Volume 15Volume 15Volume 15Volume 15 Spring 2012 EditionSpring 2012 EditionSpring 2012 EditionSpring 2012 Edition

Gifu PrefectureGifu PrefectureGifu PrefectureGifu Prefecture Tourism and Event NewsletterTourism and Event NewsletterTourism and Event NewsletterTourism and Event Newsletter

Cherry Blossom SeasCherry Blossom SeasCherry Blossom SeasCherry Blossom Season!on!on!on!

As the snow cont inues to melt away, signs of the coming spring are ever

more apparent here in Gifu! I hope through this edit ion of “Gifu

Crossroads” that you get a taste of the fantast ic locales, sights, and

sounds of the Gifu spring! Of course, when it comes to spring in Japan, the

first thing that comes to mind is Japan’s beloved cherry blossom,

followed by the return of fresh green colors and fascinat ing fest ivals.

Here, I touch upon each of these as I introduce the spring season in Gifu!!

Lining both sides of the Shinsakai River are 1,200

cherry trees donated by a famous kabuki actor originally from the area. The area is

illuminated with soothing paper lanterns at night, and is one of the best places in

Japan to appreciate the sight of a cherry tree-lined river! Best t ime to see: April 8-14.

Soharaoshima-cho~Ozano-cho, Kakamigahara City ℡：+81-58-383-9925

Access: Meitetsu Shimin Koen-mae Stat ion�1min on foot

http://www.kakamigaharakanko.org/contents/2007/01/post_108.html (Jp.)

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Hyakujuro-zakura

Counted among Japan’s Three Great Cherry Trees is this

mammoth of a tree, the 1,500+ year-old Usuzumi-zakura that is said to be Japan’s second

oldest. Reputedly planted by the Keitai Emperor himself, it has a very unique color scheme: its

buds are pink, then the blossoms at full-bloom are white, and finally the falling blossoms at

the cycle’s end are a light gray that bring to mind thinned ink used in Japanese calligraphy.

Come stand in awe of this grand cherry tree! Best t ime to see: April 16-22. ℡：+81-58-323-7756

Illumination until 9:00pm http://www.city.motosu.lg.jp/sight/usuzumi/ (Jp.)

Neo Itasho, Motosu City Access: Tarumi Station (Tarumi Railway)�15min on foot

Usuzumi-zakura

From the entrance of the park to the famed Yoro Waterfall, the entire 2

kilometer-long path is lined with gorgeous cherry trees, making for a splendid area to take a

walk and take in the surrounding nature. The area turns a brilliant pink with the 3,000 cherry

trees, and is a fantast ic sight in day or night! Sitt ing along the river and gazing at the cherry

blossoms is also a national past ime you can enjoy here! Best t ime to see: April 15-22.

Yoro-cho Access: Yoro Station (Yoro Railway)�15min on foot

http://www.yoro-park.com/ (Jp.) ℡：+81-584-32-0501

Yoro Park

A natural habitat of wild cherry trees since long ago,

Kamagatani Valley boasts 1,500 cherry trees that, from afar, make the entire area look as if it

were shrouded in a pink mist. Make your way here, a place chosen as one of the 100 best cherry

blossom-viewing locations in all of Japan (along with a few others on this list) and dist inguished

by the fact that it is a natural habitat, which is in fact fairly rare! Best t ime to see: April 8-15.

Ikeda-cho, Ibi-gun Access: Ikeno Station (Yoro Railway)�40min on foot

http://www.town.ikeda.gifu.jp/kankou/kankou2/kankou2-1.htm (Jp.) ℡：+81-585-45-3111

Kamagatani Valley

Featuring a fearless, raw performance of tradit ional

Japanese taiko drums called “Okoshi-daiko,” meant to st ir your spirit and soul, the

Furukawa Fest ival also prides itself on gorgeous floats similar to those of the Takayama

Fest ival. Attending this event, a designated nat ional Intangible Folk Cultural Property, in

the old district of Furukawa really makes spectators feel like they have been pulled into

an old picture scroll! Date: April 19, 20 ℡：+81-577-74-1192

Streets of Furukawa-cho, Hida City Access: Close by JR Furukawa Station http://www.city.hida.gifu.jp/kanko/foreign/en/maturi/furukawa_matsuri/index.html

