Last week, I visited Gifu Prefecture twice. I used to go there when I was a college student in Japan. At the time, I enjoyed driving my car.

Gifu is surrounded by mountains. According to the article, forests cover roughly 80% of its land. And it is my grandfather’s hometown. Friends currently live there, so I plan to go back soon.

Gifu Castle is famous, but it was under construction when we visited.

Gifu Castle (formerly Inabayama Castle) is located at the top of Mt. Kinka and is a symbol of the city of Gifu. The first Gifu Castle was built between 1201 and 1204 (during the Kamakura period). In 1567, Oda Nobunaga launched an attack on Mino Province, led his forces across the Kiso River, and marched straight to the castle town of Inoguchi (now Gifu City).

The subsequent Battle of Gifu Castle in 1600 served as a prelude to both the Battle of Sekigahara and the fall of Gifu Castle after a siege of only one day. During the Tokugawa shogunate (1603–1868), Tokugawa Ieyasu decided to abolish Gifu Castle due to its poor condition and built another castle (Kano Castle Ruins).

In 1910, Gifu Castle was reconstructed as a wooden replica.

Gifu Park is at the base of Mt. Kinka. Inside the park, there are restaurants and museums.

The park is a popular tourist attraction.

Gifu Park:1 Omiyacho, Gifu City, Gifu 500-8003, Japan

すでにブログにも書いたけど、先週は岐阜に2回行きました。日本で大学生だった頃はよく行ってたから、久しぶり。当時は、自分の車を持ってて、運転するのが楽しかったなぁって思い出したり。

岐阜は、山々に囲まれてたところです。記事によれば、土地の約80%が森林に覆われているとか。実は、岐阜は私の祖父の故郷でもあって、今は友人が住んでるから、また近いうちに行きたいな。

岐阜城は有名ですが、ちょうど行った時は工事中。岐阜城(旧・稲葉山城)は金華山の頂上にあって、岐阜市のシンボル的存在。

元々、岐阜城は、鎌倉時代の1201年から1204年の間に築かれました。1567年、織田信長は美濃国への攻勢を始めて、軍を率いて木曽川を渡って、直ちに城下町である猪口(現在の岐阜市)へと進軍。

岐阜城の戦いは、1600年の関ヶ原の戦いの前哨戦となって、わずか1日の包囲戦の末、岐阜城は陥落。徳川幕府時代(1603年~1868年)、お城の状態が悪かったため、徳川家康は岐阜城を廃城として、別の城(加納城跡)を築きました。

1910年、木造のレプリカとして岐阜城を再建。

岐阜公園は、金華山の麓にあります。公園内には、レストランや博物館があって、観光地としても人気です。

 

Photos by LILI

@liliflorida on Tumblr

 

 

Posted in , , , ,

10 responses to “Gifu Park”

  1. Aniruddhaa Kaul Avatar

    Amazing post and pictures.

  2. vermavkv Avatar

    What a lovely trip down memory lane! Revisiting places connected with our college days and family roots must bring back so many beautiful memories. Gifu sounds fascinating, especially its mountains, lush forests, and rich history. It’s a pity Gifu Castle was under construction, but perhaps that gives you another reason to visit soon. Enjoy reconnecting with old friends and reliving those cherished memories! 😊

    1. LILI FLORIDA Avatar

      Thank you! Yes, I’m having fun here. I feel like I was back in my 20s. Well, it is cold every day…😅

  3. Priti Avatar

    Beautiful place. Well shared 💐

    1. LILI FLORIDA Avatar

      Thank you! Nature is always beautiful 😊

  4. Lincol Martín Avatar

    How wonderful to return to places that hold memories of our youth and our family. Gifu seems to have a lot of charm, with its mountains, history, and nature. I’m sure that returning and reconnecting with those memories will be special.

    1. LILI FLORIDA Avatar

      Yes, this visit (to Gifu) was the first time since 2003. Therefore, I felt nostalgic. I was happy to see friends again 😊

      1. Lincol Martín Avatar

        I can imagine how many emotions you must have felt reuniting with those places and friends after so many years! Some memories are timeless. How wonderful that you were able to relive that moment. 😊

Leave a Reply