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.
- 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.
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.
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.
- 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 (≈ US$19) 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 →
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)
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°C48°F
−1°C30°F
8 rd
Feb
10°C50°F
−1°C30°F
8 rd
Mar
14°C57°F
2°C36°F
10 rd
Apr
20°C68°F
7°C45°F
10 rd
May
24°C75°F
12°C54°F
10 rd
Jun
27°C81°F
17°C63°F
12 rd
Jul
31°C88°F
21°C70°F
13 rd
Aug
33°C91°F
22°C72°F
10 rd
Sep
28°C82°F
18°C64°F
11 rd
Oct
22°C72°F
12°C54°F
8 rd
Nov
16°C61°F
5°C41°F
7 rd
Dec
11°C52°F
1°C34°F
8 rd
High / low °C°F · rd = rain days
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).
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 & 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 north of the centre; car needed.One inn near the falls, 3.1 mi 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.
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 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)