Gujo-Hachiman
郡上八幡35°45′ N 136°58′ ETownGifu and Hida
Gujo-Hachiman suits a slow walk along spring-fed waterways and a night in a rented townhouse, and it sits on the way north to the Okumino ski areas. The trade-off is that the Gujo Odori, which is what the town is known for, belongs to summer.
Photo Isoyan · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0 and others, credited in the gallery
Who should base here
Stay in a rented machiya on a quiet lane to see the castle lit up from the bedroom window. Bizenya ryokan is 35 minutes by car from Washigatake and 50 minutes from Dynaland, which makes it a calm base for a ski day.
Eat in Gujo-Hachiman
Gujo-Hachiman is a castle town in the middle of Gifu where water runs in channels beside the streets, and the tourism office says you hear it wherever you walk. Sogi-sui spring is on Japan's list of 100 famous waters, and the Kitamachi quarter is a national preservation district for traditional buildings. The castle on the hill was rebuilt in 1933 and has stood over the town for more than 90 years since.
The Gujo Odori has gone on for more than 400 years, and at Obon the town dances all night. Out of season the Gujo Hachiman Hakurankan museum, which fills a Taisho-era tax office, puts on the dance on set days and times. The tourism office puts Nagoya, Takayama, Gifu and Gero each about an hour away.
Worth knowing
- Check the Hakurankan's schedule before you go, since the dance demonstrations run only on certain days.
- Book the machiya stays early for dance nights, when the price goes up to ¥35,000 a night.
Quick answers about Gujo-Hachimanよくある質問
What is the Gujo Odori?
The Gujo Odori is Gujo-Hachiman's summer dance, which has gone on for more than 400 years. At Obon the town dances through the night, and the Hakurankan museum shows the dance on set days during the rest of the year.
Is Gujo-Hachiman a good place to stay?
Stay in a rented machiya on a quiet lane to see the castle lit up from the bedroom window. Bizenya ryokan is 35 minutes by car from Washigatake and 50 minutes from Dynaland, which makes it a calm base for a ski day.
Within 12 km
Places to stay nearby宿
Within 12 km