Category:Gifu Prefecture

Gifu Prefecture (岐阜県) is located in central Honshū, forming part of the Chūbu region. Surrounded by mountains and crossed by major rivers, it serves as a geographical and cultural crossroads between eastern and western Japan. Its landscape ranges from the Japan Alps in the north to fertile plains in the south.

Historically, Gifu was a strategic location along trade routes such as the Nakasendō, connecting Edo (Tokyo) with Kyoto. The area played an important role during the Sengoku period, with Gifu Castle serving as a stronghold of Oda Nobunaga. Today, the prefecture is known for both its natural beauty and its living traditions.

Culturally, Gifu preserves strong links to traditional lifestyles and crafts. The historic villages of Shirakawa-gō, with their gasshō-zukuri farmhouses, are UNESCO World Heritage sites. Gifu is renowned for crafts such as Mino ware ceramics, traditional paper-making, and elaborate lanterns, blending artistry with everyday function.

Signature Crafts of Gifu Prefecture

• Mino ware (美濃焼) – versatile ceramics, one of Japan’s most important pottery traditions.
• Mino washi (美濃和紙) – handmade paper, recognized as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.
• Gifu lanterns (岐阜提灯) – decorative paper lanterns crafted with washi and bamboo.
• Woodcarving and woodworking – tied to local architecture and folk traditions.