Enjoy Ogaki City, Gifu Prefecture! 4 Recommended Tourist Spots Within Walking Distance from the Station

When visiting Ogaki City, Gifu Prefecture, the first keywords you'll want to know are "spring water" and "castle town." Here we'll introduce some of the things you can see and do within walking distance of JR Ogaki Station.

Written by

Ogaki Tourism Association

Located in the center of Nishi Mino in the western part of Gifu Prefecture, Ogaki is blessed with an abundance of groundwater, so much so that it has long been known as the "City of Water." Known as the birthplace of haiku poet Matsuo Basho's travelogue "The Narrow Road to the Deep North," the town is also home to Ogaki Castle, which served as the base of Ishida Mitsunari's Western Army during the Battle of Sekigahara, and Sunomata Ichiya Castle, said to have been built in one night by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. From late March to May, the town is home to boat rides, tub boats, and the Ogaki Festival, which was registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage site in 2016.

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• Table of Contents
• Water City Ogaki Encounter Fountain (0 minutes walk from the south exit of JR Ogaki Station)
• Ogaki Castle (7 minutes walk from the south exit of JR Ogaki Station)
• Masuya (15 minutes walk from the south exit of JR Ogaki Station)
• Funamachi Kawaminato (20 minutes walk from the south exit of JR Ogaki Station)
• summary

Water City Ogaki Encounter Fountain (0 minutes walk from the south exit of JR Ogaki Station)

Ogaki City is known as the "City of Water" due to its abundant groundwater, and there are wells all over the city where groundwater naturally springs up, attracting many people in search of pure water.

Just outside the south exit of JR Ogaki Station, there is a well where groundwater bubbles up, making it a place where you can experience the spring water that is essential to understanding Ogaki.

First of all, why not try experiencing the water of Ogaki?

Learn more about Ogaki City's spring water

Ogaki Castle (7 minutes walk from the south exit of JR Ogaki Station)

Ogaki Castle is loved by the locals as a symbol of the castle town of Ogaki.

Inside the castle, materials related to the Battle of Sekigahara and Ogaki Castle are on display, allowing you to learn about history.

Ogaki Castle

503-0887 2-52 Kakumachi, Ogaki City, Gifu Prefecture

Ogaki Castle is said to have been built in 1535 by Kichizaemon Miyagawa, a military commander from the Toki clan who was the governor of Mino. During the Battle of Sekigahara, it became the headquarters of Ishida Mitsunari of the Western Army. After that, the Toda clan became the lord of the castle with 100,000 koku, and the period of peace continued until the Meiji period. It was designated as a national treasure in 1936, but was destroyed in a war in July 1945. In April 1959, the castle tower was rebuilt and became the symbol of the castle town of Ogaki.

Masuya (15 minutes walk from the south exit of JR Ogaki Station)

Approximately 80% of the masu produced in Japan are produced in Ogaki City, Gifu Prefecture.

Traditional masu are simple rectangular prisms, but their production requires precision. Four precisely cut side panels are assembled, a bottom panel is attached, and the piece is then finished by planing. While machines are used, delicate handwork is essential in many steps of the masu production process, and this is where the wisdom and craftsmanship of the masu craftsman come into play.

Ohashi Riki is a company that specializes in making the traditional Japanese tool "masu" (wooden masu). Located on the factory grounds, there is a shop specializing in masu called "Masu Kobo Masuya." You can purchase classic masu that have been made since ancient times, as well as unique products that use masu.

You can enjoy exciting and thrilling products while being surrounded by the scent of cypress that fills the store.

Masuya Masu Workshop

2-8, Nishisotomachi, Ogaki City, Gifu Prefecture, 503-0908

"Masu Kobo Masuya" is a masu specialty shop located within the Ohashi Ryoki factory, which specializes in the traditional Japanese tool "masu" (Japanese sake cup). The store is packed with a variety of masu cups.

Funamachi Kawaminato (20 minutes walk from the south exit of JR Ogaki Station)

The Suimon River, which flows through Ogaki City, was built as the outer moat of Ogaki Castle. In addition to being the outer moat of Ogaki Castle, it was also used for shipping via the Ibi River.

Funamachigawa Port on the Suimon River was a busy port with a large flow of goods and people as a transportation route, and it is said that many ships passed through. The remains of Funamachi Port, where the Sumiyoshi Lighthouse stands, still retain the atmosphere of those days.

This is also the place where the haiku poet Matsuo Basho completed his journey in his masterpiece of travel literature, "The Narrow Road to the Deep North." Nearby is the "Oku-no-Hosomichi Musubi no Chi Memorial Museum," where you can learn about the footsteps of Matsuo Basho. There is also an English guide system in the theater inside the museum.

The Suimon River is also famous as a cherry blossom viewing spot, and is bustling with tourists during the cherry blossom season.

Ōgaki Funamachi Riverside (National Place of Scenic Beauty)

2-26 Funamachi, Ogaki City, Gifu Prefecture 503-0923

The Funamachi Port on the Suimon River has been a vital hub for the exchange of people, goods, and culture in the Seino region since it was developed by the Ogaki Domain during the Edo period. Today, it is designated as a National Place of Scenic Beauty under the name "Oku no Hosomichi Scenic Spot – Ogaki Funamachi Riverside," attracting many tourists as a famous sightseeing location.

Oku no Hosomichi Musubi no Chi Memorial Museum

503-0923 2-26-1 Funamachi, Ogaki City, Gifu Prefecture

The Oku-no-Hosomichi Musubi-no-chi Memorial Museum is located right next to Ogaki Funamachi Kawaminato, which has been selected as a National Scenic Place and a scenic spot along the Oku-no-hosomichi route. There is the Bashokan, where you can see materials related to Matsuo Basho and Oku no Hosomichi, as well as 3D images, and the Senkenkan, which introduces the achievements of Ogaki's predecessors. We welcome sightseeing visitors with a full range of facilities such as the Exchange Hall.

summary

In this article, we introduced four recommended spots within walking distance of JR Ogaki Station. Ogaki City also has many other tourist spots worth visiting, such as Japanese confectionery shops and sake breweries. For more information on recommended spots in Ogaki City, please check the following website.

Learn more about Ogaki City's tourism information