Recommended 10 Touring Roads and Spots in Gifu Prefecture, selected by riders who have circumnavigated Japan twice.

Hello Webike Plus readers! I am Sasu Rider, a man who loves cutting-edge technology and gadgets, but also has a side that loves traditional Japanese scenery. Growing up watching "Manga Nihon Mukashi Banashi", one of my dreams was to visit "Shirakawa-go", a place where traditional Japanese scenery is still intact, but I did not know that it was in Gifu Prefecture at that time... I didn't know that there were many attractive touring spots in Gifu Prefecture other than Shirakawa-go at that time.... My first time touring in Gifu Prefecture was full of surprise and excitement! So, this time, I would like to introduce not only Shirakawa-go but also other interesting touring spots in Gifu Prefecture! Here are some recommended touring roads and spots in Gifu Prefecture. *The information on each spot is current as of October 2025. The information is subject to change without notice. Please check before you go.

1 Exhilarating winding road: Seseragi Kaido

One of the best touring routes in Gifu Prefecture is the Seseragi Kaido, a winding road connecting Takayama City and Gujo City. The 64-km section of National Routes 472, 257, and Prefectural Route 73 is a two-lane road in good condition with few tight corners! The road is a pleasant road with two lanes with good road conditions and few tight corners.

One Point Advice for Sasu Riders

Pascals Kiyomi Roadside Station, located along Route 257 on the Seseragi Kaido, is also known as "Rider's Mecca," and is a must-see place when touring along the Seseragi Kaido! In fact, many riders stop by here on weekends, and the restaurant has a menu called "Rider Donburi," which is a rule that you must order it.... By the way, since this is a mecca for riders, there is a parking space for motorcycles only (what a nice roadside station!).

2 Spectacular view spot: North Alps Bridge

When you look at social networking sites for riders, you will often see a photo of snow-covered mountains,a bridge, and a motorcycle.... In fact, this photo was taken at the North Alps Bridge in Gifu Prefecture! Located in Okuhida Onsenkyo in Takayama City, the 150-meter-long, 70-meter-high "picturesque bridge" is the North Alps Bridge, which isa popular photo spot for riders and tourists alike to enjoy thebeautiful seasonal scenery of the North Alps. When taking pictures, please pay attention to the traffic conditions in the area and pull over to the shoulder of the road as much as possible to take pictures quickly.

One Point Advice from a Sasu Rider

Unfortunately, I am a rider who has ridden here before but did not take pictures (it was not a major tourist attraction at that time)... But I still have a vivid memory of "a wonderful place with a great view"! After taking pictures of your car and the North Alps Bridge, you can take your time to enjoy the view at the "North Alps Observation Park Parking Lot" located nearby.

3 World Heritage Site: Shirakawa-go

Perhaps the most well-known of Japan's many World Heritage sites, Shirakawa-go is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Gifu Prefecture, and is also very popular overseas. It is a precious place where the well-known traditional Japanese "Gassho-zukuri" village still exists, and visitors can freely walk around the village! There are souvenir stores, restaurants, and guest houses in the village, so you can enjoy Shirakawa-go in your own way depending on your time and budget. Motorcycles can be parked for 500 yen per day at the " Muraei Seseragi Park Parking Lot, " a public parking lot within walking distance of the village.

One Point Advice for Sasu Riders

Some riders may think that Shirakawa-go is in a remote and unexplored area, deep in the mountains accessible only by off-road vehicle. In reality, Shirakawa-go is located along Route 156, so it is accessible to anyone! If you want, it only takes 5 minutes from the Shirakawa-go Interchange on the Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway... In fact, it is a very accessible place. Incidentally, there is a " Roadside Station Shirakawa-go " along Route 156, where you can get the latest information about Shirakawa-go, buy things, and have a meal (about 3 km to Shirakawa-go).

4 Sightseeing Spot: Monet's Pond

It used to be a "hole-in-the-wall spot for those in the know," but... But it has become famous because of its beauty and buzz on social networking sites... Monet's Pond" is the poster child of the social networking age. It is called "Monet's Pond" because of the unrealistic sight of water lilies blooming in the crystal clear spring water and colorful Nishikigoi carp, as if Claude Monet's famous painting "Water Lilies" were projected directly onto the real world! The clarity of the pond, especially in the morning on a sunny day, and its seasonal beauty make you want to visit again and again.

One Point Advice from a Sasu Rider

To see Monet's Pond, you need to park your bike at the "Hydrangea Garden Parking Lot" within walking distance and pay an optional cooperation fee. Incidentally, there are public restrooms and a souvenir shop near the parking lot, so there is no need to go to the restroom or buy anything before coming here. In addition, Monet's Pond is actually a reservoir located on the approach to "Nedo Shrine," so naturally it is good manners for Japanese to visit Nedo Shrine as well (it is a shrine with a nice atmosphere).

5 Old streets: Gujo Hachiman

There are many "old townscapes" in Japan, and Gujo Hachiman is one of the places that personally ranks high among them. Gujo Hachiman is the stage for the famous "Gujo Odori" dance, the longest Bon dance in Japan, and the town is lined with waterwayscentering on the symbolic "Gion Sui" (waterway), so you can always hear the sound of running water while walking around... It is such a lovely place full of elegance! Just as if you were strolling through a town you had never visited before in the Drangon Quest, you can enter the narrow alleys and follow the waterways that interest you... You can enjoy such geeky exploration to your heart's content.

