In spring, the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, and soaking in the hot springs feels amazing.
Minoo Falls | Review by Michelle Lee
Other Reviews by Michelle Lee
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Weathercock House
Famed for the weathercock perched atop its spire, this residence is one of the signature Western-style houses of the area. Built around 1909 by German trader Gottfried Thomas as his personal home, it is the only surviving ijinkan in the Kitano-Yamamoto district featuring a brick exterior. The vivid brickwork, the stone-masonry entrance porch, and the half-timbering on the second floor give the house a stately presence that sets it apart from other ijinkan.
The interior has a nostalgic vibe, and you can really feel what life was like for foreigners who lived here back in the day.
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Hirayu Otaki Falls
A magnificent waterfall with a drop of Approx. 64 meters and a width of Approx. 6 meters. Counted as one of Hida’s Three Great Waterfalls, it has also been selected as one of Japan’s Top 100 Waterfalls and one of Gifu Prefecture’s 50 Famous Waters. Located within Chubu Sangaku National Park, it offers beautiful nature-filled scenery in every season.
It takes about 10 to 15 minutes to walk from the parking lot to the waterfall. The path is fairly easy to walk, but it can get slippery in winter, so be careful.
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Kurihama Flower World
A natural park open 24 hours a day, year-round, where you can drop in anytime and enjoy free admission. Covering Approx. 580,000 square meters, the spacious grounds are surrounded by lush greenery and dotted with attractions such as Adventure Land with its Godzilla slide, an air rifle range, and a bouldering facility. Best of all is the vast 18,000-square-meter flower field located just past the entrance gate.
The little train up the hill was super cute, but a bit pricey. Definitely worth it if you don’t feel like walking.