, 24 h, English) (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMuseums close on Mondays (Tuesday when Monday is a holiday); many family restaurants close one weekday, often Tuesday or Wednesday…Japan-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportNGO Chubu Centrair (Nagoya) (Meitetsu to Nagoya, then rail or car toward Yaotsu; about 90 min by car from Nagoya).
- Getting aroundYao Bus links Akeshi Station (Kani) to Yaotsu Honmachi in about 20 min for ¥300 (≈ US$3), but it does not serve the eastern or northern sides…
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Street or quick mealRamen bowlcheck¥950 (≈ US$7)
- Metro or bus rideYao Bus ride¥300 (≈ US$3)
- Museum or sight ticketMemorial hall entrycheck¥300 (≈ US$3) adults, free for children
- Budget bedFamily room (up to 4), a night, per room¥15,000 (≈ US$110)
- Mid-range bedSmall ryokan room, a night, per room¥14,000 (≈ US$95)
- High-end bedSmall ryokan room, a night, per room¥22,000 (≈ US$150)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget ¥6,000 (≈ US$45) · Mid ¥11,000 (≈ US$75) · High ¥20,000 (≈ US$140)
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 →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
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.
- Airports
- NGO Chubu Centrair (Nagoya) (Meitetsu to Nagoya, then rail or car toward Yaotsu; about 90 min by car from Nagoya) · KIX Kansai (Osaka) (Rail to Nagoya first, then onward; long transfer)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
not flagged
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
Feb
not flagged
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
Mar
Best
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
Apr
Best
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
May
Best
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
Jun
not flagged
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
Jul
Avoid
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Aug
Avoid
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Sep
not flagged
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
Oct
Best
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
Nov
Best
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
Dec
not flagged
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
Best: Mar–May, Oct–Nov. Avoid: Jul–Aug. Month by month →
Warmest Aug (33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)), coolest Jan (−1°C (30°F)30°F (−1°C) low), wettest Jul (13 rain days), driest Nov (7). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Yaotsu: 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 (48°F)48°F (9°C)
−1°C (30°F)30°F (−1°C)
8 rd
Feb
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
−1°C (30°F)30°F (−1°C)
8 rd
Mar
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
10 rd
Apr
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
10 rd
May
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
10 rd
Jun
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
12 rd
Jul
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
13 rd
Aug
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
10 rd
Sep
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
11 rd
Oct
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
8 rd
Nov
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
7 rd
Dec
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
1°C (34°F)34°F (1°C)
8 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Yao Bus links Akeshi Station (Kani) to Yaotsu Honmachi in about 20 min for ¥300, but it does not serve the eastern or northern sides, so the memorial hall and the falls need a car. Rental cars are available in Nakatsugawa (about 60 min) or Nagoya (about 90 min).
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Door to door: check
Car via Route 418 and the Nakasendo, or rail via Nagoya
Battlefield sites and museum; pairs well with a Yaotsu morning. Route and travel time: check.
Door to door: About 1.5 h
Car via Nakatsugawa, about 80 min
Old post town on the Nakasendo; walk the stone road toward Tsumago.
Door to door: About 2 h
Car via Mino-Ota and the Tokai-Hokuriku expressway, about 2 h
Too far for a comfortable return day; sleep there.
Door to door: About 1 h
Car or rail via Mino-Ota, about 1 h
Useful for connections and cormorant fishing in season, not a sight in itself.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Yaotsu Honmachi (town centre)
Bus stop, senbei shops, sake breweries and the two small inns; walkable core.
Gohou waterfall area
One inn near the falls, 5 km (3.1 mi) north of the centre; car needed.One inn near the falls, 3.1 mi (5 km) north of the centre; car needed.
Nagoya or Kiso Valley (outside town)
Most visitors sleep elsewhere and come in for the day; limited beds in Yaotsu.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- ¥6,000–10,000 (≈ US$45–70) excl. bed
- Mid
- ¥10,000–16,000 (≈ US$70–110) excl. bed
- High
- ¥16,000 (≈ US$110)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Small ryokan room1 × 1 night × ¥14,000 | ¥14,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × ¥11,000 | ¥22,000 |
| Rental car, one day1 × ¥7,000 · check | ¥7,000 |
| Yao Bus, Akeshi → Yaotsu Honmachi, one way2 × ¥300 | ¥600 |
| 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≈ ¥26,730 per person per day, bed included | ¥53,460≈ US$400 |
2026 estimate in yen; flights and rail passes excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Memorial hall entrycheck | ¥300 (≈ US$3) adults, free for children |
| Chinese-style soba at a local shopcheck | ¥530 (≈ US$4) |
| Ramen bowlcheck | ¥950 (≈ US$7) |
| Chestnut sweet (Kuri Kinton)Sold in sets of 10 | ¥170–220 (≈ US$2) |
| Sake, 720 ml bottlecheck | ¥2,000–3,500 (≈ US$14–25) |
| Yao Bus ride | ¥300 (≈ US$3) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- The memorial hall is not reachable by public transport: arrange a car or taxi.
- Yao Bus is the only public transport and does not cover the north or east of town.
- Many shops and restaurants close one day a week; check before you go.
- English is limited outside the memorial hall; signs there are Japanese, English and Hebrew.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 110
- Fire and ambulance
- 119
- Japan Visitor Hotline (JNTO, 24 h, English)
- 050-3816-2787
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
Yaotsu八百津町
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
- Japan Visitor Hotline (24 h, English)050-3816-2787
Embassy
No embassies in Yaotsu; most are in Tokyo, with consulates in Nagoya and Osaka.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Yao Bus Akeshi → Yaotsu Honmachi: ¥300 (≈ US$3), about 20 min
- Memorial hall entry: ¥300 (≈ US$3) adults, free for children (check)
- Rental car, one day: about ¥7,000 (≈ US$50) plus fuel (check)
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)
- 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)
- 遠いですか？ — Is it far? (tōi desu ka)
Cash is safer in small shops; cards work at the memorial hall and larger stores.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
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 Yaotsu. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Mar–May, Oct–Nov · avoid Jul–Aug (hot and humid), mid-August Obon · month by month →
- 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for NGO and KIX: last Meitetsu and rail departures field-checked, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
- Walking cluster for the centre: bus stop, senbei shops, breweries and the two inns.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (memorial hall, Gohou falls, Kamidaida terraces, Inaba-jo Park) and eat pages with last orders.
- Car-or-no-car fixtures so the memorial hall and the falls can go green only with a vehicle.
Sources
- officialYaotsu Town official website
- officialYaotsu Town Tourist Association
- officialChiune Sugihara Memorial Hall
- officialKani City — Yao Bus
- secondaryWikivoyage: Yaotsu, revision 5286233 (CC BY-SA 4.0)