Gifu Prefecture

A landlocked prefecture in central Japan, bordered by seven other prefectures and centered on the city of Gifu. Its mountainous north and broad southern plains give it sharply varied landscapes.

Shirakawa-go: A village in Gifu Prefecture known for traditional gassho-style farmhouses and a UNESCO-listed historic landscape. Its steep-roofed houses are the prefecture’s most recognizable rural landmark.
Chūbu region: A broad region of central Honshu that includes Gifu and several neighboring prefectures. Gifu is commonly grouped within this central Japanese region.
Gifu lantern: A lightweight Japanese paper lantern traditionally made in Gifu City using bamboo frames and handmade paper. It is a signature craft rooted in the prefectural capital.
Aichi Prefecture: A coastal prefecture in central Japan, home to Nagoya and bordered by Gifu to the north. Its urban, industrial profile contrasts with Gifu’s landlocked mountain landscapes.
Takayama: A city in Gifu Prefecture whose preserved merchant streets and festivals draw on its Edo-period heritage. Its old town illustrates the historic culture of northern Gifu.
Hida Province: A historical Japanese province corresponding largely to the northern part of present-day Gifu Prefecture. Its former territory helps explain the enduring identity of northern Gifu.
Mino ware: Japanese ceramics produced in Gifu Prefecture’s Tōnō region, including styles such as Oribe and Shino. Its pottery tradition connects regional clay resources with a major local industry.
Nagano Prefecture: A landlocked prefecture in central Japan, known for its mountains and bordering eastern Gifu. Both are mountainous, but Nagano lies east of Gifu and has no major coastal plain.
Gifu Castle: A hilltop castle overlooking the Nagara River in Gifu City, associated with the warlord Oda Nobunaga. Its strategic perch above the prefectural capital links local geography with Japanese unification.
Mino Province: A historical Japanese province corresponding largely to the southern part of present-day Gifu Prefecture. Its former territory underlies the distinct history of southern Gifu.

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