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Get off the beaten path at this underrated gem in Japan

Portrait of Kathleen Wong Kathleen Wong
Dec. 23, 2025, 5:01 a.m. ET
Travelers who stray off the beaten path in Japan can find quiet moments in nature, fresh cuisine and immersive cultural experiences. I found my zen in Gifu Prefecture, an underrated gem in the countryside. Here's how to explore Gifu. Hiking up Gujo Hachiman Castle gives travelers a gorgeous lookout point over the town of Gujo.
Travelers who stray off the beaten path in Japan can find quiet moments in nature, fresh cuisine and immersive cultural experiences.

I found my zen in Gifu Prefecture, an underrated gem in the countryside. Here's how to explore Gifu.

Hiking up Gujo Hachiman Castle gives travelers a gorgeous lookout point over the town of Gujo.
Kathleen Wong/USA TODAY
Teishoku are Japanese set meals, showing careful attention to detail. In Gifu, they feature local and incredibly tender Hida beef.
Teishoku are Japanese set meals, showing careful attention to detail. In Gifu, they feature local and incredibly tender Hida beef.
Kathleen Wong/USA TODAY
Many of Gifu's towns are set along rivers, and showcase preserved Edo-period architecture.
Many of Gifu's towns are set along rivers, and showcase preserved Edo-period architecture.
Kathleen Wong/USA TODAY
At the Mino Washi Paper Museum and Workshop, I tried my hand at creating my own piece of paper, splashing and sifting the plant fibers until they set into translucent paper. Washi is a strong yet flexible paper made of mulberry fibers, made in Japan for many centuries.
At the Mino Washi Paper Museum and Workshop, I tried my hand at creating my own piece of paper, splashing and sifting the plant fibers until they set into translucent paper. Washi is a strong yet flexible paper made of mulberry fibers, made in Japan for many centuries.
Kathleen Wong/USA TODAY
At Aiwayu in nearby Ikeda, husband-and-wife designer duo Kazuya and Miki Nohara run workshops allowing guests to learn the intensive process of indigo dying.
At Aiwayu in nearby Ikeda, husband-and-wife designer duo Kazuya and Miki Nohara run workshops allowing guests to learn the intensive process of indigo dying.
Kathleen Wong/USA TODAY
The fields of Shirakawa-go feel like a storybook, and it's even more magical during snowfall.
The fields of Shirakawa-go feel like a storybook, and it's even more magical during snowfall.
Kathleen Wong/USA TODAY
UNESCO World Heritage Site Shirakawa-go is one of just a few places to see 250-year-old farmhouses made of thatched roofs. Residents of the village have lived here for generations, taking care of their unique, historic homes.
UNESCO World Heritage Site Shirakawa-go is one of just a few places to see 250-year-old farmhouses made of thatched roofs. Residents of the village have lived here for generations, taking care of their unique, historic homes.
Kathleen Wong/USA TODAY
A quick little pitstop in Gifu Prefecture, Monet's Pond is a zen lagoon filled with koi.
A quick little pitstop in Gifu Prefecture, Monet's Pond is a zen lagoon filled with koi.
Kathleen Wong/USA TODAY
Gifu's towns are surrounded by picturesque mountains, giving travelers a breath of fresh air from the city.
Gifu's towns are surrounded by picturesque mountains, giving travelers a breath of fresh air from the city.
Kathleen Wong/USA TODAY
Mino's Udatsu Preservation District pays tribute to its heritage of washi paper with lanterns made by local artisans. They light up at night to illuminate the streets.
Mino's Udatsu Preservation District pays tribute to its heritage of washi paper with lanterns made by local artisans. They light up at night to illuminate the streets.
Kathleen Wong/USA TODAY
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