Japan Guide
Central Honshū
Gujō Hachiman
Gujō Hachiman's bygone days atmosphere and mountain-bound location – with two pristine rivers, the Yoshida and Nagara, running through the centre – lend it great appeal. Tucked in a valley on an old trade route that once led to the Sea of Japan, it's worth visiting year round, but the best time is during the Gujō Odori, one of Japan's top three dance festivals.
Gujō is a lovely place just to wander around and make casual discoveries. The tourist office sells a ¥1500 ticket giving you access to nine different places of interest around town. The best of these is the Hakurankan (daily 9.30am–5pm, during Gujō Odori 9am–6pm; ¥500). This excellent museum has four sections detailing the town's history, arts and crafts, connection with water, and folk dance. A good fifteen-minute climb from the Hakurankan, past several attractive temples, is Gujō-Hachiman-jō (daily: March– May 9am–5pm; June– Aug 8am–6pm; Nov– Feb 9am–4.30pm; ¥300). This photogenic replica of the old castle was rebuilt in 1934 on the stone foundations of the less elaborate original structure.