Things to do in Mino

Monet's Pond

This is a well-known pond by word of mouth. The unnamed pond is commonly known as Monet's pond. The beautiful water lilies bloom in the clear spring water, and the koi swim gracefully in the pond, as if it were the scenery in Monet's masterpiece "Water Lilies". The scene when the water lilies are in full bloom in early summer is amazing!

No. 4 of Fall Viewing Attractions in Aichi Prefecture

Inuyama Castle

Inuyama Castle was built during the Muromachi Shogunate period. It is located on a small hill next to the Kiso River and is also known as Baidi Castle. This name is not unfamiliar to Chinese travelers, and the namer is indeed reminiscent of the poem "Early Departure from Baidi Castle" written by Li Bai. The Inuyama Castle Tower is one of the twelve existing ancient castle towers in Japan, and its style is relatively old. It is known as the "Four National Treasure Castles of Japan" together with Himeji Castle, Matsumoto Castle, and Hikone Castle. It has 3 floors on the outside, 4 floors inside, and 2 floors underground, which is rare among the castle towers in Japan. Of course, these floors are open to visitors, and travelers can view various architectural structures of the city underground. On the top floor, the 4th floor, you can also walk to the outdoor corridor to enjoy the scenery. Every Thursday, you can also watch the tour of the Aichi Prefecture's Warring States Princess Team for free, which is somewhat similar to the Nagoya Castle's general team and is still worth seeing. Inuyama Castle was built in 1537 by Oda Nobuyasu, the uncle of Oda Nobunaga. It is located on the border of Owari (Aichi Prefecture) and Mino (Gifu Prefecture). It has been a key point for conquering the world since the Warring States Period, and the lord of the castle has changed frequently. During the Battle of Komaki and Nagakute (1584), Toyotomi Hideyoshi led an army of 120,000 into the castle and had a showdown with Tokugawa Ieyasu who used Komakiyama Castle as his base. In the Edo Period (1603-1868), Naruse Masashige, the head of the Owari domain's retainers, became the lord of the castle until the end of the shogunate. However, due to the abolition of domains and establishment of prefectures during the Meiji Restoration (1868), the castle became the property of Aichi Prefecture. However, due to the Nobi earthquake in 1891, half of the castle was damaged, and the castle became the property of the Naruse family again on the condition of restoration. It was a privately owned castle until 2004, when it was taken over by a foundation.

No. 3 of Hot Springs Attractions in Gifu Prefecture

Mugegawa Hot Spring

Mugegawa Hot Spring is a leisure hot spring center that blends natural views, hot springs, and local cultural characteristics. Located in Gifu Prefecture, the center is surrounded by mountains and offers fresh air and a tranquil environment, making it a popular relaxation spot for local residents and visitors. Far from the hustle and bustle of the city, this hot spring center offers unique scenery in every season. In spring, mountain flowers bloom and the landscape is lush with greenery; in summer, the climate is refreshing, allowing visitors to experience the natural atmosphere of the mountains; in fall, red leaves cover the mountains and forests, creating a charming view; in winter, it is perfect for soaking in warm spring water while enjoying the quiet winter scenery. The hot spring center features open-air baths, indoor baths, and relaxation spaces, allowing visitors to enjoy soaking while taking in the surrounding natural views. The center also has a relaxation area where visitors can rest, read magazines, or take a nap in a comfortable space after bathing.

Gifu Castle

Gifu Castle, which stands on the rock at the top of Mount Jinhua, is easy to defend and difficult to attack. It took Oda Nobunaga more than ten years to travel from Nagoya to Gifu (then called Inabayama Castle). Therefore, after the capture of Gifu, Nobunaga couldn't wait to move the city here, and changed its name to Gifu after King Wen of Zhou Fengming Qishan as an allusion; This is the starting point of Nobunaga's military deployment in the world, a historical freezing point that cannot be missed. The present Gifu Castle is a 3-story 4-story castle rebuilt in 1956. There is a historical exhibition room in the castle and an observation deck upstairs. From the observation deck, you can overlook the Nagara River and the rolling mountains to the north. You can also enjoy the beautiful night view from the observation deck.

Roadside Station Heisei (Michi-no-Eki)

Udatsu-lined streetscape

2026 Global 100 - Best Things to Do

Universal Studios Japan

Here you'll find not only heart-pounding attractions themed around Hollywood blockbuster movies, but also live shows featuring popular cartoon characters—fun for everyone from kids to adults! This is home to the world's first Nintendo theme park, where you can immerse yourself in the world of Super Mario! Here we have holiday-exclusive parades and float tours! Everyone here is the star—join the passionate parade, ignite your excitement together, and feel full of energy! Located in OsakaUniversal Studios Japan("Universal Studios Japan") is one of the Universal Studios theme parks. It opened in 2001 and is a classic and wonderful world of fun in the hearts of many visitors. Its design is similar to Universal Studios Orlando in the United States, and it features popular areas such as "Jurassic Park," "Hollywood," and "Waterworld." With more than 60 fun attractions, you can keep playing and exploring all day long. Universal Studios JapanThere are also much-loved themed IP areas such as "Super Nintendo World (Mario/Super Mario)", "Minions", and "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter". Whether you're having fun interacting with the Minions, racing through the Mario Kart adventure, or weaving through the magical world of Hogwarts, these are all wonderfully unforgettable experiences. △The Nintendo area is a collaboration between Nintendo andUniversal Studios JapanThe world's first Nintendo theme park, jointly built, features the globally popular Super Mario as its main character. It offers a 1:1 ultra-realistic recreation of Bowser's Castle, Princess Peach's Castle, and the Mushroom Kingdom from the game, allowing you to immerse yourself in the world of Super Mario! △"Despicable Me Minion Mayhem" and "Freeze Ray Sliders" pull you into the Minions' gigantic chaos and whip up a heatwave! A huge swarm of Minions is running wild and turning everything upside down in every street, alley, and corner! In the joyful and boisterous Minion Park, every visitor can't help but join in the mischievous mayhem! △Welcome to the magnificent area—The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™, which faithfully recreates the world of the Harry Potter™ stories with overwhelming scale and meticulous attention to every detail. The towering Hogwarts™ castle stands tall, and in front of it lies the vast Hogsmeade™ where wizards live, along with many ride attractions and various shops. Here, you can step into "that world" from the films, as if everything is happening right before your eyes.

Gifu Retro Museum

Gifu Family Park

Seki Swordsmith Museum