This volume will be a double-issue, covering both the end of this year (December) and the beginning of the next (January)! When one thinks of winter, inevitably the image of snow will pop up in one’s head, perhaps even the image of snow blanketing the beautiful village of Shirakawa-go! Indeed, Gifu Prefecture is a snow heaven, from said Shirakawa-go to the many ski slopes of Gujo and much more! There is much to see and do in Gifu in the wintertime, from the many illuminations to more traditional Japanese festivals, so please come join in the merriment!!

Making a trip to Takayama easier and more affordable than ever! Gifu Prefecture and the JR Central Japan Railway Company continue to bring you an independent travel package to Takayama like no other! 3 nights in Takayama and 2 nights in Nagoya PLUS round-trip train tickets from Nagoya to Takayama PLUS round-trip tickets to Kyoto or Ise or Shizuoka (your choice of 1 of these 3) PLUS more! For detailed information about this jam-packed travel option, please refer to the following webpage: http://japanican.com/tours/list.aspx?kw=stayrailtakahaku

Bringing a close to 2012 are the fabulous winter musical fireworks that light up the sky above the streets of Gero Hot Spring! Some of the most talented pyrotechnicians in the country will be bringing their best to please your eyes and ears with spectacular fireworks set to music! On the 24th, they will unveil a special Christmas edition of the firework performance, which will feature more Christmas-related and classic songs and will be even greater in scale than the others! In addition, ushering in the new year are fireworks set-off every Saturday from January to March! Time: December→ 8:00-8:15 PM (until 8:30 PM on the 24th) January-March→ 8:30-8:40 PM Upriver side of the Gero Ohashi Bridge, Gero City (January-March: Downriver side) Getting there: 3-minute walk from JR Gero Station ℡：+81-576-24-2222 http://www.city.gero.lg.jp/kankou/data/language/e/event.html

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The most eagerly-attended event of the year in Shirakawa-go, this illumination showcases the beauty of the village, its unique thatched-roof houses, and the pure-white snow that this region sees so much of! The image of the magnificent roofs covered with meters of snow above the dimly lit house windows is one of the prides of Gifu Prefecture, so come visit the village during its most“Shirakawa-go-like”season! Time: 5:30-7:30 PM Getting there: 50-minute bus (Nohi Bus) ride from the Takayama Nohi Bus Center Ogimachi, Shirakawa-mura, Ono-gun ℡；+81-5769-6-1013 ※Note: Please confirm ahead of time the availability of public transportation after the conclusion of the illumination http://lightup.asia/schedule/ (JPN)

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The old quarter of Hida Takayama takes on a even more surreal ambience during the wintertime! Of all the sights in the area, perhaps most striking is the red Nakabashi bridge covered with glittering white snow as it is illuminated above the Miya River! Time: 5:00-9:30 PM Around the Nakabashi Bridge, Shinmei-machi, Takayama City Getting there; 12-minute walk from JR Takayama Station http://www.hida.jp/english/events/event-calendar/event-calendar-december ℡：+81-577-32-3333

At the Hida Folk Village, houses of many kinds built hundreds of years ago have been preserved and restored. Among these are gassho-zukuri thatched roof houses made famous by Shirakawa-go, but there are many others that are just as old and that illustrate the history and lifestyles of the people of the Hida region. These grand houses create a beautiful sight when illuminated during the snowy winter, making the village seem even more like a place out of time! Additionally, the illumination during December is Christmas-themed, and multi-colored lights shining upon the houses produce a uniquely festive atmosphere! Time: 5:30-9:00 PM http://www.hida.jp/english/events/event-calendar/event-calendar-january 1-590 Kamioka Motomachi, Takayama City Admission: ¥300(adults); ¥100 (children) Getting there; 10-minute bus (Sarubobo Bus) or taxi ride from JR Takayama Station ℡：+81-577-34-4711

It is said that “the cold breeds good sake,” and Takayama certainly has a lot of both! With harsh winter weather and blessed by an abundance of cold, pure water, Takayama is home to 6 sake breweries that produce delicious, distinctive sake. During the winter, these breweries take turns opening their doors and allowing the public a glimpse into their sake-making process as well as a free taste of the final product! Time: 10:00 AM–4:00 PM (except between noon and 1:00 PM) Jan.17-23: Kawashiri Sake Brewery Jan.24-30: Niki Sake Brewery Jan.31-Feb.6: Hirase Sake Brewery Feb.7-13: Funasaka Sake Brewery Feb.14-20: Hirata Sake Brewery Feb.21-27: Oita Sake Brewery Kami-ichinomachi and elsewhere, Takayama City http://www.hida.jp/english/events/sake-brewery Getting there: Within a 15-minute walk from JR Takayama Station ℡：+81-577-32-3333

