Ultimate Gujo Hachiman Travel Guide: Things to Do in Japan’s Hidden Edo Town!
Gujo Hachiman is a town off the beaten path that is definitely worth a visit!
Gujo Hachiman is a quaint little town located in Japan’s Gifu prefecture, here you can find the idyllic Gujo Hachiman Castle, crystal clear streams clean enough for Japanese Carp to swim through, Architecture still reminiscent of the Edo period, and the birth place of Japanese replica food models, Sampuru.
The best part is, Gujo Hachiman is like a hidden gem as many tourists overlook this charming town, I came here for a one day trip and let me tell you, if you want to experience all the wonderful charms and atmosphere of Edo Japan without the crowded tourists, Gujo Hachiman is the place for you!
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How to Travel to Gujo Hachiman
You’ll be able to explore old historical alleys like this all throughout town
Gujo Hachiman is located a loooong way from Tokyo, approximately 5 hours by train and by car. The closest major city to Gujo Hachiman is Nagoya.
So I would recommend you make your way to Nagoya first, tour around and check out the Nabana no Sato Illumination, after that take a day trip or an overnight stay to Gujo Hachiman.
From Nagoya to Gujo Hachiman is roughly 1 or 2 hours depending on your mode of transportation:
Car - A 83km drive from the center of Nagoya to Gujo Hachiman. I would not recommend this option as the roads leading to Gujo Hachiman is very mountainous and the drive can be dangerous for those unfamiliar with the route. This option takes about 1 hour.
Bus - There are a few highway busses operated by Gifu Bus that you can take from Nagoya’s Meitetsu Bus Center and get off at Gujo Jokamachi Plaza which is located in the center of Gujo Hachiman. A one way trip costs 2,260 JPY while a round trip costs 4,100 JPY. You can double check the timetable and book tickets at the official Gifu Bus Website. This option takes about an hour.
I know there isn’t a lot of transportation options to choose from, and it is quite cumbersome, but the easiest way is definitely via the highway bus.
*Note that if you have JR Rail Pass, it is not applicable to the above transports.
Top 3 Gujo Hachiman Accomodations
Miharaya Ryokan
Trust me, sleeping on the floor is not as bad as it may sound
Situated along the banks of the Yoshida River, Miharaya Ryokan provides and excellent and authentic style Japanese inn experience, complete with a multi-course dinner. Of course you can’t have a Ryokan without an onsen hot spring bath which Miharaya Ryokan has.
Located near Gujo Hachiman Castle, Miharaya Ryokan is in a great place.
Google Maps Rating: 4.1 / 5 (88 Reviews)
Location: 266 Hachimancho Yanagimachi, Gujo, Gifu 501-4214, Japan
Hotel Gujo Hachiman
Anyone up for some traditional Japanese style dinners?
While Hotel Gujo Hachiman is not the highest rated hotel in town it does get the job done and is quite a popular option among many visitors, being the most popular hotel in the area.
While the hotel is clean and the staff is friendly, the main drawback is that the building is quite old and not well maintained.
However, if you want to stay in a cheap place that is located near a bus stop, Hotel Gujo Hachiman is a good place for you.
Google Maps Rating: 3.6 / 5 (565+ Reviews)
Location: 208 Hachimancho Yoshino, Gujo, Gifu 501-4206, Japan
Hotel Sekisuien
A modern and comfortable hotel in the middle of an old Edo style town, nice
The rooms at Hotel Sekisuien are very spacious and modern complete with great views. The location is located halfway up a mountain so it can be a bit difficult to reach. Other than that, the hotel is located right next to the Gujo Hachiman Castle.
Other than that minor gripe, the service and staff is top notch, with great delicious food, as well as clean and comfortable rooms.
Google Maps Rating: 3.9 / 5 (275+ Reviews)
Location: Japan, 〒501-4214 Gifu, Gujo, Hachimancho Yanagimachi, 511-2 511番地2
Exploring Gujo Hachiman
The streets of Gujo Hachiman are so peaceful
Like I said before, Gujo Hachiman is seriously a hidden gem, you’ll notice as you walk through the streets of this peaceful town that all all of the buildings still retain the old Edo Japan style architecture, albeit modernized to modern safety standards.
