Gifu

About Gifu

Gifu Prefecture covers about 10,621.29 sq km, seventh largest in Japan, and about 1.88 million residents (about 1.92 million April 2024 estimate) with Gifu City as capital 400,000 people, located in Tokai, Chubu, bordering seven prefectures: Aichi, Nagano, Toyama, Ishikawa, Fukui, Shiga, Mie, entirely landlocked with no coastline. Terrain splits into Hida north with 3,000 m class Hida Mountains and Mt. Ontake 3,067 m active volcano, and Mino south with Nobi Plain and Kiso Three Rivers Kiso, Nagara, Ibi forming low-lying waju polders below sea level, famous for flood control Domen, elevation difference 3,200 m. Name Gifu reportedly chosen 1567 by Oda Nobunaga after capturing Inabayama Castle, combining Ki from Mt. Qishan where Zhou dynasty rose and Fu from Qufu birthplace of Confucius, praying for peaceful learning land, only prefecture name derived from China. Historically area was Mino and Hida provinces, Sengoku center where Saito Dosan, Akechi Mitsuhide originated. Formed in 1871 Haihan-chiken from Ogaki, Kasamatsu Prefectures and enlarged 1872 with part of Chikuma, later additions of Kiso border villages in 2005 changing Nagano-Gifu border first time since Meiji. Climate complex: northern Hida and part of Mino have Sea of Japan snow with special heavy snow zones Shirakawa Village, Takayama upper reach heavy snow designated, most of Mino has Pacific climate, parts show Central Highland character. Winter sees dry Ibuki-oroshi wind west causing sharp cold in western Gifu, while eastern Mino Tajimi often records Japan's highest temperatures, 40.9 C in 2007 and 41.0 C in Gero Kanayama 2018 exceeding Kumagaya. Industry manufacturing-driven with large shipments automotive and aerospace parts centered in Chukyo Industrial Zone including Kakamigahara aerospace Mitsubishi, production machinery, plastics, cutlery in Seki supplying 50 percent domestic cutlery with 800-year sword tradition, ceramics Tajimi Mino ware 50 percent domestic ceramics. Agriculture Hida beef one of Japan's top wagyu raised mountain pastures, Enna hoshigaki dried persimmons. Tourism highlights World Heritage Shirakawa-go gassho-zukuri steep 60-degree roofs against snow, Takayama old town Sanmachi with morning markets farm produce cherry sake, Takayama Festival with ornate floats, Gero Onsen one of Japan's Three Great Hot Springs alkaline smooth water skin beauty, Gifu Castle on Mt. Kinka where Nobunaga aimed unification, Ukai cormorant fishing on Nagara River UNESCO intangible heritage, Magome-juku post town on Nakasendo stone paving with views, Seki Sword tradition. Geographic center of Japan at Nihon no Mannaka lies in Seki City. Tourism and industry coexist with deep cultural traditions preserved for centuries offering visitors nature, history, and cuisine year-round.