Yanagase District

Yanagase is one of the Chubu region’s major downtown entertainment districts, located about a 15-minute walk north from JR Gifu Station. It once flourished as a textile town, with many clothing shops lined up, and even today the Yanagase Shopping Street retains a strong Showa-era atmosphere that makes visitors feel a sense of nostalgia. The song “Yanagase Blues,” released in 1966 by Kenichi Mikawa, was famously inspired by this area; in the shopping street, a monument engraved with the song’s lyrics still stands. On the 1st and 3rd Saturdays each month, “Yanabura Rakuichi” is held, selling local specialties, fresh vegetables, flowers, handmade foods, and more from around the prefecture. On the 3rd Sunday each month, the “SUNDAY BUILDING MARKET” is held, featuring many handcrafted items and carefully made goods such as leather products, accessories, and sweets. As part of town-revitalization events, a weekend-only “Yozora Cafe” is also held, where you can spend a relaxed weekend evening while watching amateur band stages and live performances by local performers.