The park features a stretch of land where fishing is absolutely free no matter the time of day!

Zao is a complex volcano located on the border of Yamagata and Miyagi Prefectures. During the summer season, it becomes a great place to explore and play. The mountain is a winter destination for most people, however, Zao is like other tourist attractions in Japan; you can visit the place enjoying its seasonal beauty throughout the year.

If you are seeking to experience the older side of Japan away from the cities, here are my top 15 recommendations of what Gifu has to offer for your next visit!

Fishing is deep-rooted in Japanese culture and fishing trips to the countryside are quite popular during the weekends and holidays, but for those living in the heart of Tokyo or for those who do not really want to have to go out of the city, Ichigaya Fishing Centre is an amazing alternative.

The Cormorant fishing festival of Nagara River of Gifu is one of the famous and important summer festivals of the place. It is conducted during the summer months starting from May 11th to October 15th.

There are several reasons to visit the town of Inuyama in Aichi prefecture: the castle designated as the National Treasure, the Urakuen with its National Treasure teahouse and the nearby museum or theme parks like Meiji Mura and Little World. But for me the best reason to visit Inuyama, is to witness the Ukai fishing, a traditional fishing method using cormorants that apparently dates back some 1300 years.