Gifu Prefecture
Gifu Prefecture (岐阜県, Gifu-ken) is a prefecture in the Chūbu region of Japan. It is on the island of Honshu.[1] Its capital is the city of Gifu.[2]
Gifu
岐阜県 | |
---|---|
Japanese transcription(s) | |
• Romaji | Gifu-ken |
![]() Symbol | |
![]() Location of Gifu in Japan | |
Country | ![]() |
Region | Chūbu |
Island | Honshū |
Capital | Gifu |
Government | |
• Governor | Hajime Furuta |
Area | |
• Total | 10,621.17 km2 (4,100.86 sq mi) |
Area rank | 7th |
Population (August 1, 2010) | |
• Total | 2,078,286 |
• Rank | 18th |
• Density | 200/km2 (510/sq mi) |
ISO 3166 code | JP-21 |
Prefectural flower | Chinese milk vetch (Astragalus sinicus) |
Prefectural tree | Japanese Yew (Taxus cuspidata) |
Prefectural bird | Rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta) |
Prefectural bird | {{{Fish}}} |
Number of districts | 9 |
Number of municipalities | 42 |
Website | www.pref.gifu.lg.jp |

Gifu is part of the Tōkai region. Shirakawa in Gifu is a UNESCO's World Heritage Site.
History
In the Meiji period, Gifu Prefecture was created by merging several old provinces, including Hida Province and Mino Province.[3]
"Gifu" may have been named by Oda Nobunaga.
Geography
Gifu shares borders with seven other prefectures: Aichi Prefecture, Fukui Prefecture, Ishikawa Prefecture, Mie Prefecture, Nagano Prefecture, Shiga Prefecture and Toyama Prefecture.
Landmarks
- Kinkazan and Gifu Castle
- Takayama
- Joining hands-structure of Shirakawa-go
- Gero hot springs
Special products
- Ayu-cuisine
- Eel
- Hida beef
Cities
- Ena, Gifu
- Gero, Gifu
- Gifu, Gifu, capital
- Gujō, Gifu
- Hashima, Gifu
- Hida, Gifu
- Kakamigahara, Gifu
- Kani, Gifu
- Kaizu, Gifu
- Mino, Gifu
- Minokama, Gifu
- Mizuho, Gifu
- Mizunami, Gifu
- Motosu, Gifu
- Nakatsugawa, Gifu
- Ōgaki, Gifu
- Seki, Gifu
- Tajimi, Gifu
- Takayama, Gifu
- Toki, Gifu
- Yamagata, Gifu
National parks
National parks cover about 18% of the total land area of the prefecture.[4]
Otaki Limestone Cave
Otaki Limestone cave is one of the biggest limestone caves in Japan. There is no daylight inside, so you may feel that the air in there is very still. If you go there in summer, you may feel cool, and if you go there in winter, you may feel much warmer than outside of it. The walls are made of limestone and look milky white.
Shrines and temples
Hidaichinomiya-Minashi jinja is the main Shinto shrine (ichinomiya) in the prefecture.[5]
Related pages
References
- Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Gifu-ken" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 246; "Chūbu" at p. 126.
- Nussbaum, "Gifu" at p. 246.
- Nussbaum, "Provinces and prefectures" at p. 780.
- Japan Ministry of the Environment, "General overview of area figures for Natural Parks by prefecture"; retrieved 2012-3-13.
- "Nationwide List of Ichinomiya," p. 2 Archived 2013-05-17 at the Wayback Machine; retrieved 2012-3-13.
Other websites
Media related to Gifu prefecture at Wikimedia Commons
- Gifu Prefecture's Official website Archived 2008-12-12 at the Wayback Machine
- A prefectural office of Gifu