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Gujo Hachiman Without a Car: Things to Do, Buses and Trains

What to see in Gujo Hachiman on foot, and the buses and trains that get you there from Nagoya, Gifu and Takayama.

Researched & written byRural Japan GuidesHow I researchSources16 sourceslisted at the endLast checkedDetails can change — check the official site before you travel.Read4 min
The Yoshida River in Gujo Hachiman, running fast over rocks under a road bridge, with a wooden walkway along the bank

The Yoshida River in Gujo Hachiman. Photo: gundam2345 / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 3.0

The short answer
  • Gujo Hachiman is a small castle town in Gifu, known for its spring water and the Gujo Odori dances, held on 30 nights from July 11 to September 5 in 2026.
  • Buses from Gifu (¥1,800) and some buses from Nagoya stop at Jokamachi Plaza in town. Nohi buses between Nagoya and Takayama stop at Gujo Hachiman IC, about 2 km out.
  • By train, change at Mino-Ota to the Nagaragawa Railway, about 1 hr 20 min to Gujo-Hachiman Station. The Japan Rail Pass is not valid on it.
My pick

From Gifu, take the Gifu Bus. From Nagoya or Takayama, book the Nohi bus.

The Gifu Bus from JR Gifu Station runs to Jokamachi Plaza in town, needs no reservation and costs ¥1,800.

The Nohi buses between Nagoya and Takayama stop at Gujo Hachiman IC; book a seat, and book the demand bus into town before you board.

  1. 1From GifuGifu Bus to Jokamachi Plaza, ¥1,800, no reservation
  2. 2From Nagoya or TakayamaNohi bus to Gujo Hachiman IC, reservation required
  3. 3By trainChange at Mino-Ota; Nagaragawa Railway about 1 hr 20 min

Gujo Hachiman is a castle town in the mountains of Gifu Prefecture, with water channels running past its houses and a summer dance festival that lasts two months. This guide covers what to see on foot and the buses and trains in from Nagoya, Gifu and Takayama. Bus and train details are from the operators' pages and the sights from their own sites and the tourism association, checked October 22, 2026.

For the wider region, see my Japanese Alps without a car guide.

Things to do in Gujo Hachiman

  • Gujo Hachiman Castle: on the hill above town, about 20 minutes on foot from Jokamachi Plaza. Admission is ¥400 for adults and ¥200 for children. It opens 9:00–17:00 in March – May and September – October, 8:00–18:00 in June – August and 9:00–16:30 in November – February; last entry is 15 minutes before closing. It is closed December 20 – January 10.
  • Sogi-sui: a spring that was the first place named in the Ministry of the Environment's list of Japan's 100 notable waters.
  • Igawa Komichi: a water channel beside the Kinenkan, with carp and river fish swimming along it.
  • Gujo Hachiman Hakurankan: a museum known for its Gujo Odori dance demonstrations. Admission is ¥540 for adults and ¥320 for children, 9:30–17:00 (last entry 16:30; open to 18:00 on Gujo Odori nights). It is closed December 24 – January 2. A ticket for both the castle and the Hakurankan is ¥750 for adults.
  • Making a food sample: Sample Kobo runs workshops of about 30 minutes, from ¥1,500 for adults (an ice cream phone stand) to ¥3,000 (tempura, reservation required). The fee includes entry to its Retro Art museum. During Golden Week, Obon and three-day weekends it takes no advance bookings; sign up at the shop on the day.
  • Cycling: the Kinenkan rents 5 bicycles with 20-inch wheels, for riders 137 cm or taller. A half day (up to 4 hours) is ¥500 and a full day ¥1,000, plus a ¥500 deposit that is refunded when you return the bike. Bikes can be returned at the Kinenkan, Jokamachi Plaza, the Hakurankan or the Gujo-Hachiman Station cafe.

Gujo Odori

Gujo Odori is a Bon dance on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list, and anyone may join the circle. In 2026 it ran on 30 nights, from July 11 to September 5. The all-night dancing was on August 13, 14, 15 and 16, from 20:00 until 4:00 or 5:00 the next morning. The tourism association's schedule lists where the dancing is each night.

Getting there

From How Stop in Gujo Hachiman Fare Book?
Gifu Gifu Bus Jokamachi Plaza ¥1,800 No
Nagoya Nohi or Meitetsu bus Gujo Hachiman IC ¥2,600 (¥2,300 online) Yes
Nagoya Gifu Bus, set days only Jokamachi Plaza ¥2,400 Yes
Takayama Nohi bus Gujo Hachiman IC ¥2,400 (¥2,100 online) Yes
Mino-Ota Nagaragawa Railway Gujo-Hachiman Station — No

"—" means I have not confirmed the fare.

Gifu Bus — JR Gifu Station – Jokamachi Plaza

  1. Leaves from stop 14 at JR Gifu Station. The Meitetsu Gifu bus center closed on October 1, 2024, so the buses no longer start there.
Why pick itit stops in town, needs no reservation, and you pay on board; IC cards such as ayuca are accepted. The estimated time is 1 hr 27 min.
Watch outa round-trip ticket, ¥3,200 and valid for 7 days, is sold only at counters, before you ride.

Nohi bus — Nagoya or Takayama – Gujo Hachiman IC

  1. On the Takayama – Nagoya line, 6 of the 12 buses each way stop at Gujo Hachiman IC. Toward Nagoya they leave the IC at 7:51, 9:51, 13:21, 16:21, 18:21 and 20:21. From JR Nagoya Station, the 7:45 reaches the IC at 9:06 and the 9:45 at 11:06.
  2. From Takayama, the Takayama – Gifu line also stops at the IC: for example, Takayama 6:50 → IC 7:55 and Takayama 9:00 → IC 10:05. The fare from Takayama is ¥2,400 on either line.
Watch outthe IC stop is on the expressway, about 2 km from the center of town.

