Kakamigahara: Aviation, Nature and History

Kakamigahara brings together aviation history, townscapes from the Edo period, nature, and outdoor activities. If you’re looking for a hotel in Kakamigahara, these different highlights can help you plan your stay around your interests. Technology and reconstructed history sit alongside hiking trails, seasonal nature watching, and waterside recreation.

Aviation and Local History

In the aviation section of the Gifu-Kakamigahara Air and Space Museum, the first floor features the “Asuka” STOL experimental aircraft and the T-2 trainer, among other exhibits. The section introduces the history of the development of human aviation technology. The aircraft on display provide concrete examples of this subject.

Local history comes to life through a range of examples. Tokuyama Jinya Park recreates an Edo-period jinya landscape, based on the “Saraki Jinya Ezu” plan and an archaeological excavation carried out in 2000. In Unuma-juku, waterways have been restored and important buildings in the townscape preserved or repaired, allowing visitors to experience the atmosphere of an Edo-period post town.

The Waki-honjin of Nakasendō Unuma-juku adds another perspective through a reconstruction. It draws on historical house plans and the exterior and interior design and details of a surviving waki-honjin. The reconstruction was opened to the public in May 2010. Check the latest access details before visiting.

Hiking Trails and Views

“Kakamigahara Alps” is the common name for the mountains along the northern edge of the Kakamigahara Plateau. There are several routes for beginners and experienced hikers. Viewpoints along the routes offer wide-ranging views across the landscape.

The Kenzoku Trail has a specific time estimate: it takes about 40 minutes to reach the summit of Mount Kanayama, on the border with Seki City, from the Nature Experience Center. Some sections are steep. There is a viewpoint at the summit, from which Ise Bay may be visible on a clear day.

Another way to plan is by distance: the “Kakamigahara Course” section of the Tōkai Nature Trail is 16.8 kilometers long. The time and distance figures refer to different routes, so they help answer different questions when planning a hike. Trails and signage can change; check current conditions before setting out.

Waterside Landscapes and Seasonal Nature

Rare plants, as well as many birds, insects, and small animals, can be found in Kagamino Nature Heritage Forest, where the natural environment is protected. Ogase Pond has a circumference of about two kilometers. A shrine to Hachidai Ryūō, the pond’s guardian deity, stands on an island in the pond.

The Shin-Sakai River flows through Kakamigahara City. Cherry trees line both banks, and the area is known for its cherry blossoms. Another seasonal sight is the autumn foliage along a tree-lined path about 300 meters long: around 60 meters are lined with metasequoias and around 240 meters with ginkgo trees. The leaves usually change color from late November to early December.

Nature watching also varies by season. On summer evenings, fireflies fly along the upper reaches of the Dai-Anji River. A biotope called Dai-Anji River Firefly Village has been established in places where there are many fireflies. The seasonal nature attractions therefore differ: cherry blossoms and autumn leaves are highlights at different times of year from summer evening firefly watching.

Recreation and Visit Planning

Kakamigahara Outdoor Field is a hub for outdoor recreation and sports, surrounded by water and greenery and open to people of different ages. Kakamigahara City Pool has heated indoor pools for 25-meter swimming and for children and toddlers. Outdoors, there is a water slide, a leisure pool, and other recreational facilities. The complex also includes a competition-standard 50-meter pool with seating for 638 spectators. Check current opening hours and operating status before visiting.

Kakamigahara Riverside 21 is a putting golf course with natural grass. The city describes it as “outstanding across the Tōkai region.” For a different kind of day trip, River Environment Paradise includes the Aqua Toto Gifu aquarium, the Nature Discovery Center, and the prefectural Oasis Park. It is considered a destination where families can spend a whole day; current offerings at individual facilities may vary.

On the Kiso River, visitors can watch cormorant fishing boats illuminated by torches at night, with Inuyama Castle in the background. During daytime demonstrations, it is easy to see the cormorants and cormorant fishermen in action, and the experience can be combined with a meal. The season runs from June 1 to October 15. Check current operating details before making plans.

Discover more destinations: Toki, Minokamo, Tajimi, Shirakawa, Ōgaki, Takayama, Ena, Gifu

For the overview of the wider region: Gifu Prefecture.