Gujo Hachiman Castle is also known as the oldest wooden reconstructed castle in Japan. The wooden castle keep, built in 1933, has a wooden floor that creaks when you walk on it, giving you a sense of history. Enjoy the unique wooden atmosphere of the castle. The castle tower is a four-story, five-story structure with a bold atrium from the first to the second floor, which is one of the charms of Gujo Hachiman Castle not found in other castles. The chalk-white castle tower, surrounded by the sky and nature, has been called “the most beautiful mountain castle in Japan” and has an overwhelming presence and beauty that guards the castle town of Gujo Hachiman.

Surrounded by deep green mountains, Gujo Hachiman is a town rich in nature with a river flowing through the centre of the city. Nurtured by this blessed topography and its long history, the people of Gujo Hachiman have taken root in a way of life that makes the most of “water. For example, waterways can be seen when walking through the town, and water tanks called “mizu-bune” are located in front of the tourist association in the centre of the town and at several other places, where you can drink water and quench your thirst when visiting the town. In addition, the culture of Gujo Odori, one of Japan's three major Bon Odori dances held in the summer, is deeply rooted throughout the town, and there are abundant facilities and other activities related to dancing. Of course, stores for purchasing souvenirs and other items are also scattered throughout the town. Our guide will take you to the facilities that interest you, so please let us know what you would like to see.

Did you know that there is such a thing as food samples in Japan? Food samples are known throughout Japan since around 1930 as “menu samples” mainly in restaurants and other eating establishments. Today, food samples have become a “sales promotion tool” that instantly conveys the appeal of a product to customers as “food samples that are more ‘authentic’ than the real thing” by capturing the most delicious moment of the product, and are also loved as decorative items such as key chains. They are also loved as decorative items such as keychains, and are attracting the interest of foreign travellers as well. It is also possible to experience the traditional techniques used in the past. *Please select the option if you wish to experience this. *If you only want to purchase, please select the regular option and inform the guide of your visit.

Here, visitors can create items associated with Gujo Odori, a tradition of Gujo Hachiman and one of the three major Bon Odori dances in Japan. Using “silk-screen printing,” a local industry in Gujo City, you can create your own original tenugui (a cloth worn around the neck or forehead at festivals to wipe sweat off) or T-shirts by combining your favourite patterns and colours. This will be a recommended item for your travel memories. The shop is popular among tourists with children, and many repeat customers come back. *Please select the option if you wish to experience this.