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Furukawa Festival

Also known as the “Sanno Fest ival,” the

Takayama Spring Fest ival (along with its autumn counterpart) is counted as one of

Japan’s Three Most Beaut iful Fest ivals. The 12 gorgeous floats paraded through town and

the hypnotizing karakuri marionette performances are the highlights of this treasured

event. Enjoy walking around Takayama’s Historical District as you get caught up in the

fest ival spirit! Date: April 14, 15 Shiroyama (Hie Shrine Area), Takayama City

Float parade: 9:30am-4:00pm Access: JR Takayama Stat ion�12min on foot http://www.hidanet.ne.jp/e02/ematsuri/eharu.htm ℡：+81-577-32-3333

Takayama Spring Festival

The Mino Festival is truly the kind of fest ival you can only f ind in a

place that is a historical center for Japanese paper. Of course, Mino City is the birthplace of the

famed Mino washi paper, and that fact is much celebrated through this fest ival! The portable

shrines that characterize Shinto fest ivals are decorated with Mino washi, creat ing unique,

eye-catching “flower shrines” that make the Mino Festival unlike any other! Date: April 14, 15

Hachiman Shrine, Udatsu no Agaru Machinami, Mino City Time: 9:00am-7:00pm

Access: Mino-shi Station (Nagaragawa Railway)�10min on foot ℡: +81-575-33-1122

http://www.mino-city.jp/en/tourist/fest ival01.html

Mino Festival

This fest ival is certainly one you will never

forget! With half-clothed men spiritedly heaving the portable shrine while 1,000

handheld fireworks erupt into flames all around them, the Tejikara Fire Fest ival is flashy,

energet ic, and one not to be missed! Date: April 14 Time: 2:30pm-7:00pm

Tejikarao Shrine, 6-8-22 Kuranomae, Gifu City ℡: +81-58-245-2520

Access: Tejikara Stat ion (Meitetsu Kakamigahara Line)�5min on foot

http://www.gifucvb.or.jp/en/02_event/02_02.html

Tejikara Fire Festival

The Gifu Prefecture Tourism Federat ion’s

foreign language websites have been completely revamped! In English as well as several other languages, a trove of

reliable information regarding travel in Gifu is now easily available to all who are interested! And new dest inat ions are

being added and edited all the t ime to ensure that you are gett ing up-to-date information…and lots of it! You can also

easily download fantast ic photographs of Gifu’s sights, so please have a look and take this chance to learn more about

GIFU, the Center of Japan! English website: http://travel.kankou-gifu.jp/en/

BIG NEWS!!BIG NEWS!!BIG NEWS!!BIG NEWS!!

FestivalsFestivalsFestivalsFestivals

At this ceramics fest ival, one of

the three largest in Japan, you can appreciate Mino yaki ceramics of all shapes, sizes, and

colors! Addit ionally, the best select ion of discounted ceramic goods you will f ind means

that you will really get your buck’s worth, so those with an interest in pottery should

absolutely make their way to this fest ival! Date: May 3-5 Time: 9:00am-5:00pm

Oribe Hills, Izumi Kitayama-cho, Toki City

Access: Shuttle bus from JR Toki Stat ion (North Exit) for the durat ion of the fest ival http://www.facebook.com/36tokiminoyakimaturi (Jp.) ℡:0572-55-1322

Toki Mino Ceramics Festival

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For quest ions, comments, or to unsubscribe, please contact c11334@pref.gifu.lg.jp. For more on tourism in Gifu Prefecture, please refer to the following: ☆☆☆☆ Gifu Crossroads Facebook Page ☆☆☆☆ http://www.facebook.com/pages/Gifu-Crossroads/165137586854382 Gifu Travel Guide http://travel.kankou-gifu.jp/en/ Chubu Wide-area Tourism Portal Site http://www.kandou10.jp/en/area/area05.html JNTO http://www.jnto.go.jp/ Publisher: Tourism Division, Tourism Exchange Promotion Office Department of Commerce, Labor, and Industry [TEL] +81-058-272-1111 (Ext. 3058) Gifu Prefectural Government [FAX] +81-058-278-2674 2-1-1 Yabuta-minami, Gifu City, GIFU 500-8570 [E-mail] q00869@govt.pref.gifu.jp

