Hachiman Castle Town Trip 1
Find the nostalgic side of
Gujo Hachiman
A nostalgic station building which is designated as a Tangible Cultural Property, is the entrance of Gujo Hachiman.
Enjoy green tea at a traditonal sweet store.
We are going to walk from this nostalgic Gujo Hachiman Station towards the castle town of Gujo Hachiman which is also called Little Kyoto in Okumino. You can find this evocative townscape with water lane, temple, Japanese sweets café and old-style souvenir shop. Let us go out for a Gujo Hachiman trip!
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15 min.
20 min.
20 min.
20 min.
3 min.
Gujo Hachiman Station
A nostalgic station building certified as a Tangible Cultural Property
The entrance of Gujo Hachiman
Gujo Hachiman Station is a main station of the local railway Nagaragawa Railway. It started operating in 1929 and certified to be a Tangible Cultural Property in 2015. The building was restored to the original appearance in 2017. This wooden nostalgic atmosphere with whitewashed walls and wooden windows tells us how it looked like in the past. Café, bicycle rental shop, souvenir shop and information center are also found here at the station.
You can see a Gujo Odori lantern outside the station. Map introducing spots nearby is also placed. Get a map and start your journey!
Station building of Gujo Hachiman Station of Nagaragawa Railway. Its appearance was rebuilt when it was first opened in 2017. This evocative station building also has a café and bicycle rental shop.
It is easy to take a bus to get to the town center from the station. Please remember to check the timetable before you go.
Former Hachiman Government Building Memorial Hall
* If you drive in this trip, you can start here. Parking area : Former Hachiman Government Building Memorial Hall
Former Hachiman Government Building Memorial Hall
A nostalgic tourist information center as the base of our Hachiman trip
This Former Hachiman Government Building Memorial Hall was renewed from Hachiman Town Office into tourist information center of Gujo Hachiman. This building is also designated as Registered Cultural Property. You can take some rest and see the rapid of Yoshidagawa flowing down from here. There are free rest place, restaurant and shops. On the 2F, there are also Gujo Odori Dance workshop (Reservation needed) and Summer Only Gujo Odori Course during Gujo Odori Dance Festival in Kawasaki Hall. Souvenir corner is selling all kinds of souvenirs in Gujo Hachiman. Please visit this memorial hall during your trip!
This nostalgic building renewed from the town office is good for taking photos.
You can hear the sound of water stream when you pass in front of the building. As there is parking area nearby, it can be a base in your trip if you travel by car.
You can check the schedule of events and fairs at the information counter.
Igawa-komichi Lane
Water used by the locals in their real lives
Igawa-komichi is a water lane located next to Former Hachiman Government Building Memorial Hall with width of 1 meter and length of 120 meters. You can see many kinds of carps and river fish swimming in the water lane. Local people use this water in their daily life like chilling watermelon in summer. This water lane continues through the town and is used for fire prevention. There are 3 places for washing clothes which are also important places for social gathering. This water lane is part of the life of all local people.
See the carps and fish swimming in the water lane.
Walking along the water lane under the trees. All people you meet will become part of your memory of this trip too.
You can feel the old days of Japan while walking along the lane.
Jion-zenji Temple (Tessouen)
A Zen temple in castle town having a beautiful scenery
Jion-zenji Temple is one of the temples of Linji School Myoshinji. The real name of this temple is “Shozan Jion-gokoku-zenji” after it was named as “Gokoku (Defencing the country) by Emperor Sakuramachi in 1738. The first lord of Gujo, Endo Yoshitaka established this temple in 1606 when he invited Hanzan Zenji from Myoshinji of Kyoto. Tessouen is built as a garden during the early Edo era (1603 – 1868). The natural landscape with the background of huge rocks, the sound of waterfall and the greenery along the pond are all so beautiful and healing. As the scenery changes in different seasons, you would like to visit again and again.
It is a garden with a waterfall in this inner court.
