Gifu City Cormorant Fishing and Gifu Castle Course

Gifu City is a castle town that Oda Nobunaga made his base for unifying the country. With Gifu Castle rising on the summit of Kinkazan, the spreading Gifu Park at its foot, and the traditional cormorant fishing that colors the Nagara River at night, this course lets you enjoy the history and atmosphere of Gifu in a single day, with mountain and park by day and the fire baskets on the water by night.

Course Route

10:00 Start at Gifu Park Begin at the park spreading at the foot of Kinkazan. The Nobunaga residence ruins and the history museum are dotted about, letting you feel the history of the castle town. 10:30 Up to the summit by the Kinkazan Ropeway The ropeway runs from the base to the summit in about four minutes. The Nagara River and the townscape of Gifu spread out below. 11:00 Climb Gifu Castle The castle that Nobunaga named Gifu as he aimed to unify the country. From the keep you can look over the Nobi Plain, and on clear days as far as the Nagoya direction. 12:30 Lunch and a summit stroll including Squirrel Village Wander the summit area, then head back down for lunch. 14:00 Stroll the old streets of Kawaramachi A charming street lined with latticed townhouses. Walk past shops of paper umbrellas and washi paper and look in at townhouse cafes. 18:00 Board the cormorant fishing viewing boat Cormorant fishing on the Nagara River runs each year from May 11 to October 15. Watch up close as cormorants guided by their masters catch sweetfish beneath the fire baskets, a tradition more than a thousand years old. 20:30 Disembark to finish Soak in the lingering glow of the fire baskets swaying on the water and round off the day.

Highlights

Gifu Castle is known as a castle linked to Nobunaga, and the wide panorama from the summit is its highlight. The night cormorant fishing is a dreamlike scene woven from the fire baskets floating in the darkness and the skill of the masters guiding their birds. Enjoying the contrast of a mountain castle by day and river fishing by night in one day is the real pleasure of this course.

Access and Tips

Gifu Park is the base, reachable by bus from JR Gifu Station or Meitetsu Gifu Station. Using the ropeway to Gifu Castle is easy, but there is a short walk from the summit station, so wear comfortable shoes. The cormorant fishing boat requires a reservation, so secure a seat early once your date is set.

A Quick Tip

Cormorant fishing can be canceled when rain raises the river, so checking the operation status for the day brings peace of mind. Arranging Gifu Castle by day and cormorant fishing by night keeps waiting short and lets you enjoy the history and tradition of Gifu efficiently.