Transportation in
Gifu/CHUNO Region
Trains
The most common and convenient way to travel is by train. Trains are clean, safe and almost always on time. The main rail company is Japan Rail (JR), but there are also a few privately owned railways. Below is a not-to-scale map that shows all of the lines and their main connections in Gifu.
Gifu JR Station
Gifu JR station is the transport hub for this area. The main lines that depart from here are:
Meitetsu trains are slightly more expensive than JR trains. The train lines that depart from here are:
The Tarumi
The Tarumi is a private, one carriage train that departs from platform 6 ( 樽見鉄道), which is at the far right end of the far platform when you walk into the Ogaki JR station. It runs to and from Tarumi station in Neo village and goes via Kitagatamakuwa and MALera. It only goes every 1-2 hours and costs ¥920 (less if you are not going all the way to Tarumi station), which you pay on board to the train driver.
The Nagaragawa Railway
Like the Tarumi, the Nagaragawa Railway is a small private trainline. It departs from Mino-Ota Station in Kani, and runs through Seki and Gujo. It runs in frequently and JETs in these two cities find the bus to be often a more convent way to get around.
Gifu JR Station
Gifu JR station is the transport hub for this area. The main lines that depart from here are:
- Tokaido Line (東海道線): south to Nagoya, west to Ogaki, Sekigahara and Maibara.
- From Maibara you can catch a train to Kyoto and Osaka. Though slightly longer than catching the shinkansen from Nagoya, it is a much cheaper option (from Gifu station it costs ¥2500 rather than ¥6000 one way).
- If you are short on time and plan on going to Kansai for a short trip, try the shuttle ticket
(シャトル切符) from Ogaki. This gives a 2 day discount for the shinkansen from Nagoya.
- Hida Line (飛騨線) in yellow and Takayama Line (高山線) in light green: east to Kakamigahara, Mino-Ota, Gero and Takayama. The Takayama Line takes longer than the Hida express line, but is much cheaper (¥2500 and 3hr15m compared to ¥5000 and 2hrs from Gifu).
Meitetsu trains are slightly more expensive than JR trains. The train lines that depart from here are:
- Kakamigahara Line (各務原) in light blue: to Meiden-Kakamigahara and Inuyama.
- Meitetsu Limited Express Line (in red): to Nagoya and Central Japan International Airport. It’s incredibly convenient for getting to the airport, costing ¥1700 and taking about an hour
The Tarumi
The Tarumi is a private, one carriage train that departs from platform 6 ( 樽見鉄道), which is at the far right end of the far platform when you walk into the Ogaki JR station. It runs to and from Tarumi station in Neo village and goes via Kitagatamakuwa and MALera. It only goes every 1-2 hours and costs ¥920 (less if you are not going all the way to Tarumi station), which you pay on board to the train driver.
The Nagaragawa Railway
Like the Tarumi, the Nagaragawa Railway is a small private trainline. It departs from Mino-Ota Station in Kani, and runs through Seki and Gujo. It runs in frequently and JETs in these two cities find the bus to be often a more convent way to get around.
Buses
Buses are cheap and reliable and used frequently by JETs in this region.
Gifu City Buses
Beyond Gifu City
Gifu City Buses
- Outside the north exit of the Gifu JR station is the main bus centre (see map below).There is an information booth there and staff can direct you to the appropriate bus if you know where you want to go but don’t know how to get there. However, they are unlikely to speak much English. The tourist office staff on the second floor of Gifu JR (to the left of the ticket machines) are likely to speak (slightly) more English.
- For people who ride buses frequently, you can get a bus IC card at the information booth. You will need to fill out a form in Japanese.
- When your bus arrives, get on via the back door and take a ticket. When you get off, give the ticket to the driver and pay your fare (the fare is always ¥210 within Gifu City).
- If you have a bus card, remember to tap on when you get on.
Beyond Gifu City
- Between Gifu JR and Gifu Meitetsu is another bus rank. The buses that leave from here are mostly longer-distance buses, many to touristy destinations like Shirakawa-go and Takayama.
- You have to book these tickets at the ticket office, but you can look the times up online beforehand at nohibus.co.jp
- From Nagoya station you can catch more buses to regions outside of Gifu. They have many day and overnight buses departing from there. You can book tickets online using www.willerexpress.com or www.kousokubus.net/JpnBus/en and a range of other different websites. Catching a bus from here is the cheapest way to get to Tokyo!
- Cheap ways to get down to Kyoto from Mino, Seki and Gifu can be found: http://www.onthestreet.jp/busride.php?od=1687mino-kyoto
The best websites for those in Gujo and Seki are (sorry they are in Japanese):
- http://www.gifubus.co.jp/noriai/nori/jikoku/mino/nagoya.pdf (bus to Nagoya)
- http://www.gifubus.co.jp/noriai/index.html (local buses)
Bicycles
There is a lot of bicycle parking all around Gifu, so cycling places is never a problem. Also, Gifu is very safe, so there is no fear of having your bike stolen.
