Gifu Castle / Inabayama Castle
Gifu Castle / Inabayama Castle
4
9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Monday
9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Tuesday
9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Wednesday
9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Thursday
9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Friday
9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Saturday
9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Sunday
9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.0
557 reviews
Excellent
151
Very good
274
Average
113
Poor
15
Terrible
4
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celica001
Fujisawa, Japan605 contributions
Apr 2024 • Solo
Gifu Castle is a castle whose successive lords include famous military commanders such as Saito Dosan and Oda Nobunaga.
The castle tower, which stands on the top of Mt. Kinka, is just over 300 meters high, and offers a commanding military position with a panoramic view of the Nobi Plain and the Nagara River.
Many visitors walk up the 300 meters, but I took the cable car instead. However, the last climb is up some difficult stairs, so it may be a bit tiring for elderly people. The castle tower that comes into view halfway up the stairs is quite magnificent.
There was one disappointing thing about this visit.
I arrived before the opening time, so I waited in line at the bottom of the stairs at the castle tower entrance, but an old man who had entered the castle tower before the opening time came out with a broom in his hand and started sweeping trash from the top of the stairs down. Naturally, the trash ended up falling on our heads. The person in front of me warned him, but he continued to do so without paying any attention, and then, satisfied, the old man retreated to the castle tower and quickly put on his backpack and headed down the mountain. It took about 5 to 6 minutes. A volunteer? Do the managers know what the old man is doing? If you arrive before opening time, I recommend waiting away from the castle tower. I was satisfied with Gifu Castle and the cable car itself, but there were some flaws in my visit to Gifu Castle.
The castle tower, which stands on the top of Mt. Kinka, is just over 300 meters high, and offers a commanding military position with a panoramic view of the Nobi Plain and the Nagara River.
Many visitors walk up the 300 meters, but I took the cable car instead. However, the last climb is up some difficult stairs, so it may be a bit tiring for elderly people. The castle tower that comes into view halfway up the stairs is quite magnificent.
There was one disappointing thing about this visit.
I arrived before the opening time, so I waited in line at the bottom of the stairs at the castle tower entrance, but an old man who had entered the castle tower before the opening time came out with a broom in his hand and started sweeping trash from the top of the stairs down. Naturally, the trash ended up falling on our heads. The person in front of me warned him, but he continued to do so without paying any attention, and then, satisfied, the old man retreated to the castle tower and quickly put on his backpack and headed down the mountain. It took about 5 to 6 minutes. A volunteer? Do the managers know what the old man is doing? If you arrive before opening time, I recommend waiting away from the castle tower. I was satisfied with Gifu Castle and the cable car itself, but there were some flaws in my visit to Gifu Castle.
Written May 7, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
risa
Gifu Prefecture, Japan19 contributions
Jan 2024 • Family
The view of the castle tower is amazing.
The painting of the kirin on the ceiling was also beautiful. The exhibits inside were explained in an easy-to-understand way, and the passages were easy to walk along.
It's also a pleasant experience to climb up to the castle from the bottom. There are many places with exposed rocks and poor footing, so those who are not used to climbing should be careful, but if you walk slowly, you can reach the top in about an hour.
The painting of the kirin on the ceiling was also beautiful. The exhibits inside were explained in an easy-to-understand way, and the passages were easy to walk along.
It's also a pleasant experience to climb up to the castle from the bottom. There are many places with exposed rocks and poor footing, so those who are not used to climbing should be careful, but if you walk slowly, you can reach the top in about an hour.
Written February 19, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Karen M
Kirkwall, UK1,239 contributions
Feb 2024 • Couples
As castles go it's not the biggest or most authentic - having been rebuild. But, the view from the castle top level across the Gifu area is great & uninterrupted. You can access vies the rope way (cable car) to walk !! (Very strenuous option. From the rope way it's a 7 minute up hill to the castle, passing various points relating to the history of the castle. Inside the castle there is 3 levels with a few exhibits the history. At the top level you can walk around outside to look at the view around Gifu.
There are other elements on the walk - a Squirrel area, observation area, restaurant & fast food stall.