When you enter the temple area, you can see the main temple enshrining Gautama Buddha.
View from the study hall is as beautiful as a painting. Freshness in spring, greenery in early summer, green maple trees in summer, red leaves in autumn and snow in winter. You can find different charming points in four seasons.
Matcha Shop Sogian (Japanese sweets café)
Take a rest at an old-style Japanese house
And taste some sweets
Matcha Shop Sogian is located next to Sogisui, one of 100 Best Waters in Japan. Season sweets and Japanese sweets with the taste of Gujo Hachiman are provided in this old-style house. Making this matcha is very relaxing. Shaved ice using matcha in Gifu-ken is very popular in summer. If you feel tired in your trip, come and take a rest in this sweets café.
Sogian Parfait using hojicha jelly, matcha pudding, brown rice puff and rice dumpling is very popular. Matcha art of Gujo Odori Kawasaki is drawn on top of the parfait. You can add a cup of matcha together with sweets.
Get on the stair, pass through the curtain and enter the café.
You can see at the edge of this large Japanese tatami room and see Sogisui water.
Gujo Hachiman Castle
The symbol of Gujo Hachiman, “Gujo Hachiman Castle”, is also called Sekisui-jo. It is a beautiful mountain castle. This castle was abandoned in 1871 and destroyed in the next year. The castle we see now was rebuilt in 1933. This wooden 5-storied castle is an Important Cultural Property of Gujo. The stone wall nearby is designated as a historical site. When you see from the castle tower, you can see the castle town is in fish shape!
The contrast of green trees and white appearance, Gujo Hachiman Castle is a symbol to represent Hachiman area. There are many spots to see, like the stone wall that shows the Age of Civil War and view from the castle tower.
Remember to get your castle stamp using Mino-washi (Mino Japanese paper)
Beautiful view of castle town from the castle tower.
Daijyoji Temple
A temple deep in the mountain
Experiencing several times of fire
Daijyoji Temple was found by Shimizu, who served Azai of Omi in the past, when he established Hokkeido in Kodara. Shoromon (Gate of bell tower), which was built in 1804, is designated as an Important Cultural Property. This building survived after several fire. Autumn leaves inside this area are very beautiful that Daijyoji Temple is also called Little Kyoto of Gujo Hachiman.
Shoromon which is designated as an Important Cultural Property of Gujo-shi. Its greenery is very beautiful.
Autumn leaves inside the temple area.
Main temple was rebuilt in 1872 with 2 Buddhas in one tower.
Ohmamiya (Souvenir)
Take a rest at this sweets café with history of over 130 years
Nikkeidama of Ohmamiya
Since the establishment in 1887, Nikkeidama (Cinnamon candy) has been made without extra additives. Ohmamiya keeps making it almost all by hands. They use yellow crystal sugar and cinnamon with sweetness and spiciness to make this Nikkeidama. It is one of the best sellers of Gujo souvenirs. Kuronikkei made by the previous generation is using brown sugar from Okinawa to make a mild taste. You can try them in the shop. Please visit Ohmamiya in your trip.
An old-style shop showing the history of Gujo Hachiman.
Having a Nikkeidama in your mouth and drink a cup of coffee is the way to enjoy Nikkeidama in Gujo. Try it!
You can try them in the shop. Please feel free to visit.
Ryukyo-no-sato (Souvenir)
Finding your souvenir after your Gujo Hachiman trip
Ryukyo-no-sato is a facility for eating, buying souvenir, making food replicas, all you can experience in Gujo Hachiman. Over 100 kinds of souvenirs including Meiho Ham & Myogata Ham, Kei-chan (Stir fried chicken in miso sauce) and Hoba-miso are sold in the souvenir shop. Please enjoy shopping and find your souvenir here!
It is located at the center of Gujo Hachiman area. Many visitors come to this facility as the location is good.
Original souvenir of Ryukyo-no-sato is available too!
There are so many kinds of souvenirs in the shop. It is so fun to shop here.