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.
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.
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), Golden Week
- Airports
- NGO · NKM
- Nights
- 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 Gifu110 ▾
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 Gifu, 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
- SafetyGifu is a low-risk city; the real issues are summer heat, the steep Mt.
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 (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 trains run direct to Meitetsu Gifu about three times an hour, roughly 1 h…
- Getting aroundGifu 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.
Cost cheat-sheet
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 km (3 mi)Taxi, about 3 mi (5 km)5 km (3.1 mi) taxi3.1 mi (5 km) taxi2026 estimate; late-night surcharge after 22:00.2026 estimate; late-night surcharge after 10:00 PM.¥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 →
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 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.)
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
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
Jun
not flagged
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
Jul
Avoid
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Aug
Avoid
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Sep
not flagged
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
Oct
Best
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
Nov
Best
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
Dec
not flagged
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
Best: Mar–May, Oct–Nov. Avoid: Jul–Aug. Month by month →
Warmest Aug (33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)), coolest Jan (0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C) low), wettest Jul (13 rain days), driest Jan (7). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
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 (48°F)48°F (9°C)
0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C)
7 rd
Feb
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C)
7 rd
Mar
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
9 rd
Apr
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
9 rd
May
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
10 rd
Jun
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
12 rd
Jul
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
13 rd
Aug
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
10 rd
Sep
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
11 rd
Oct
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
8 rd
Nov
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
7 rd
Dec
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
7 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
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.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Sekigahara
goDoor 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)
goDoor 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
overnightDoor 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.
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
overnightDoor 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
cautionDoor 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
skipDoor 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 & 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.
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.
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
- ¥6,500–10,000 (≈ US$45–70) excl. bed
- Mid
- ¥10,000–17,000 (≈ US$70–120) excl. bed
- High
- ¥17,000 (≈ US$120)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| 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 22:00.2026 estimate; late-night surcharge after 10:00 PM. | ¥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
- Cormorant fishing runs May 11–Oct 15 only; boats board from about 18:00 and the show ends by 21:00.Cormorant fishing runs May 11–Oct 15 only; boats board from about 6:00 PM and the show ends by 9:00 PM.
- 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
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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 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 Gifu. 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), Golden Week · 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
- 7 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: last Meitetsu departures field-checked, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
- Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: JR and Meitetsu stations, Yanagase, Gifu Park and Mt. Kinka, the Nagara riverbank.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (Gifu Castle, Shōhō-ji, Nawa Insect Museum, Museum of Fine Arts) and eat pages with last orders.
- Ukai season fixtures so the May–October window and boat boarding times can go green.
Sources
- officialGifu City official site
- officialGifu Convention and Visitors Bureau
- officialNagoya Airport (Komaki)
- secondaryWikivoyage: Gifu, revision 5165643 (CC BY-SA 4.0)