20 Historic sites in Gifu worth your time

Explore Gifu's largest keyhole-shaped kofun, a 4th-century burial mound with historical significance.

What it is

• A keyhole-shaped tumulus, part of the Fuwa Kofun group.
• Designated as a National Historic Site.
• Largest kofun in Gifu Prefecture.
• Constructed around the late 4th century.

What to see

• The mound is approximately 150 meters long.
• Total length, including the moat, is about 180 meters.
• Three burial facilities in the posterior circular part.
• Excavated cylindrical and figurative Haniwa.
• Artifacts from early excavations are in the Tokyo National Museum.
• Now open as Hiruiōzuka Kofun Historical Park.

Read more about Hiruiōzuka Kofun

Explore the ruins of an 8th-century provincial capital, a significant National Historic Site.

What it is

• Ancient provincial capital site in Gifu Prefecture.
• Designated a National Historic Site in 2006.
• Center of Mino Province under the Ritsuryo system.
• Government office founded in the early 8th century.

What to see

• Rectangular government office area, 67.2m by 73.5m.
• Remains of the main hall, west side hall, and east side hall.
• Buildings initially pillar-supported, later rebuilt with foundation stones.
• Identified Suzaku-road and an eastern government office area.

Read more about Mino Kokufu

See a 400-year-old road marker, a national historic site, with ties to samurai history.

What it is

• A historic road marker, created in 1604.
• Built by order of Tokugawa Ieyasu.
• One of two Nakasendo ichirizuka designated as national historic sites.
• Designated a national historic site on October 3, 1930.

What to see

• The southern mound of the original marker.
• Site of Asano Yoshinaga's camp during the Battle of Sekigahara.

Getting there

• 30 minutes walk from JR Tokaido Line Tarui Station.
• 7 minutes from Sekigahara IC on Meishin Expressway.

Read more about Tarui Ichirizuka

Explore a large 5th-century keyhole-shaped burial mound, a significant national historic site.

What it is

• A keyhole-shaped burial mound, Kotozuka Kofun.
• Dates to around the 5th century.
• Designated a national historic site on August 9, 1934.
• Third largest kofun in Gifu Prefecture.

What to see

• A burial mound with three construction stages.
• Features fukiishi and cylindrical haniwa.
• A double moat, with the inner moat original.
• Total length of approximately 115 meters.
• Posterior circular part has a 69-meter diameter.
• Anterior square part has a 74.2-meter width.

Read more about Kotozuka Kofun

Explore the largest keyhole-shaped burial mound in Hida, featuring a massive stone chamber.

What it is

• A keyhole-shaped tumulus, or kofun.
• Estimated construction in the late 6th century.
• Designated a Gifu Prefecture historic site in 1956.
• Largest kofun in the Hida region.

What to see

• Total length of the mound is 72.7 meters.
• One of the largest stone chambers in Gifu Prefecture.
• Internal stone chamber is 14.8 meters long.
• Burial chamber is 3.1 meters high.

Getting there

• Walk from Hida-Kokufu Station.
• Walk from Sakurano bus stop.

Read more about Kōtōgeguchi Kofun

Jirobee-zuka No. 1 Kofun is a late 7th-century tomb mound with unique stone chambers.

What it is

• Square-shaped tomb mound from the late Kofun period.
• Built in the late 7th century.
• Designated a Gifu Prefecture Historic Site in June 1995.

What to see

• Mound covered with river stones.
• Three horizontal stone chambers.
• Main chamber has a complex two-room structure.
• Well-preserved 8-meter-wide moat.
• Lower base is 29.5 meters on each side.
• Upper base is 18 meters, 6.5 meters high.

Getting there

• 10-minute drive from Kani Station.

Read more about Jirōbee-zuka No. 1 Kofun

Explore ancient kiln sites where Sue ware pottery was made for Japan's capitals.

What it is

• A group of ancient Sue ware kiln sites.
• Designated as a National Historic Site.
• Operated from the late 7th to early 8th century.
• A branch of the larger Mino Sue Kiln Sites group.

What to see

• Oibora and Asakura old kiln groups.
• Oibora No. 1 kiln, 9.3m deep and 1.3m wide.
• Excavated items at Gifu City Museum of History.
• Some excavated items are Important Cultural Properties.
• Sue ware with "Mino-koku" or "Mino" inscribed.

Read more about Oibora-Asakura Sue Ware Kiln Site

Explore Japan's oldest multi-chamber climbing kiln and learn about early Edo period pottery.

What it is

• An early Edo period pottery kiln site.
• Designated as a National Historic Site.
• Valuable for studying early Mino ware production.

What to see

• Gifu Prefecture's oldest renboshiki noborigama.
• One renboshiki noborigama and three large kilns.
• The noborigama is 24 meters deep and 2.2 meters wide.
• It has 14 firing chambers and one combustion chamber.
• Excavated artifacts designated Important Cultural Properties.

Read more about Motoyashiki Pottery Kiln Site

Explore a well-preserved Jomon period settlement ruin, offering a glimpse into ancient Japanese life.

What it is

• A Jomon period settlement ruin.
• Designated as a National Historic Site.
• Remains discovered in 1972, excavated until 1979.
• Features remains from early to late middle Jomon period.

What to see

• Pit graves in the center of the plateau.
• Pit dwellings arranged in a U-shape at the edge.
• Total of 43 dwelling remains found.
• Site on a tongue-shaped plateau.
• Confluence of the Hida River and Hachishaku River.

Read more about Dōnosora Site

No Kofun Cluster is an ancient burial ground with 5th-6th century tumuli and artifacts.

