'''Gifu prefecture''' (______ ''Gifu-ken''; [http://www.kankou-gifu.or.jp/en]) is a region in the central Chubu region of the main Japanese island Honshu.
Understand
The self-proclaimed "Heart of Japan", the prefecture's defining feature is the northern stretch of the Japan Alps, making it a prime destination for three popular Japanese pastimes: '''hiking''', '''skiing''' and '''hot springs'''. The southern expanse of the prefecture, which houses the bulk of the population and the capital Gifu, is largely rural.
Cities
Gifu — the eponymous capital of the prefecture
Takayama — the historical hub of the beautiful northern '''Hida''' (____) region, with an excellent museum and some well-preserved houses
Other attractions
Gero Onsen — one of the most famous hot spring towns in Japan
Hakusan National Park
Oku-Hida Onsen Villages — a string of tiny hot spring villages nestled deep in the mountains
Sekigahara — site of an epic battle that ushered in the Tokugawa Shogunate
Shirakawa-go — famed for its traditional ''gassh?-zukuri'' houses
Get in
By plane
The Meitetsu Line connects Gifu to Chubu Centrair International Airport up to 2 times per hour. The one-hour ride costs ¥1310.
By train
The JR Tokaido Main Line runs through Gifu on its way from Nagoya to Kyoto and Osaka. The Tokaido Shinkansen also makes a solitary stop at Hashima in the southern part of the prefecture.
From Tokyo Station, the best way to reach central Gifu is to take a Tokaido Shinkansen train (''Nozomi'' or ''Hikari'') to Nagoya, then change to a Tokaido Line local train for the run to Gifu. (2 1/4 hours total; ¥11190 via ''Nozomi'', ¥10990 via ''Hikari'').
The same connection can be made coming from Kyoto and Osaka in Kansai, and from other stations on the shinkansen network to the west.
Four shinkansen trains generally stop every hour, two in each direction, at the '''Gifu-Hashima''' station: A ''Hikari'' which makes all stops between Okayama and Nagoya (including Himeji, Kobe, Osaka and Kyoto) and then runs directly to Tokyo, and the slow ''Kodama'' train which makes all stops on the shinkansen route between Osaka and Tokyo.
There is no charge to use the ''Hikari'' or ''Kodama'' trains with the Japan Rail Pass.
By car
The central '''Ch?? Expressway''', which largely follows the alignment of the Tokaido Line, also passes through southern Gifu.
Get around
By train
The '''JR Takayama Main Line''' (___R_{__ ''Takayama-honsen'') runs from Gifu across the length of the province, meandering through the scenic Hida Valley through Gero Onsen to Takayama, and beyond to Inotani in neighboring Toyama prefecture.
Eat
Gifu's best-known speciality is '''h?ba miso''' (_________X), a version of the ubiquitous Japanese bean paste grilled on a ''h?ba'' leaf and served as a dip or for eating with rice as is. Sounds pretty simple, but the taste is exquisite.
Gifu is located about as far from the sea as physically possible in Japan, so this is one place where seafood is not prized. Instead, Gifu is known for '''Hida beef''', thickly marbled with fat and very expensive.
Gifu has no sea and is surrounded by mountains. So Gifu is famous for mountain products. For example, persimmons, chestnuts, and many kinds of mushrooms.
In some places, people eat _ekurikinton_f. They are made from chestnuts. Steamed and mashed chestnuts are mixed with sugar. And then, they are shaped like chestnuts.
Drink
There are a number of excellent small sake breweries in Gifu. Look out for the tiny '''Niki Shuz?''' (________; [http://www.niki-sake.co.jp/]) brewery's brands, including '''Tamanoi''' (______) and '''Himuro''' (_X__).