That’s because Gujo Hachiman is a town constructed in the 16th century following the completion of the Gujo Hachiman Castle. Many years have passed but much of it’s historical DNA still remains.
You’ll find vintage paraphernalia like this all over town
Gujo Hachiman is known for 3 things:
The epicenter for the production of replica food models (the ones you see on display outside of literally every restaurant in Japan)
The famous and whimsical Gujo Odori Dance Festival that takes places annually during July - September
The gorgeously clean and pristine water ways that flow through the city complete with live swimming Japanese carp
And with the town being located high atop the mountains, the atmosphere is really something else. I arrived at Gujo Hachiman during mid day and even then there was still some morning fog hugging the trees in the distant mountains.
A large sign telling us about the Gujo Odori Dance Festival
With the town being located on a high elevation surrounded by mountains and next to the Nagara river, the atmosphere and weather at Gujo Hachiman is really peaceful.
I arrived at the town during mid day and even then, there was still fog that was enveloping the trees in the surrounding mountains. I went during the winter seasons however, I’d assume that the atmosphere would be totally different and more vibrant during the summer.
The town is built on top the Nagaragawa River
Strolling through the streets of the town, I could clearly see the humble nature its inhabitants. The people here are friendly and welcoming, it’s a very different environment to say Tokyo or Osaka.
The people of Japan have a very close connection with nature, and at Gujo Hachiman you’ll be able to see glimpses of that lifestyle that harkens back to the traditional ways of living in the Edo period.
While the town is historical in nature, some aspects of modernity is present
Gujo Hachiman isn’t a big town, so I would recommend a day trip or a single overnight stay here, you can comfortably explore all the major points of interests in about 2 days.
Things to Do in Gujo Hachiman
While Gujo Hachiman may be an inconspicuous little town, there is no shortage of interesting things to do and discover.
The Cheerful Gujo Odori Dance Festival
It must be comfortable letting people carry you around like that
The Gujo Odori Dance Festival is an annual event that takes place from roughly July to September and is designated as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List in 2022, so you know it’s something very important!
Originally, the Gujo Odori festival started at the end of the Edo Period in an attempt to unite and build a community with the local towns folk. This of course was a success and you can see that the spirit of that tradition remains strong to this very day.
These festivals are one of three of the most important traditional dance festivals that are practice throughout Japan, but the one Gujo Hachiman is the most accessible for visitors and tourists. The Gujo Odori consists of 10 dances which are carried out through 30 nights through the duration of the festival.
So if you get the chance, come join the Gujo Odori festival and get your groove on!
Admiring the History and Scenic Views at Gujo Hachiman Castle
The Gujo Hachiman Castle stands tall overlooking the whole town
Of course, we can’t talk about Gujo Hachiman without talking about the icon that gave birth to the town.
The Gujo Hachiman Castle is THE most popular attraction in town, being constructed in the late 16th century and then rebuilt later in 1933 after it’s destruction in the Meiji Period. (visit Japan often and you’ll notice that a lot of historical buildings in Japan have to be rebuilt because of this…).
Gujo Hachiman Castle is located on a small hill which provides a great scenic vista of the town, making the castle a great place for sightseeing as well.
This is a landmark you can’t miss, and with an entrance fee of only 310 JPY, why wouldn’t you take a visit? ;)
Admiring Historical Buildings and Canals at Shinbashi
It’s beautiful isn’t it?
Shinbashi is a one of the few major bridges of Gujo Hachiman and it provides a unique view of residential buildings constructed on a cliff’s edge, with a canal flowing beneath.
During winter the atmosphere can look gloomy with all the dead trees, but come during summer and the area will be filled with lush greenery and crystal clear waters.
Attend a Sampuru Replica Food Workshop
These replica food models look even better than the real thing!
As previously mentioned, Gujo Hachiman is a town famous for their production of replica food models (known as Sampuru in Japanese), in fact over 50% of replica food models in the country comes from here.
I can’t even begin to fathom the amount of skill and patience you need to create something like this ramen bowl
You could also try your hand at making these food models yourself!
One notable workshop is Sample Kobo, here you can attend a workshop to make simple food items like Tempura shrimp, various fruits, and yogurt.
You can even purchase some of these models yourself in the form of small keychains or literally just the life sized food model themselves.