What it is

• A cluster of ancient burial mounds (tumuli).
• Dates from the 5th to 6th centuries.
• Designated a national historic site in 1957.

What to see

• Nine tumuli, numbered 1 to 9, still exist.
• Medium and small tumuli concentrated in one square kilometer.
• Surrounded by rice paddies and persimmon fields.
• Excavated artifacts: haniwa, swords, bronze mirrors.
• Excavated artifacts: horse fittings, arrowheads.

Read more about No Kofun Cluster

Explore a 7th-century burial mound, the Kumano Kofun, to see an ancient stone chamber and learn about local history.

What it is

• A kofun, an ancient burial mound.
• Designated a Gifu Prefecture Historic Site.
• Estimated to have been built around the early 7th century.
• Considered the last chief's tomb in the Kani City area.

What to see

• A tumulus, either circular or square.
• A single-sleeved horizontal stone chamber.
• The stone chamber opens to the southwest.
• The stone chamber measures over 13.3 meters long.

Read more about Kumano Kofun

Explore a 6th-century circular burial mound with a unique stone chamber and ancient artifacts.

What it is

• A circular burial mound, designated historic site.
• Built around the 6th century.
• Contains a horizontal stone chamber.

What to see

• The burial mound, 16 meters in diameter.
• The stone chamber with a passage and main chamber.
• A house-shaped stone coffin, 2.3 meters long.
• Artifacts found include human bones and gold rings.
• A dish and straight sword were found at the entrance.

Read more about Fukoujiduka Kofun

Explore a recreated Jomon settlement with pit dwellings and ancient artifacts, offering a glimpse into prehistoric Japan.

What it is

• A Jomon period settlement site, discovered in 1966.
• Designated a Gifu Prefecture historic site.
• Redeveloped as Robata Ruins Park in 2006.

What to see

• Recreated Jomon period pit dwellings.
• Trees Jomon people used for food.
• Excavated Jomon pottery and stone tools.
• Ancient coffins found at the site.

When to go

• Open daily from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.

Read more about Robata Ruins

Explore ancient government office ruins from the Nara and Heian periods.

What it is

• Ancient government office ruins.
• Part of a national historic site group.
• Excavation began in 1994.
• Designated a national historic site in 2007.

What to see

• Structures of a county office.
• Shosoin area, 130m by 40m, with eight storehouses.
• Guncho-in area, 50m by 60m, with a main hall.
• Guncho-in area also has two side halls.
• Artifacts displayed at Seki City Enku-kan.

Read more about Mirokuji kanga ruins

An ancient ritual site with excavated artifacts, offering a glimpse into Nara period life.

What it is

• An ancient ritual site.
• Part of the Mirokuji Kanga Site Group.
• Rituals were performed from the late Nara period.
• Excavated in 2002 and 2006-2007.

What to see

• Next to the Mirokuji temple ruins.
• Foundations of possible government offices or monk residences.
• Numerous ink-inscribed earthenware were excavated.
• Excavated artifacts are displayed at Seki City Enku-kan.

Read more about Mirokuji Nishi Ruins

Explore Nagatsuka Kofun, a large 4th-century keyhole-shaped burial mound and National Historic Site.

What it is

• A keyhole-shaped tumulus, part of the Maenami Kofun group.
• Designated a National Historic Site since 1956.
• Built in the late 4th century.
• One of the "Maenami no Mitsuzuka" kofun.

What to see

• The largest kofun in Kani City, 72 meters long.
• Two burial facilities: a clay coffin and a wooden coffin.
• Artifacts include a bronze mirror, stone bracelets, and beads.

Read more about Nagatsuka Kofun

Explore a 4th-century keyhole-shaped burial mound, a National Historic Site, revealing ancient Japanese history.

What it is

• A keyhole-shaped burial mound, or kofun.
• Designated a National Historic Site.
• Built around the late 4th century.
• Second largest kofun in Gifu Prefecture.

What to see

• The tumulus is 120 meters long.
• Mound has a three-tiered construction.
• Cylindrical Haniwa rows on the top tier.
• A vertical stone coffin burial facility.
• Unearthed stone products and pottery.

Read more about Bōnotsuka Kofun

Explore ancient kilns that produced tiles for a historic temple in Takayama.

What it is

• A Nara period tile kiln site.
• Produced tiles for Hida Kokubunji Temple.
• Designated a National Historic Site in 1976.

What to see

• Four tile kilns.
• Two Sueki ware kiln sites.
• Semi-underground climbing kilns with stepped interiors.
• Kilns are about 9 meters deep and 1 meter wide.
• Kilns have 16 or 6 steps.
• Excavated roof tiles, iron sickles, and bowls.

Read more about Akahogi Tile Kiln Site

Visit this historic mound to learn about Enku, a prolific Edo period monk.

What it is

• A burial mound for Enku, an Edo period itinerant monk.
• Enku is said to have entered nirvana here.
• Designated a Gifu Prefecture historic site in 1973.

What to see

• The mound under a wisteria trellis.

When to go

• See wisteria flowers bloom seasonally.

Getting there

• About 15 minutes from Seki Interchange.

Read more about Enku's Burial Mound

Explore ancient kilns and burial mounds at a significant pottery production site.

What it is

• An ancient Sueki kiln site, part of Mino Sue Old Kiln Sites.
• Designated a city historic site in May 1991.
• A pottery production area from late Kofun to Kamakura periods.

What to see

• One well-preserved kofun burial mound.
• Two kofun from the end of the Kofun period.
• Seven Sueki kiln sites from the Nara period.
• One ash-glazed pottery kiln site.

Read more about Tengudani iseki