Gifu Prefecture-Your New Home Away From Home

As you probably already know, Gifu Prefecture is at the very heart of Japan geographically…it is also the demographic center.  Look on a map and it is the belly button of the country, right in the center of the main island, Honshu.  This means that not only is it well located for travelling, but also that the climate is a happy medium between the tropics of Okinawa and the chills of Hokkaido.

Urbanites from the larger cities of Japan consider Gifu to be somewhat rural and classify it as the countryside, but it has a good mix of large cities and beautiful scenery.  If you want peace and tranquility, you are coming to the right place, but if action is your cup of tea, you will not be disappointed.

Gifu is one of the larger prefectures, so the regions vary considerably.  The north is a virtual mountain-lovers` paradise, with excellent opportunities for skiing all winter, and good hikes and great mountain biking in the autumn and spring.  At the center of the northern area is Takayama, a lovely city that hosts one of the most famous festivals in Japan twice a year.

Most JETs live in the southern areas, either close to Gifu City to the west or Ena City to the east.  The south is more urban with a lot of built-up areas, but the countryside is usually just a short train ride away.  From Gifu City, it takes about 30 minutes by train to Nagoya in Aichi Prefecture, the third largest city in Japan.  Nagoya is a great city where you can find foreign foods, books, and lots of entertainment from grand sumo tournaments to theaters to dance clubs and museums.

Depending on your location, you can choose to either immerse yourself in the "Japanese experience" or live much as you would at home.  Either way, Gifu is an excellent place to live.  Who knows how long you will end up staying!