There are other elements on the walk - a Squirrel area, observation area, restaurant & fast food stall.
Written February 19, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lexter
Manila, Philippines43 contributions
Dec 2019
This castle is reachable by taking a bus from Gifu Station. It would take around 15 minutes to reach the base of the mountain. There are 2 choices from there, either you hike or take a cable car. There is a discount if you buy the round trip ticket. From the cable car stop on top, you'll be needing to walk towards the castle. Again this castle is a reconstruction. The material used is modern already. Compared to other castles, you will not be required to take off your footwear. The stairs leading towards the top floor is very modern, thus it is not steep unlike the original ones. There is not much to do inside but the view on top is magnificent!
Written January 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ワイズマン
Shibuya, Japan290 contributions
Jul 2024 • Couples
Take the Kinkasan Ropeway, a 15-minute bus ride from Gifu Station, and walk another 8 minutes down the stairs from the last stop. There was a strong sense of post-construction castles, and rather a strong tendency to show armor and exhibits. I couldn't get a good view from the window on the way, either, because the pillars got in the way, but the relief was that it was an ordinary staircase to the keep. It may be a great castle, but it felt like a bit of a hurdle to visit.
Automatically translated
Written July 19, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Just-Julie-Cairns
Cairns, Australia869 contributions
Jul 2014 • Family
I recently did a 19 day trip to Japan with the primary intention to see as many castles as I could fit into my timeframe. Gifu castle was of course on my list because of it's association with the warlord Oda Nobunaga ( my favourite warlord in Japanese History). We arrived at JR Gifu station and as we were travelling that day onto Nagoya we put our luggage into a locker at the station and then found the tourist information office for details to get to the castle. They gave us great information on the bus number we needed to catch and also where to catch it and a map of the castle park area. We made our way to the bus stop and a lovely bus company lady asked us where we wanted to go and advised us which bus to catch as it arrived at the terminal. We travelling on the bus for about 20 minutes before our stop arrived (Gifukoen-mae stop) and it cost about 220 yen. The Castle park was just in front of us so really easy to find. We walked through the park following the signs to the castle entrance. There are two ways of getting to the castle. First way is by walking up the stairs that was about 2.7 Km from memory and the second which we opted to do was to catch the cable car (Mt Kinka Ropeway) to a point quite close and then do the last couple of hundred metres by the stairs. We purchased a return cable car ticket and waited for the next cable car to arrive. While waiting we browsed in the gift shop checking out all the souvenirs and making a mental note of what I was going to purchase on the return journey. Finally the cable car arrived and we were ushered to the cable car door where a professional photographer too our photo. The 15 minute very steep trip up was amazing and we took heaps of photos. Once out of the cable car there is about a 20 minute hike up to the top of the mountain to the castle. We passed a restaurant that had great views from the mountain and a squirrel village that gave information about the squirrels living on the mountain and your entrance helped their preservation. We made our way up to the castle which cost 200 yen to enter. There is so much information in this castle about Oda Nobunaga and his father in law Saito Dosan. There is just so much to see especially if you are interested in Japanese history like we are. Spend about 90 minutes if you can as there is much to take in. There is a small museum at the base of the castle that you can also enter if you paid for the combined ticket. Not a real lot in here but some lovely traditional clothes and articles from 16 century times. We made our way back down the stairs and decided to have lunch at the restaurant overlooking the city just before the cable car terminal and enjoyed the meal as well as the view. Prices for the meal was reasonable at around 800 yen for what we selected. Be aware to purchase the food tickets at the machine before you enter the restaurant. After lunch we decided to visit the squirrel village and enjoyed the experience. It cost about 200 yen each and we were given protective gloves and what looked like ground nuts to feed the squirrels. They were very active and excited when we held out our gloves to feed them. So many of them walking on our hand, some being very bossy and some a little shy. We really enjoyed this experience. We then made our way to the cable car terminal to wait for the return trip down the mountain. The photo taken on our way up was ready for us to view and of course I purchased as a souvenir of this trip. These photos are always a little bit expensive but I purchase some of them for the memories. We then also purchased from the shop before heading back to the bus stop to take us back to the station for us to continue our journey onto Nagoya.
