Gifu prefecture
Gifu prefecture is located in the Chūbu region of the Honshu island, right in the center of Japan. It is one of the few landlocked prefectures, and borders many different prefectures; Shiga, Fukui, Mie, Aichi, Nagano, Toyama, and Ishikawa.
In history the prefecture was a popular crossroads for transporting goods, the Nakasendō historical highway passed through the prefecture during the Edo period.
The prefecture is known to be the ‘traditional craft warehouse of Japan’, with a variety of crafts originating in Gifu. Some traditional industries such as papermaking still contribute to the prefecture’s economy.
Gifu is linked up to other prefectures through both the Tokaido shinkansen and local trains. It’s easily accessible on the bullet train from Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto. It takes 20 minutes by train to get to Nagoya.
If you’re considering moving to Gifu, please check out our apartments in Gifu.
Things to do in Gifu
If you’ve been looking at apartments in Gifu, you might also want to think about things to do in Gifu, since it could influence what area of Gifu prefecture you’d like to live in.
Gifu prefecture is a wonderful place for nature lovers and thanks to the fairly mild weather in Gifu, you can enjoy the outside all year round. There is no shortage of outdoor things to do in Gifu, you can enjoy hiking and cycling in nature, as well as various snow sports in winter. Gifu holds the largest snow resort in Western Japan, made up of Takasu Snow Park and Dynaland Snow Resort, in the northern area of Gujo city.
The Hida mountains, also known as the Japanese Alps, are a haven for hiking. Hida is also famous for its woodwork.
The nearby Takayama is considered to be a ‘little Kyoto’, having preserved much of its original appearance. This area is filled with so many gems and different things to enjoy. Just south of Takayama is Gero Onsen, a renown onsen resort.
A 50-minute bus ride north of Takayama is Shirakawa-go, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Shirakawa-go is known for traditional thatched roof houses called gassho-zukuri. These historic villages are one of the top things to do in Gifu.
Gifu continues to be a hotspot for various Japanese traditional crafts, so visiting an area where you can enjoy these is recommended. Gifu is known for washi paper, as well and Gifu umbrellas and Gifu lanterns.
Seki, ‘the city of blades’, is one of the Worlds’ top 3 knife-producing areas, it’s known for blade crafting, which has been carried out in Seki for over 800 years. Various factories are open to visitors, as well as the Seki Traditional Swordsmith Museum.
Mino-yaki is a style of pottery originating in the Tajimi, Toki, and Mizunami areas. IN these areas you can visit the dozens of shops selling Mino-yaki goods and if you’re looking for creative things to do in Gifu, you can even have a go at making your unique pottery.
Gifu is also home to a centuries-old tradition, cormorant fishing, where fishers use cormorant birds to catch fish. This technique is called Ukai fishing and usually takes place at night.
Weather in Gifu
Located in central Japan, the weather in Gifu is characterized by hot and humid summers, the hottest month is August, with highs of around 33°C. The weather in Gifu is also characterized by mild winters, January is the coldest month with lows of around 1°C.
The weather in Gifu includes a rainy season in July, which is usually Gifu’s wettest month.
Types of apartments in Gifu
What does 2K mean? In Japan, the ‘K’ stands for kitchen and the ‘2’ means that there are two rooms in the apartment. The kitchen is usually separated by a wall.
Other apartment types include 1K (1 room and a kitchen) and 1DK, where the ‘D’ stands for dining area, and 1LDK, where the ‘L’ stands for living area.
Most rent apartments in Gifu (and in Japan) will also include a bathroom, a toilet room, and a genkan – an entrance area where shoes are taken off.
How much are 2K rent apartments in Gifu?
The average rent for 2K rent apartments in Gifu is ¥30,200.
However, the average varies largely depending on the location within Gifu prefecture, how far it is from the nearest station, as well as the size of the property, the condition, and many other factors. Most 2K apartments in Gifu are somewhere between ¥19,000 and ¥58,000.
The average rents for the apartments in Gifu have been calculated by collecting the rent of apartments currently available on real estate websites.
| Gifu prefecture area | 2K average monthly rent |
| Gifu City | ¥ 42,480 |
| Ogaki City | ¥ 35,240 |
| Kakamigahara City | ¥ 38,610 |
| Kani City | ¥ 39,700 |
| Hashima City | ¥ 25,800 |
| Hashima-Gun | ¥ 31,000 |
| Minokamo City | ¥ 29,900 |
| Seki City | ¥ 28,240 |
| Tajimi City | ¥ 31,500 |
| Gifu Prefecture | ¥ 30,200 |
If you’re looking to rent apartments in Gifu, please consider checking out our apartments in Gifu