Get a Taste of Crystal Clear Canals at Igawa Komichi Canal
It’s a narrow walkway, but one filled with many interesting things to see
As previously mentioned, Gujo Hachiman is famed for their pristine flowing canals that flow throughout the city.
The most popular location to check out these canals is at Igawa Komichi Canal, a narrow alleyway showcasing a canal full of Japanese carp swimming through it.
Yes, these waters are so clean that even live fish can live in it!
I know you can’t see fishes in this picture, but trust me, fishes do live in these waters
These water ways are actually important to the history of Gujo Hachiman. During the early days of the town, the various water ways and canals throughout the town is used to wash clothes, vegetables, and rice. This is the reason why the water is so clean here.
While that practice has died out with time, you could still technically still do all those things now as the water is still crystal clear.
Why can’t manhole covers be like this everywhere in the world?
The people of Gujo Hachiman are so proud of their clean water, that the locals help to ensure that the canals are clean by periodically cleaning the streams.
The locals are so proud in fact, that the town’s manhole covers depict Japanese carp swimming through the town’s water ways.
Another note on these manhole covers, keep a look out for them, each city and town in Japan have uniquely designed manhole covers, very charming!
Chill at the Historic Yanakamizu No Komichi Water Lane
Rocks (I’m running out of ideas for captions here…)
On the subject of water, the Yanakamizu No Komichi water lane is a small but wider canal with roads paved with boulders and pebbles. Traditional Japanese architecture lines both sides of the walkway making this area exude historic vibes.
The patterns of the road rock moasic represent a flowing river while the number of rocks used is 80,000. You’ll notice the number 8 being significant here as the “Hachi” in Gujo Hachiman means 8. The rocks are sourced from the nearby Nagaragawa River and the Yoshidagawa River
Yanakamizu No Komichi is a great place to just sit down and relax if exploring Gujo Hachiman proves tiring.
Find your Inner Self at Jionzen-ji Temple
Has anyone seen that anime film “The Garden of Words”?
Jionzen-ji Temple is something real special. The temple is complete with a lush moss garden, a calming pond, tranquil zen gardens, and even a relaxing area where you can sit down on tatami mats.
I came here briefly but while I was here I felt rejuvenated as the temple was really quiet and peaceful. There are even souvenir shops selling lucky charms and amulets if you want to bring a little bit of zen back home.
Example Itinerary
It was raining when I went, hopefully your trip will be more bright and sunny
Note: Feel free to edit this itinerary as you wish according to your preferences, I try to cover all the major attractions and things to do so that you can make the most of your time in Gujo Hachiman.
Weekend Escape (2 Day Trip)
Day 1
Morning (9:00AM - 12:00PM)
Arrive in Gujo Hachiman via Highway Bus at Gujo Jokamachi Plaza Station and check in to your hotel or ryokan.
Explore Gujo Hachiman Castle and admire the scenic views of the town and its mountainous landscapes.
Afternoon (12:00PM - 5:00PM)
Have lunch at one of the many restaurants in town
Take a stroll down Igawa Komichi and Yanakamizu No Komichi water ways
Visit the Sample Kobo Workshop and try your hand at make Sampuru food models
Evening (5:00PM - 8:00PM)
Visit Joinzen-ji Temple and relax for the evening
Have dinner at your hotel or ryokan
Day 2
Morning (7:00AM - 12:00PM)
Wake up and enjoy a deliciously healthy traditional Japanese breakfast at your hotel or ryokan.
Take a stroll and enjoy the morning fog and atmosphere at Shinbashi bridge
Afternoon (12:00PM - 5:00PM)
Take the Highway Bus back to Nagoya
Looking for Things to Do in Nagoya?
Nagoya Legoland Tickets - Everyone loves Lego, Nagoya has a Legoland too :)
Nagoya Highlights Tour - Tour all of Nagoya’s iconic attractions with a friendly local guide
Discounted Tours - Browse a variety of attractions, tours, and transports all for a great price
Useful Resources for Traveling in Japan
Tourism Information - All the information you need when traveling in Japan
4G eSim for Japan - 4G 5-15 day eSim for Japan (QR code sent via email)
JR Railway Pass - The most important train ticket to get you around Japan
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