Feature: A Journey to Meet the Forest Spirit – Accommodations, Nature, and Culture of Gifu's Tono Region

Feature: Gifu Prefecture's "Wellness Tourism"
Tono Region: "Nature," "Lodging," and "Culture"

A Journey to Meet the Forest Spirit

Gifu Prefecture boasts numerous tourist attractions, including the World Heritage site Shirakawa-go, Gero Onsen—one of Japan's three renowned hot springs—and the 1300-year-old Nagara River cormorant fishing. This March, the prefecture entered into a comprehensive agreement with the associationMore Treesto jointly promote "Gifu Wellness Tourism," a new style of travel focused on Gifu's unique nature and ecology. OPENERS will report on the appeal of this "Gifu Wellness Tourism," which is gentle on both people and the environment, over three installments. This journey retraces the steps of Ryuichi Sakamoto when he visited for the comprehensive agreement signing ceremony. We invite you to discover a facet of the little-known Tono culture in the southeastern "Tono Area," with its cypress forests, traditional houses relocated as inns, and the local art form known as Ji-Kabuki.

Photographs by JAMANDFIXText by KASE Tomoshige (OPENERS)

Chapter 1: Why Do Forests Exist?

Tono cypress, considered the pinnacle of timber for construction, originates from Nakatsugawa City in Gifu Prefecture, where it has been cultivated for lumber for the Ise Grand Shrine's rebuilding since the 14th century. Forestry in this region adheres to time-honored traditions, with timber primarily used for construction. However, new initiatives are emerging to adapt to changing times, such as woodworking for interior design and a variety of products born from cypress.

Chapter 2: Lodging is People, Food is People

Beyond the bounty of the mountains, such as wild grasses and mushrooms, perhaps the most abundant resource in Gifu, alongside forests, is the "river." Ibi River, Kiso River, and the Nagara River, famous nationwide for its cormorant fishing. The greatest gift from Gifu's rivers is the ayu sweetfish, and from May onwards, inns will invariably serve ayu. And where there is good water, there is good sake—consequently, the meals at Gifu's inns are naturally superb.

Chapter 3: Cultural Succession and a Return to the Forest

Amateur performances of local folk theater are known as "Ji-Kabuki" in Gifu, with 29 preservation societies active across the prefecture, the highest number in Japan. The Tono area alone is home to 15 of these groups, and seven old and new theaters still stand, regularly hosting performances and serving as active venues. Staging Ji-Kabuki requires significant time and financial investment, yet local residents continue to collaborate and support these activities.

Gifu Prefectural Tourism Division
Tel. 058-272-8393
http://www.kankou-gifu.jp/(Gifu Prefectural Tourism Federation Official Website)

OPENERS

Feature: A Journey to Meet the Forest Spirit – Accommodations, Nature, and Culture of Gifu's Tono Region

Feature: Gifu Prefecture's "Wellness Tourism"
Tono Region: "Nature," "Lodging," and "Culture"

A Journey to Meet the Forest Spirit

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Feature: Gifu Prefecture's "Wellness Tourism"Tono Region: "Nature," "Lodging," and "Culture"

A Journey to Meet the Forest Spirit

Feature: Gifu Prefecture's "Wellness Tourism"
Tono Region: "Nature," "Lodging," and "Culture"