From the IC into town: a taxi takes about 7 minutes. There is also a demand bus that you must reserve before your highway bus leaves Nagoya, Takayama or Osaka; the tourism association's English page gives the fee as ¥350 and the number as 0120-053155 (9:00–17:00).

By train: take JR to Mino-Ota, about 30 minutes from Gifu or about 40 minutes from Nagoya on the Hida limited express, then the Nagaragawa Railway to Gujo-Hachiman Station, about 1 hr 20 min. The Japan Rail Pass is not valid on the Nagaragawa Railway; its One Day Ticket costs ¥2,700 for adults.

Luggage

The Kinenkan has two sets of paid coin lockers outside the building, by the east staff entrance (18 lockers) and behind the public toilets (16 lockers), open 24 hours a day. If they are full or your suitcase does not fit, the tourist counter on the first floor keeps bags during opening hours for a fee.

In winter

The castle stays open on shorter hours from November to February but closes December 20 – January 10, and the Hakurankan closes December 24 – January 2. Gujo Odori is a summer festival only. For a winter trip in the region, see my Takayama guide.

Japanese you will see on signs

English Japanese Where
Gujo Hachiman 郡上八幡 Town name
Jokamachi Plaza 城下町プラザ Bus stop in town
Gujo Hachiman IC 郡上八幡インター Expressway bus stop
Mino-Ota 美濃太田 Change for the Nagaragawa Railway
Gujo Hachiman Castle 郡上八幡城 On the hill
What I could not confirm yet
  • The Nagaragawa Railway fare from Mino-Ota to Gujo-Hachiman.
  • The fare of the town loop bus.
  • The fee for leaving bags at the Kinenkan counter.
  • The Gujo Odori dates for 2027.

I will update this page when I have confirmed them.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get to Gujo Hachiman from Nagoya without a car?

Take a Nohi or Meitetsu highway bus on the Takayama – Nagoya line to Gujo Hachiman IC, for example JR Nagoya Station 7:45 → Gujo Hachiman IC 9:06. The fare is ¥2,600 (¥2,300 online), and seats must be reserved. From the IC, a reserved demand bus or a taxi takes you into town. Gifu Bus also runs a Nagoya – Hirugano bus to Jokamachi Plaza for ¥2,400 on the days in its operating calendar.

Can I use the Japan Rail Pass to get to Gujo Hachiman?

Only as far as Mino-Ota on JR. The Nagaragawa Railway from Mino-Ota to Gujo-Hachiman does not accept the Japan Rail Pass. Its One Day Ticket costs ¥2,700 for adults.

When is the Gujo Odori dance festival?

In 2026 it ran on 30 nights from July 11 to September 5, with all-night dancing on August 13, 14, 15 and 16, from 20:00 until 4:00 or 5:00 the next morning. Anyone may join the circle.

Is there luggage storage in Gujo Hachiman?

Yes. The Kinenkan (old town hall memorial building) has two sets of paid coin lockers outside, 18 and 16 lockers, open 24 hours. Bags too large for the lockers can be left at the tourist counter on its first floor during opening hours, for a fee.

Is Gujo Hachiman Castle open in winter?

Yes, from 9:00 to 16:30 from November to February, except December 20 – January 10, when it is closed. Admission is ¥400 for adults.

Keep planning

TakayamaTakayama without a car: the train and buses in, the old town on foot, day-trip buses to Shirakawa-go and Kamikochi, luggage and seasons, from official pages.Shirakawa-goReach Shirakawa-go by bus from Takayama, Kanazawa, Toyama or Nagoya: fares, reservations, luggage, staying overnight and what changes in snow season.Japanese Alps itineraryDay-by-day 5- and 7-day Japanese Alps itineraries by bus and train: where to sleep, where your luggage goes and estimated transport costs by season.

Sources

  1. Gifu – Gujo Hachiman highway bus — Gifu Bus
  2. Nagoya – Gujo – Hirugano highway bus — Gifu Bus
  3. Takayama – Nagoya highway bus — Nohi Bus
  4. Takayama – Gujo Hachiman – Gifu highway bus — Nohi Bus
  5. Getting here by highway bus — Gujo Hachiman Tourism Association
  6. Getting here by train — Gujo Hachiman Tourism Association
  7. Gujo Hachiman sightseeing (English) — Gujo Hachiman Tourism Association
  8. 2026 Gujo Odori dance schedule — Gujo Hachiman Tourism Association
  9. Water in Gujo Hachiman — Gujo Hachiman Tourism Association
  10. Nagaragawa Railway (English) — Nagaragawa Railway
  11. Gujo Hachiman Castle: admission and hours — Gujo Hachiman Castle
  12. Gujo Hachiman Castle: access — Gujo Hachiman Castle
  13. Gujo Hachiman Hakurankan: admission and hours — Gujo Hachiman Hakurankan
  14. Food sample workshops — Sample Kobo
  15. Kinenkan facilities and coin lockers — Gujo Hachiman Kinenkan
  16. Kinenkan bicycle rental — Gujo Hachiman Kinenkan

Researched and checked by Rio, based in Japan. I read Japanese timetables, operator PDFs and prefecture notices, cross-check them and date every fact. Published . How I research →