You can also rent a bicycle for ¥100/day. This is perfect for anyone visiting and wanting to get around downtown easily. To do so you have to show ID and fill in a form. The person at the counter might not speak English, so here is your chance to practice Japanese, sign language, or interpretive dance. You can borrow it for up to 2 days and returns are between 9am–5pm. These bikes can be returned to any of the 5 bicycle stands around the city:
1. JR Gifu Station south exit stand 2. Gifu City Office south building stand
3. Gifu Park stand 4. Ukai Viewing Boat boarding area stand
5. Nagara River Ukai Museum stand
For more information on renting bicycles go to: http://www.gifucvb.or.jp/en/06_access/06_02.html
1. JR Gifu Station south exit stand 2. Gifu City Office south building stand
3. Gifu Park stand 4. Ukai Viewing Boat boarding area stand
5. Nagara River Ukai Museum stand
For more information on renting bicycles go to: http://www.gifucvb.or.jp/en/06_access/06_02.html
Bicycle Rules
In Japan it is compulsory for you to register your bicycle, however there are no penalties for not registering it (unless you get really unlucky). The registration system is supposed to stop bicycles from being stolen and help return them to their owners, so if your bicycle is inspected by a policemen and it’s registered to someone else you may face charges for theft as well as having your bicycle taken off you.
Registering your bicycle isn’t very difficult. If you buy a bicycle from a store then they will help you register it there and then. If you buy your bicycle online or second hand from someone then you will need to fill out this form: http://www.bouhan-net.com/dl/hanbaishoumei.pdf, have the seller fill out this transfer of ownership form: http://www.bouhan-net.com/dl/joutoshoumei.pdf, and give you a copy of their residence card, and then take the bicycle and the forms to your local police station to be registered. Both ways will only cost you ¥500 to register it.
- Ride on the left side of the road, not the right.
- Don’t ride on the footpath where possible.
- Don’t hold an umbrella, use you phone, or wear earphones.
- Bicycles are considered as vehicles, so follow all the road rules (including stop signs)!
In Japan it is compulsory for you to register your bicycle, however there are no penalties for not registering it (unless you get really unlucky). The registration system is supposed to stop bicycles from being stolen and help return them to their owners, so if your bicycle is inspected by a policemen and it’s registered to someone else you may face charges for theft as well as having your bicycle taken off you.
Registering your bicycle isn’t very difficult. If you buy a bicycle from a store then they will help you register it there and then. If you buy your bicycle online or second hand from someone then you will need to fill out this form: http://www.bouhan-net.com/dl/hanbaishoumei.pdf, have the seller fill out this transfer of ownership form: http://www.bouhan-net.com/dl/joutoshoumei.pdf, and give you a copy of their residence card, and then take the bicycle and the forms to your local police station to be registered. Both ways will only cost you ¥500 to register it.
Bike Parking in Gifu city:
If you are looking to take a train from Gifu or Nishi-Gifu station but want to leave your bicycle there, you can use one of the parking areas located on the map below for ¥100/day.
If you are looking to take a train from Gifu or Nishi-Gifu station but want to leave your bicycle there, you can use one of the parking areas located on the map below for ¥100/day.
Airports
Central Japan International Airport / Centrair / Chubu (just south of Nagoya)
Kansai International Airport / KIX (near Osaka)
Narita International Airport (Tokyo)
Pro tips:
1) Always use a flight compare website to find the cheapest flight!
2) Take into consideration the cost and time you will spend traveling from Gifu to Kansai or Tokyo airport compared to Centrair before choosing your flights!
3) If you don’t have a credit card, check out the Japanese airlines (JAL, ANA, Peach, sometimes Jetstar, etc.) which allow you to pay for your flights in cash at a combini.
- This is the closest airport to Gifu. You can easily access it using the Meitetsu Limited Express Line which takes one hour from Meitetsu-Gifu station (\2000). The first train doesn’t arrive at the airport until 6:30am so keep this in mind when booking flights.
- Driving to the airport is quite expensive because of the tolls you will be hit with driving through Nagoya, however parking fees are quite reasonable.
- Low cost carriers Skymark and Jetstar fly from here, as well as ANA and Japan Airlines. You can fly to numerous domestic and international locations from here.
- Always check out the prices from Nagoya before booking because utilising this airport will save you travel time and money!
Kansai International Airport / KIX (near Osaka)
- Kansai has similar domestic options to Centrair, except with the addition of super low cost carrier Peach Airlines (which allows you to pay for flights at a combini too)!
