WELCOME TO GIFU PREFECTURE, JAPAN

Welcome to Japan and to Gifu Prefecture (岐阜県,). Gifu Prefecture is a Japanese state that is located in the Chūbu or central region of Honshū, Japan’s main island. There are both cities and quaint, picturesque villages here, and our capital city is also called Gifu. Our area has long played an important role as the “crossroads” of Japan, connecting the eastern part of the land to the western part by way of such routes as the Nakasendō (one of the two routes during Japan’s Edo Period that connected the Tokugawa Shogun government in Edo (now Tokyo) with the Imperial Court in Kyoto). During Japan’s Sengoku Period, or the “Warring States Period” (mid-15th century to the beginning of the 17th century), it was said “control Gifu and you control Japan”

The area is beautiful mountains, valleys, rivers and streams, steeped in nature as well as Japanese history, art, and culture. This is where we live, work, teach, play, and raise our family. We hope you will visit us here often and we try to show you just some of what makes Gifu Prefecture such a wonderful and scenic place to live and to visit, and we hope that someday, you will also come to pay a visit our fantastic state.