The beautiful autumn leaves have begun to wither, snow is starting to fall and the temperature continues to drop. We may be shifting to a harsher time of year, but that doesn’t mean things are slowing down here in Gifu Prefecture! From picturesque snowscapes to stunning illumination and weekly fireworks displays, anyone looking for exciting wintertime adventures can go ahead and call off the search, because Gifu has everything you’re looking for! Join us as we close out 2013 and move into the beginning of a brand new year!
Gero Hot Spring Fireworks December - March (Every Saturday) Gero Station -> 3 minute walk, 8:30 – 8:40 PM Jan.’s musical fireworks: 8:00 – 8:15 PM (Special Christmas edition fireworks: 8:00 – 8:30 PM) Enjoy exciting fireworks displays every Saturday night, the theme of which changes on a monthly basis. Enjoy Gero’s musical fireworks in December, followed by special, themed fireworks that tell different stories all the way through the end of March!
Gifu Crossroads
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Winter 2013
Takayama Brewery Tour January 17 - February 27 10 AM to 4 PM (closed from 12 PM to 1 PM) There is a Japanese proverb that says delicious sake can always be found in the coldest areas, and Takayama does not disappoint in this regard! From Jan. 17 to Feb. 27, six different breweries will take turns opening their doors to visitors looking for a free taste of fresh Takayama sake, so stop on by for a quick drink!
Santera Mairi January 15, from 12 PM. Hida-Furukuwa Station -> 5 minute walk With other 300 years of history to its name, the Santera Mairi is known throughout the nation as a festival where young people looking for luck with finding love or tying the knot finally have their prayers answered. Worshippers place red or white candles along the Seto River canal– a white one if praying for fortune in love, or a red one if offering thanks for love found the previous year!
From February 1 to May 14 in 2014, Nohi Bus will be providing a direct service between Hida-Takayama and Chubu Centrair International Airport! The perfect way to get directly from Centrair Intl. Airport to the traditional center of Gifu Prefecture and heartland of Japan, a one-way ticket costs only ¥4000 for adults and ¥2000 for children! To make your reservation (if calling from overseas), dial +81-577-32-1688 between the hours of 9 AM and 6 PM (Japan Standard Time)! We hope to see you in Takayama sometime soon! Centrair Intl. Airport
Dep.
17:00
Hirugano
Arr.
19:45
Hida-Takayama
Arr.
20:30
Gifu Crossroads
Hida-Takayama
Dep.
10:00
Hirugano
Dep.
10:45
Centrair Intl. Airport
Arr.
13:30
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Winter 2013
Shirakawa-go Winter Illumination January: 18, 25, 26 February: 1, 2, 9, 15 See the fabulous beauty of Shirakawa-go’s traditional houses illuminated on one of seven special nights throughout January and February. One of Gifu’s most well known annual events, people come from near and far to see the snow-covered thatched-roof houses of Shirakawa-go glisten under dazzling lights. There is no public transportation outside of Shirawaka-go after the illumination begins, so please make arrangements to either stay overnight or have private transportation prepared to take you back to your lodging.
Shinhotaka Ropeway Takayama Station -> 93 min. ride on Nohi Bus Roundtrip gondola fare: Adults: ¥2800, Children: ¥1400 Situated in the Northern Japan Alps, the Shinhotaka Ropeway is a double-decker gondola that will take you to an observation deck up in the mountains, roughly 2,156m above sea level. Although it is beautiful all year round, it is particularly well known for the massive, threemeter tall snow corridor located in Sengokuenchi Nature Park at the top of the mountain.
Publisher: Tourism Division, Tourism Exchange Promotion Office Department of Commerce, Labor and Industry Gifu Prefectural Government 2-1-1 Yabuta-minami, Gifu City, GIFU 500-8570
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Tel: +81-058-272-1111 (Ext. 3058 Fax: +81-058-278-2674) Email: q01175@pref.gifu.lg.jp gifucrossroads.wordpress.com
Winter 2013