osaka-gujo hachiman

　From where we live it takes about 4 hours and 3 different trains to get to Gujo Hachiman in Gifu prefecture.

One of the trains that we took was the Nagaragawa rail. They had a 2 day ticket with all you can ride and some coupons for different things in Gujo Hachiman.

The ticket is in the shape of a fan and they also give you a tenugui (traditional Japanese towel)...2500 yen.

I was impressed that the fan was made from one piece of bamboo.

There are many rivers running through Gujo Hachiman and during this time of year it is ayu (sweet fish) season, so you can see many fishermen fishing in the water with really long poles.

One thing we saw was Sogi Sui, an area that is used for public awareness for water conservation as well as a historic spot where 15th century poet, Sogi traded poems with Tsuneyori.

Walking around the village, there are many fire buckets hanging alongside of homes, in case of an emergency.

Up the mountain overlooking the village is Gujo Hachiman Castle.

This is a steep trek but the views are spectacular.

Our train ticket had a coupon for free entry to the castle. (310 yen without the coupon)

Our coupons also included choices of two different souvenirs per person.

We shared this free mini matcha soft serve.

We picked up these two bottles of mineral water.

And we also got this free plastic sample cellphone strap.

Did you know that plastic samples in most shops throughout Japan were first created here in Gujo Hachiman?!

Another museum that we got free entry to with our train ticket was to the Gujo Hachiman Hakurankan (520 yen without the coupon).

This museum shows the traditional dance, Gujo Odori, a dance festival that runs for 30 days from mid-July to early September (we just missed the end of the festival by a couple weeks).

This museum also shows traditional crafts and some of the history of the village.

Right outside of the museum is a tiny dango shop...Dango Marumasa.

This shop was apparently featured on "Soko ga Shiritai".

We tried one stick with the sweet sauce and one with the savory...80 yen each

Both were very flavorful and the dango (rice dumpling on stick) very soft.

It was a long day, but we got to see and do quite a bit and the weather was beautiful (read: HOT!).

Dango Marumasa
51 Hachimancho Tonomachi
Gujo, Gifu
Phone:0575.65.5826

Hotel Gujo Hachiman
208 Hachimancho Yoshino
Gujo, Gifu
Phone:0575.63.2311