Discover Mino City with World Heritage Sites

  • Mino Washi

    Mino Washi

    Mino Washi is a traditional Japanese paper made in Mino City, which is registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.

  • Mino Washi Lantern Art

    Mino Washi Akari Art Festival

    This wonderful display features about 400 light artworks using Mino Washi and is illuminated with soothing lights.

  • NAGARA RIVER

    Nagara River

    The Nagara River is one of the Japan’s three clearest rivers, which is essential for making Mino Washi.

  • Udatsu no machinami

    Udatsu Wall Historical District

    Udatsu, which is firewall built at both ends of a roof, is a symbol of Mino Old Town, "Udatsu no Agaru Machinami".

  • Nagara Railway

    Nagara Railway

    This railway runs along the Nagara River with large bridges and scenic spots.
    The train window scenery changes with the seasons.

  • Suhara Himawari no Sato

    Suhara Himawari no Sato

    This is a photogenic flower garden spread out in a mountainous region, where you can enjoy the seasonal flower garden nemophila, sunflowers, cosmos, canola flowers and so on.

Discover Mino City with World Heritage Sites

Explore the Central Japan with Culture and Nature

Mino City is located in Gifu prefercture, central Japan.
It is famous that has a history of 1,300 years as Japanese paper industry town and connects the traditional culture and thoughts of our ancestors.
You can enjoy the blessings of pure water and feel great nature at one of the clearest streams in Japan.
Also you will find the three World Heritage Sites in Mino city and spectacular scenery of four season, a combination of culture and nature there.

Mino City map

Popular tours of Mino City

Let's find your favorite Mino City with us!

We offer a original tours that allow you to enjoy the charms of Mino to the fullest!
There are many attractions, such as a paper-making experience, a stroll around the old town, and a visit to a sake brewery. Check it out!

World Heritage Site of Mino City

Mino City's heritage to be passed on to the next generation

There's a Japan that you haven't found yet in Mino City.
Unique experiences and landscapes you have never seen: from sightseeing to adventure, take a journey to Mino City that will shake your soul!

  • UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage:
    Washi, craftsmanship of traditional Japanese hand-made paper

    It is one of Japan's three major types of Yamato-gami, and its greatest feature is that it is thin, strong, and beautiful at the same time. It is especially beautiful when seen through light. It has long been used for shoji screens and chochin lanterns.
    In 1969, it was designated as an Important Intangible Cultural Property of Japan, and in 1985 as a traditional handicraft of Japan. In 2014, the handmade technique was registered as a UNESCO World Intangible Cultural Heritage, including "Honmino-shi", which is made in Mino City.
    In addition to being frequently used in the restoration of famous national treasures, Mino Washi was also used for the certificates of commendation for the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2021. It is a traditional craft that Mino City and Japan are proud of to the world.

    • Mino Washi
    • Mino Washi

  • Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems:
    Ayu of the Nagara River

    While cormorant fishing is the most famous type of ayu fishing along the Nagara River, there are two different types of fishing conducted in Mino City: shoal net fishing and weir fishing.
    In shoal fishing, ayu come down from upper part of river in autumn and are shocked by the sound of a rope hitting the surface of the river. They are then further shocked by the sudden appearance of a white plastic sheet on the riverbed, causing them to momentarily stop falling. Fishermen, who are waiting in the lower part of the river, catch them all at once using a hand cast net called "Teina".
    Yana fishing is a traditional fishing method in which wooden duckboard are constructed in the river to catch ayu that come down the river in group during the summer to spawn. A small waterfall is artificially created in the river to catch the descending ayu with water on the yana. If there is not enough water, the ayu will not fall, and if there is too much, the yana will submerged underwater.
    Moreover, the yana can be destroyed when the river is rising.This is how traditional ayu fishing is conducted in the Nagara River.

    • Mino Washi
    • Mino Washi

  • World Heritage Irrigation Structures:
    Sodaiyousui Irrigation System

    This area used to suffer from drought every year due to the Nagara River's shallow bed and poor water supply, making it impossible to secure a stable water supply.
    In 1667, plans were made to construct an irrigation channel through this barren land to develop new rice paddies, and construction work began. As a result of completing this irrigation channel, the wasteland was transformed into beautiful new rice paddies. Today, this facility continues to play an important role, and local residents are working to restore and protect the irrigation system.

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    • Mino Washi
    • Mino Washi

Things to Do in Mino City

Find the cutest photo spot

There are many contents to discover the long-held traditions and culture of Mino.
The old town stroll, Mino-Washi, ayu dishes... Find your own way to fully enjoy the traditional Mino.

Mino City Travel information

Basic information

Check here for useful information to help you on your Mino City trip!

  • Mino City Access timings

    Access to Mino City

    • Gifu to Mino City:
      About 55minutes by public bus or 40 minutes by car
    • From Nagoya to Mino City:
      About 1 hour 20 minutes to 1 hour 50 minutes by highway bus or 50minutes by car
    • From Tokyo to Mino Sity:
      About 5 hours 50 minutes by highway bus
  • Four seasons in Mino City

    Four seasons in Mino City

    • Spring:
      Cherry blossoms and Mino Festival with Hana Mikoshi
    • Summer:
      Ayu fishing, Fireflies, Rafting and Playing in the river
    • Autumn:
      Mino Washi Light Art Exhibition and Colored autumn leaves
    • Winter:
      Kanzarashi (Softening the paper mulberry using river water to remove impurities, and bleaching and drying it under the sun)
  • Tourist spots around Mino City

    Tourist spots around Mino City

    • Seki City:
      About 20minutes by car
    • Gujo Hachiman City:
      About 40 minutes by car
    • Gero Onsen:
      About 1hour and half by car
    • Hida Takayama Area:
      About 1 hour and half by car