～～～～ Promotion #2: Making a Trip to Takayama Easier and More Affordable than Ever! Promotion #2: Making a Trip to Takayama Easier and More Affordable than Ever! Promotion #2: Making a Trip to Takayama Easier and More Affordable than Ever! Promotion #2: Making a Trip to Takayama Easier and More Affordable than Ever! ～～～～ Gifu Prefecture and the JR Central Japan Railway Company have teamed up to bring you an independent travel package to Takayama like no

other! 3 nights in Takayama + 2 nights in Nagoya + Takayama⇔Nagoya train pass + Nagoya⇔Kyoto (or Ise or Shizuoka) train pass + much

more! For detailed information, please refer to the following: http://www.japanican.com/tours/tourdetail.aspx?tc=GMT01NGOOVJSRTKA

～～～～ Promotion #1: A Flat Promotion #1: A Flat Promotion #1: A Flat Promotion #1: A Flat----Rate Rental Car Pass Perfect for Free and Easy Trips! Rate Rental Car Pass Perfect for Free and Easy Trips! Rate Rental Car Pass Perfect for Free and Easy Trips! Rate Rental Car Pass Perfect for Free and Easy Trips! ～～～～ Gifu Prefecture, Central Nippon Expressway, and TOYOTA Rent a Car have created the “G-Pass,” a flat-rate pass that allows drivers of a Toyota

rental car from Central Japan Internat ional Airport to drive unlimited on designated highways for a 7-day period! The f irst such pass in Honshu,

the G-Pass (7,000 or 9,000 yen) makes driving in the central Japan area a breeze, even for those unfamiliar with Japan’s expressway system!

Applicat ions accepted unt il June 24. Come enjoy the sights of Gifu! http://global.c-nexco.co.jp/en/whatsnew/20120221-2.html

Start oStart oStart oStart of the Season!f the Season!f the Season!f the Season! Designated as one of Gifu Prefecture’s “Brand New Treasures,” the Osaka Falls region in Gero opened to the public in 2012 on March 25! Formed many thousands of years ago by an erupt ion of nearby Mt. Ontake, this region brims with more waterfalls than any other area of Japan! Each one has its own unique characterist ics, which makes touring the grounds a refreshing experience with a new sight around every corner! From beginner to expert, there are courses of various difficulty levels—something for everybody!http://www.osaka-taki.com/ (Jp.) ℡:0576-62-2215 Osaka-cho, Gero City Access: JR Hida Osaka Stat ion�14min by Nohi bus

Touring Osaka Falls

This ceremony has

been carried out on the waters of the Nagara River, with Gifu Castle and Mt. Kinka looming in the

background, for 1,300 years! The old f ishing method, using cormorants to catch fish guided only by a

blazing torch at the bow of the boat, continues to be performed and continues to wow spectators to

this day! Come see what all the fuss is about! Price: Adults- 3,000-3,300yen; Children- 2,600-2,900yen

Date: May 11-October 15 Time: 6:45pm- Access: JR/Meitetsu Gifu Station�bus to “Nagara-bashi”

Minato-machi 1-2, Gifu City http://www.gifucvb.or.jp/en/01_sightseeing/01_01.html ℡:058-262-0104

Cormorant Fishing on the Nagara River

Begun to commemorate the reconstruct ion of the

Hachiman Shrine, the Ogaki Fest ival boasts unique fest ival floats called “Yama,”

some of which have small stages attached. These floats are the main attract ion, and

the spectacle of children dancing on the stages gives the fest ival a very dist inct feel!

Date: May 12, 13 Time: 9:00am-7:00pm ℡：0584-81-4111

Hachiman Shrine, By JR Ogaki Stat ion, etc. Access: JR Ogaki Stat ion�6min on foot

http://www.ogakikanko.jp/english/calendar/index.html

※In related news, on April 8th

, the “Oku no Hosomichi Musubi no Chi Memorial Hall,”

celebrat ing famed haiku poet Matsuo Basho and his legendary journey “Narrow Road

to the Deep North,” which he ended in Ogaki, is opening! Come join in the fest ivit ies from 9:30am to 3:00pm! http://www.city.ogaki.lg.jp/0000013321.html (Jp.)

Ogaki Festival