One point of advice from a wandering rider

In fact, Gujo Hachiman is famous as "the town that produces the largest number of food samples in Japan," and there are stores where you can buy food sample souvenirs and experience sample making all over the town. Since all of them are so-called "Instagram-worthy," you should definitely enjoy visiting food sample shops along with strolling through the old townscape! Motorcycles can be parked in the parking lot of "Anyoji Temple" for 500 yen per day (there is probably no other parking lot where motorcycles can be parked).

6 Old Streets: Hida Takayama

Along with Gujo Hachiman, Hida Takayama is one of the two largest old townscapes in Gifu Prefecture. Hida Takayama developed as a castle town and merchant town in the Edo period (1603-1868), and the old townscape full of emotion still exists, and part of it has been designated as a national Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings! Moreover, it is an "active merchant town" with various stores even in 2022, so you can enjoy shopping and eating out in addition to strolling around.

One Point Advice for Sasu Riders

The recommended parking lot for exploring the streets of Hida Takayama is the Takayama Betsuin Parking Lot, where motorcycles can be parked for 800 yen per day. Once you park your bike safely, you can enjoy walking around the town and taste the famous Takayama Ramen, Mitarashi dango (sweet dumplings), and Hida beef ! For riders who are prepared to spend a certain amount of money and want to taste delicious Hida beef, we strongly recommend " Kitchen Hida ".

7 Art Spot: Gifu Yoro Tenmei Reversal Site

The mysterious name of this place gives the impression that it is not just a thing... One of the best art spots in Gifu Prefecture is the Gifu Yoro Tenmei Reversal Site. It is an "art theme park" that is the realization of the grand vision of world-renowned artist Shusaku Arakawa and his partner, poet Madeline Gins, which took more than 30 years to realize, with a large number of "non-vertical objects and buildings" that threaten your sense of balance displayed in a vast area! You will experience such a mysterious, unique, and intense experience that your memory of the fun touring you had earlier will be instantly dyed by "Gifu Yoro Tenmei Hensen-Ji" (Gifu Yoro Life Reversal Site).

One Point Advice for Sasu Riders

Actually, I didn't go to this place by chance, but I found it by chance while I was touring. In short, I went there on a whim... As a result, it became the most memorable place in Gifu Prefecture (surpassing Shirakawa-go). But...! I assure you that there are not many places where you can enjoy this mysterious world for only 850 yen!

8 Onsen (hot spring): Gero Onsen Fountain Pond

Gero Onsen, one of the best hot spring resorts in Gifu Prefecture, is nationally known as one of the "Three Best Hot Springs in Japan" along with Arima Onsen in Hyogo Prefecture and Kusatsu Onsen in Gunma Prefecture! Gero Onsen is a major hot spring resort dotted with inns and public bathhouses of all sizes, but the symbol of Gero Onsen is the "Fountain Pond," which stands alone along the Hida River. The symbol of this area is "Fountain Pond," which is located along the Hida River. It used to be open as a free outdoor mixed bathing area, but is now operated as a "free footbath," so please be careful not to "bathe" in it.

One Point Advice from a Sasu Rider

After enjoying the footbath at Fountain Pond, we recommend stopping by Shirasaginoyu, a public bathhouse, to enjoy "bathing. Like Fountain Pond, Shirasaginoyu is a symbol of Gero Onsen, and you can enjoy the hot water of the three best springs in Japan for the low price of 430 yen, which is very reasonable in this day and age! Motorcycles can be parked in the free parking lot on the premises.

9 Local gourmet: Chicken (Keichan's Maruhachi Shokudo)

The appetizing aroma of this dish is irresistible! Keichan (chicken) is a local dish representative of Gifu Prefecture. It is a simple local dish of chicken seasoned with soy sauce and miso paste and grilled with cabbage and other vegetables. It is said that "Keichan's Maruhachi Shokudo " in Gero City is the birthplace of Chicken Chan , so it is a theory that all touring riders should eat there.

One point of advice for Sasu riders

As a touring rider, I have a certain amount of certainty about this hypothesis... I am sure that many riders will be addicted to Chicken Chicken (rider's favorite taste) .... So, when you come back from touring in Gifu, you will surely say, "Oh, I want to eat chicken! So, I recommend "Chicken Miso" sold at roadside stations and local supermarkets in Gifu Prefecture! If you dip the chicken in it as much as you like and grill it with cabbage, you will surely be immersed in the memories and flavors of your Gifu touring at home (I bought it as soon as I could)!

10 Gourmet Spot: YUMIN

The last one I would like to introduce is not a particularly local gourmet or anything... It's YUMIN, a delicious ramen restaurant in Gifu City! Yes, it's just my hobby. It looks like a ramen shop at a glance, but it is not. The specialty is "Japanese-style ramen" with tender, delicious-looking pork! The soup looks thick, but the light, seafood-based flavor is superb, and even though I don't usually eat ramen, I couldn't help but order a large bowl of the soup.

One point of advice from a Sasu rider

YUMIN's famous Japanese-style ramen is also available in the "Chashu-men" style, which is filled with a lot of chashu (pork), and is limited to 30 servings daily, so weekdays are the best time to try it! And actually, the rare "Curry Ramen" is also a popular menu item at YUMIN, so you can enjoy this ramen shop at least twice. In addition, there is free parking for motorcycles on the premises, so feel free to go eat there with your motorcycle.