Gifu Castle

What to know before visiting Gifu Castle

Must-Visit Attractions near Gifu Castle

1. Gifu Park

Located at the base of Mt. Kinka in Gifu City, it is a public park with museums, ornamental gardens, statues, and the ropeway station to the mountain's peak. Also known as Gifu Ken park, you can see here Gifu's museums, the preserved site of Nobunaga's grand residence called Senjo-jiki ("thousand tatami mats"), the cable car station to Mt. Kinka's summit, alongside statues, a Japanese garden, a pagoda, ponds, and memorials.

2. Kato Eizo-Toichi Memorial Art Museum

The Eizo and Toichi Kato Memorial Art Museum, founded in 1991, honors the art of local painters Eizo and Toichi Kato. The brothers, sons of a lacquerware worker, studied at the Tokyo Fine Arts School in Ueno. Visit the museum to see their famous paintings of Gifu Prefecture's flowers, wildlife, the Nagara River's cormorants, and Mt. Kinka's nature.

3. Gifu City Museum of History

Discover the captivating history of the castle, city, and Gifu region at this museum. With rotating exhibitions, it shows the prefecture's history from the Jomon Period to modern times. Explore early history, the Sengoku (Warring States) era, and traditional arts like Gifu's famous paper umbrellas and lanterns.

4. Nawa Insect Museum

The Nawa Insect Museum, an extraordinary creation by The Insect Man, has over 300,000 stunning specimens that children adore. As Japan's largest insect museum, it showcases a captivating collection of 12,000 species. If you're traveling with kids, this is the perfect educational experience for you and your family!

5. Kano Castle

Visit the well-preserved Honmaru of Kano Castle in Kano Park, admire the grand castle walls, and wander through the tall mounds of earth. You can pair your visit with Gifu Castle for a historical tour of interconnected castles.

Tips for Your Gifu Castle Visit

When is the best time to visit Gifu Castle?

Plan your visit to Gifu Castle during the cooler months to enjoy the hike up the mountain and the panoramic views without the scorching heat. Spring and autumn give you pleasant weather for exploring the historical sites.

How to go to Gifu Castle?

You can go to Gifu Castle by hiking the trails on Mount Kinkazan or taking the Mt. Kinka ropeway from Gifu Park. Convenient bus services from JR Gifu Station or Meitetsu Gifu Station provide easy transportation to the castle. Check the operating hours for day and night viewing experiences.

How do you get around Gifu?

You can take the Meitetsu-run Gifu Bus or JR Bus to get around central Gifu. JR passes are accepted on JR buses. Gifu Park, where the castle and other popular sites are located, is about a 45 minute walk from Gifu Station, so most travelers choose to take a bus. Buses to the area run about every 10 minutes.