Written October 6, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
StanleyAuckland
Auckland, New Zealand2,214 contributions
Nov 2011 • Couples
Gifu Castle is on the top of Mt Kinka. To get there, take a bus from Gifu Station (200 yen) to Gifu Park which is at the bottom of Mt Kinka. The cable car Station is next to the park. Cable car cost (as at Nov 2011) for adult is 600 yen one way or 1050 yen for round trip. Childrens fare (between 4 and 11) is 280 yen one way and 520 yen return.
The cable car stops about 30 metres below the castle. Then it's a climb up steep steps for the rest of the way. It's worth the effort as the view from the castle tower is really good. We were there in November so the wind was very cold on the outside of the tower. There is a museum inside the castle tower and another in the weapon and food Storage house.
There is also a small restaurant about halfway between the top cable car station and the castle. It has simple meals such as curry and rice and the view from there is also a good.
The cable car stops about 30 metres below the castle. Then it's a climb up steep steps for the rest of the way. It's worth the effort as the view from the castle tower is really good. We were there in November so the wind was very cold on the outside of the tower. There is a museum inside the castle tower and another in the weapon and food Storage house.
There is also a small restaurant about halfway between the top cable car station and the castle. It has simple meals such as curry and rice and the view from there is also a good.
Written March 2, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JBirkinson
Cape Town Central, South Africa6 contributions
Aug 2018 • Solo
Gifu or Inabayama Castle was an unplanned stop on my travel itinerary. I'm glad I decided to visit Gifu city and its mountaintop castle
The castle sits atop Mount Kinkazan and takes about 15 min to get to via bus from the JR station. You can use either the cable car or hiking trails to reach the top. There is a bit more hiking to do once you reach the summit, but it isn't too serious.
The castle itself peaks out among the trees of the summit and the building has an impressive color scheme. The castle's interior holds a museum that gives you the background about its history and place in Sengoku-era Japan.
The views from the top rival those of any other castle in Japan. You are rewarded with a full 360-degree view of the surrounding city and region as far as Nagoya to the south. Be sure to visit the separate museum next to the castle as it is included in the admission price.
The castle sits atop Mount Kinkazan and takes about 15 min to get to via bus from the JR station. You can use either the cable car or hiking trails to reach the top. There is a bit more hiking to do once you reach the summit, but it isn't too serious.
The castle itself peaks out among the trees of the summit and the building has an impressive color scheme. The castle's interior holds a museum that gives you the background about its history and place in Sengoku-era Japan.
The views from the top rival those of any other castle in Japan. You are rewarded with a full 360-degree view of the surrounding city and region as far as Nagoya to the south. Be sure to visit the separate museum next to the castle as it is included in the admission price.
Written May 2, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RileyPark77
Seoul, South Korea31 contributions
Apr 2013 • Family
I'm the biggest fan of Japanese history. So there could be a bias and emotional factor for me to this historic castle. Reconstruction was not really a matter to me. Just being at historical place I longed for visiting was enough to be impressed. Firstly, I could see the garden which was so beautiful and exquisite around ground entrance. It was like a picture. After using cable car, I could face the traditional Gifu castle. It was very impressive and I was overwhelmed by the scene that the castle was surrounded by nature at the top of the mountain. The view from the top level of the castle was spectacular and made me think what warlords who had owned this castle in senkoku period had thought on the site. It took long to visit this castle from Nagoya, but it was the most amazing experience among all my several trips to Japan.
Written February 6, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RokaVeni
55 contributions
Nov 2019
The castle itself isn't anything mind blowing, it's very similar to all the other castles you get to see around Japan. What makes Gifu castle special is the view.
The entire experience of hiking up the mount Kinka and then seeing the landscape from the top of the castle was one of the highlights of the my trip to Nagoya and its surroundings.
The entire experience of hiking up the mount Kinka and then seeing the landscape from the top of the castle was one of the highlights of the my trip to Nagoya and its surroundings.
Written November 4, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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