Gifu Castle

Gifu Castle (Gifu-jo) was built by Lord Nikaido, who governed this region back at the beginning of the 13th century. In the 16th century, the daimyo Saito Dosan became the governor, and he carried out repairs to the castle and built the donjon. The Saito family was subsequently overthrown by Oda Nobunaga, and its name was changed to Gifu Castle after Nobunaga moved in. It was destroyed by fire in 1943 in WWII. The existing four-tiered donjon was built in 1956. It houses the local museum and the top floor is an observatory. The site of the rice storehouse and the stone walls remind us of how the place would have looked when the castle was built.

Hachiman Castle

Hachiman Castle (Hachiman-jo) was built around the middle of the 16th century by Lord Endo, who governed this region. Subsequently it changed hands frequently due to war. Major restorations were carried out, and the outworks and outermost outworks of the castle were prepared. The castle was ultimately demolished (as it symbolized the political power of samurai) when power changed over from the Edo shogunate to the Meiji government. The existing donjon was built in 1933, modeled on that of Ogaki Castle. The streets of Gujo-Hachiman can be seen quite clearly from the donjon.

Kamioka Castle

Kamioka Castle (Kamioka-jo) was built in 1564 by Yamagata Masakage, who served under the 16th century daimyo Takeda Shingen. The castle was demolished at the end of the 17th century due to a law enacted by the ruling shogunate in Edo which stated that only one castle would be allowed per domain governed by a daimyo, but such things as stone fortresses remain as they were at the site of the castle. In 1970, the two-tiered, three-storied donjon was reconstructed. Arms and armour are displayed in the castle tower.

Ogaki Castle

Ogaki Castle (Ogaki-jo) came to be a full-scale defensive structure when the already existing fortress was expanded around the middle of the 16th century. In 1585, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who was ruling Japan, recognized the strategic importance of the site, and had the donjon built. Besides the four-tiered, four-storied donjon, there are many turrets and castle gates, and the donjon was designated a National Treasure in 1936. It was destroyed by fire, however, in the air raids of 1945 during WWII. The existing donjon was rebuilt in 1959. It houses a museum on the first to third floors, which exhibits various information on this region and has a space for children dedicated to the theme of science. The fourth floor is an observation level.

Shoho-ji Temple

Shoho-ji is located in Daibutsu-cho, Gifu-shi, in Gifu Prefecture. A great image of Buddha was erected at the temple early in the 19th century in memory of those who lost their lives to earthquakes and epidemics. At 13.7 m, it ranks in size alongside the great images of Buddha in Nara and Kamakura. The image differs from these others, however, on one major point: it is dry-lacquered. A shortage of funds forced its builders to construct it from a framework of wood and bamboo, covered in Japanese paper thickly coated with clay on which sutras were written; and then it was lacquered and gilded. As it reminds the viewer of a bamboo-work basket, people call it the "Basket Buddha Image."

Gifu paper lanterns

Gifu-chochin paper lanterns were first produced in present-day Gifu Prefecture in the mid-18th century. The term Gifu paper lanterns encompasses o-uchi andon (lamp stands), rotating andon, andon that can adopt various shapes, and decorative lanterns. Paper lanterns are a form of portable lighting used in bygone days, and an abundance of the materials used in lantern-making, washi paper and bamboo, allowed production of large volumes of lanterns here. Gifu paper lanterns had taken the form we see today by the first half of the 19th century, and are used widely throughout Japan for decorative use. They are seen at the O-bon festival and Noryosai (Evening Cooling Festival), both held in summer. Gifu paper lanterns were designated a traditional craft in 1995.

Hida Shunkei lacquer

Shunkei lacquer is said to have begun with the lacquer craftsman Shunkei of Izumi Sakai (now the city of Sakai in Osaka) between the 14th and 15th centuries. Tradition has it that Hida-shunkei was first made at the beginning of the 16th century when the lacquer craftsman Narita San'emon coated a tray presented as a gift by the carpenter Takahashi Kizaemon from the current Hida region of Gifu Prefecture. Hida-shunkei lacquer work is characterized by the simple beauty of bark from trees such as Japanese cypress, sawara cypress and Japanese horse chestnut, and a coating technique using a slightly transparent light yellow lacquer. Tiered boxes, trays, vases, tea service utensils, confectionery dishes and other items are now produced in the city of Takayama, Gifu Prefecture and the surrounding regions. Hida-shunkei lacquerware was designated a traditional craft in 1975.

Ichii Itto carving (yew carving)

Ichii-itto-bori carving is a woodcraft technique that involves carving yew wood using only chisels, and was developed by a netsuke master, Matsuda Sukenaga, who came from the Hida region of Gifu Prefecture. Ichii-itto carving is characterized by a fine grain, because the growth rings of the yew are very fine. The wood is left uncolored in order to highlight this grain. These days products include ornaments, masks, relief sculptures, and small accessories such as bolo ties. Ichii-itto carving was designated a traditional craft in 1975.

Mino ware

An abundance of clay, the raw material for pottery, is found in the Mino region of Gifu Prefecture, giving rise to a centuries-old tradition of pottery. Tradition has it that kilns were built by the 7th century for firing Sue ware, with the region developing into one of the world's largest centers of ceramics production. Even today, the region produces over 60% of the nation's Japanese tableware. Mino-yaki ware was designated a traditional craft in 1988.