- Kansai also has a much larger range of international airlines flying in and out of it for generally cheaper prices, but remember to factor in that it will cost you at least ¥3000 and 3-4 hours each way to get to KIX from Gifu.
- A bonus is that you can sleep in KIX for free if you want to make an early morning flight. Look for the Lawson on the second level of T1. There you will find padded benches with arm rests, low lighting, and you can even get blankets from the information desk! You may be woken by a security guard but they will just want to check your ticket and then will let you go back to sleep. There’s also hostels and manga cafes nearby if you’d prefer.
Narita International Airport (Tokyo)
- Narita has the most international flight options, but it’s very costly to get there from Gifu compared to going to Centrair or Kansai airport.
Pro tips:
1) Always use a flight compare website to find the cheapest flight!
2) Take into consideration the cost and time you will spend traveling from Gifu to Kansai or Tokyo airport compared to Centrair before choosing your flights!
3) If you don’t have a credit card, check out the Japanese airlines (JAL, ANA, Peach, sometimes Jetstar, etc.) which allow you to pay for your flights in cash at a combini.
Websites and Apps
Hyperdia : For all train schedules all across Japan. Hyperdia is offered in English and in Japanese. You can either pay for the app or use hyperdia.com
Navi.gifubus.co.jp : Bus timetables for Gifu. It’s all in Japanese, so to search for stops you must type the proper kanji or use the map to find your stop.
Willerexpress.com: Cheap highway buses. Particularly useful for cheaper trips to further away places, like Tokyo. They have useful overnight buses too.
Nohibus.co.jp: Buses servicing Hida Takayama. Tip: This bus is half the price of the express train to Takayama and takes the same amount of time! (¥2570 verse ¥4900)!
Navi.gifubus.co.jp : Bus timetables for Gifu. It’s all in Japanese, so to search for stops you must type the proper kanji or use the map to find your stop.
Willerexpress.com: Cheap highway buses. Particularly useful for cheaper trips to further away places, like Tokyo. They have useful overnight buses too.
Nohibus.co.jp: Buses servicing Hida Takayama. Tip: This bus is half the price of the express train to Takayama and takes the same amount of time! (¥2570 verse ¥4900)!
Driving
Parking can be found under and all around Gifu station. It costs about ¥300/hour or ¥1200/24 hours. Money saving tip: Drive to Nishi-Gifu station and park your car there for much cheaper (or for free at the Nishi-Gifu apartments), then catch the 2 minute train in to Gifu. This option becomes dramatically cheaper if you’re planning on leaving your car at the station for more than one day.
How to get to the Kyouiku Center (総合教育センター)
Many ALT events, such as Work Orientation and the Skills Development Conferences, are held at the Kyouiku Center. The closest train station is Nishi Gifu, but that’s a 20 min walk away, so if you are not already in the Nishi Gifu area we recommend taking the bus from Gifu Station Bus Stop #5 to ふれあい福寿会館 (Fureaifukujukaikan), which drops you right across the street from the center.
How to get around from downtown Gifu
To the North Gifu Area
To the Nishi Gifu Area
To Kitagata/Motosu/Neo
- 20 minute bus ride. There are many buses that go North of the river, which leave every 15 minutes or so from the Gifu Station. The last bus home is at 10:20pm.
- 60 minute walk (4.5km)
- 30 minute bike ride
To the Nishi Gifu Area
- 2 minute train ride from Gifu to Nishi-Gifu station (Tokaido line). They leave every 15 minutes or so and the last train is at 12:27am.
- 15 minute bus ride. Buses leave every 30 minutes or so from Gifu Station Bus Stop 13 to 市橋 (Ichihashi). Ichihashi bus stop is only 500m from Nishi-Gifu train station.
- 60 minute walk (5km)
- 30 minute bike ride
To Kitagata/Motosu/Neo
- 30 (Kitagata/Motosu) or 75 (Neo) minutes total. Catch the JR Tokaido Line from Gifu to Ogaki station, then change to the private Tarumi (樽見) line. It goes through Kitagata, Motosu and Neo, and runs about once an hour. The last Tarumi leaves at:
- For Kitagata/MALera: 10:42pm, so you need to catch the 10:21pm from Gifu.
- For Neo: 9:21pm, so you need to catch the 9:06pm from Gifu.
- 40 minute bus ride to Motosu. Buses leave every 60 minutes or so from Bus Stop 8 at Gifu Station to MALera. The last bus is at 9:25pm. (For websites and apps, you must search “Morera” or the corresponding katakana ‘モレラ’).
- 20 minute, ¥3000 taxi from Hozumi station (between Nishi-Gifu and Ogaki) to the Kitagata/Motosu area.