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The idyllic town of Hida Furukawa boasts many of the most unique and interesting festivals in all of Gifu Prefecture, including the Santera Mairi. Dating back for over 300 years, this “pilgrimage” to the three Buddhist temples in town took on new meaning within the last 150 years, when it became known as a festival where young men and women find love, with the help of the gods, of course! To this day, many young people make their way to this festival to pray for luck in marriage for the next year. Aside from visiting the three temples, there are many other charms to this festival, from the giant Japanese candles and giant snow candles that line the snowy streets to the lanterns floated along the Seto River to the 1000 candles that line the river, placed there by visitors who are either praying for fortune in love (white candles) or are giving thanks for love found in the last year (red candles)! Come dressed in a kimono and enjoy the warm, charming atmosphere that all these lights bring to the town of Furukawa! ※Kimono rental: Reservation required (contact the Hida Tourism Association at the below telephone number); Fitting: 3:00-8:00 PM (return kimono by 9:00 PM); Price: ¥2,000 Streets of Furukawa-cho, Hida City Getting there; 5-minute walk from JR Furukawa Station http://www.hida-kankou.jp/kanko/foreign/en/maturi/santera/index.html ℡：+81-577-74-1192

During the winter at Bokka no Sato, you can enjoy a variety of activities that take full advantage of what the season offers as well as opportunities to interact with animals! From sledding to snowtubing, snow-centric activities are great for those who don’t see much snow where they live, and during the “Snowshoe tour through the snowy expanse,” you can try tracking animal footprints in the snow, looking for winter tree buds, and other things that connect you to the white, natural world around you! (¥3,000 for the 1-hour tour) Time: 10:00 AM-3:30 PM (open only on weekends, Mondays, and holidays) Admission: ¥500 (junior high school students and older), ¥250 (4 year-olds to elementary school students) 2756-2 Washimi, Takasu-cho, Gujo City Getting there: 4 minutes by car from the Hirugano Kogen Smart IC on the Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway http://www.bokka.co.jp/frn/index.php ℡：+81-575-73-2888

Publisher: Tourism Division, Tourism Exchange Promotion Office Department of Commerce, Labor and Industry Tel:+81-58-272-1111 (Ext.3058) Gifu Prefectural Government Fax:+81-58-278-2674 2-1-1 Yabuta-minami, Gifu City, GIFU 500-8570 Email: q00869@pref.gifu.lg.jp

For questions, comments, or to unsubscribe, please contact c11334@pref.gifu.lg.jp For more on tourism in Gifu Prefecture, please refer to the following resources:

☆ Gifu Crossroads Facebook Page ☆ Gifu Travel Guide http://www.facebook.com/pages/Gifu-Crossroads/165137586854382 http://travel.kankou-gifu.jp/en/ ☆ Gifu Crossroads Blog ☆ Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) http://gifucrossroads.wordpress.com/ http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/ Central Japan Tourism Promotion Association http://go-centraljapan.jp/en/area/gifu/index.html

Gujo City is home to 11 ski resorts to which skiers and snowboarders flock from far and wide! Of these 11, two of them, located right next to each other on the same mountain, form the largest ski resort in all of western Japan with a total of 18 courses! Called “Dynaland” and “Takasu Snow Park,” these resorts have mildly sloped courses, 3,200 meter-long courses, and everything in between. From complete beginners to experienced veterans, everyone can enjoy winter sports here in Gujo, so stop by while visiting Gifu! Time: 8:00 AM-4:30 PM (from 5:00 AM on weekends and holidays) Price: 1-day multi-resort pass (covering both Dynaland and Takasu)→ ¥4,800 (adults), ¥2,000 (children) 3035-2 Nishibora, Takasu-cho, Gujo City (Dynaland), 3086-1 Nishibora, Takasu-cho, Gujo City (Takasu) Getting there: 10 minutes by car from the Takasu IC on the Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway ℡：+81-575-72-6636 (Dynaland), +81-575-72-7000 (Takasu) http://eng.gujokankou.com/genre_list-33.html

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