You can bring me to any part of Japan and I would still love it, even if it is an off-beaten path type of city such as Gujo.
Gujo city is at the very center of Gifu Prefecture. It is a small place surrounded by mountains.
The first thing we did was to create food replicas out of wax (食品サンプル). Yep, the kind you see displayed in food stalls in the mall food courts like Sizzling Plate (hahaha) The technology started in Japan and most of it is in Gujo. The town is pretty famous because of this.
I got the chance to try it and it is a bit difficult but fun. Made tempura and cabbage!
Next stop was the Gujo Museum where they mostly talked about the Gujo Odori Traditional Dance.
The dance was really more about being a community which I find inspiring. It’s really great they were able to preserve this beautiful tradition that they are performing up to this day!
Lastly, we walked around the streets of Gujo Old Town. It’s a bit similar to the busy streets of Higashiyama District near the Kiyumizudera of Kyoto only a lot less more people and shops. I am the biggest fan of streets in Japan so I really enjoyed just walking and taking photos.
Gujo City is known for its pristine waters and rivers.
On the coldest day of the year (which was luckily also the day we were in Gujo!) they place these banners on the river so that they preserve the paint and the indigo dye.
We only spent a day in Gujo and it was just enough for me. If you need more information about the city because you plan to include it in your awesome Japan itinerary – you can check out this brief guide for touring Gujo!
I’ll be sharing about the other cities – Gifu, Seki, Takayama – of my Gifu Prefecture trip soon as well!
