Gifu Gokoku Shrine stands at the northern foot of Mount Kinka, the mountain crowned by Gifu Castle, in Gifu City, Gifu Prefecture. The shrine enshrines the spirits of more than 37,800 people from the Gifu, Chuno, and Tono districts who died in service during conflicts from the Boshin War through World War II. Its sacred crest features a chrysanthemum and cherry blossoms.
Gifu Gokoku Shrine is particularly well known for its early-blooming Ukai-zakura cherry tree, a type of Edo-higan cherry that is among the first to bloom in Gifu City each spring.
The tree is more than 100 years old, with a trunk circumference of approximately 2.5 meters and a height of around 8 meters. Every spring, it produces abundant blossoms, heralding the arrival of the new season.
The name Ukai-zakura, meaning “cormorant fishing cherry tree,” comes from a local tradition in which the condition of the blossoms was used to predict the year’s sweetfish catch during the cormorant fishing season. Along with the cherry trees at Gifu Park and along the Nagara River embankment, it has been selected as one of the 33 Best Cherry Blossom Spots in Hida and Mino.
Located beside the Nagara River and surrounded by the natural beauty of Mount Kinka, the shrine offers a peaceful and dignified atmosphere. Flood protection walls and floodgates are also installed around the grounds to help protect the site during high water.
Construction of the main shrine buildings began in 1939, and the complex was completed in November 1940. The front worship hall, known as the outer worship hall, was completed in 1995 as part of a project commemorating the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II.
This memorial shrine honors victims of wartime disasters, including those who died in air raids in Japan and overseas migration-related tragedies. It commemorates victims regardless of which side they belonged to and also honors those whose families or remains have no known resting place.
The original monument was established in 1979 by the Gifu Prefecture Bereaved Families Association and its supporting organization. In 2004, the spirits of the war dead were symbolically welcomed home, and the monument was established within the shrine grounds as the Monument to Peace.
This statue, created by Aichi Bunmei, depicts soldiers who sacrificed their lives while placing their hopes in Japan’s future. The term sakimori refers historically to soldiers assigned to guard Japan’s distant frontiers.
This area is used for ceremonies when the spirits of the war dead are formally enshrined together in the main sanctuary.
This fire-resistant and earthquake-resistant building safeguards the official registers recording the names and memorial tablets of the enshrined war dead.
Kappa Hall is dedicated to Kappa Daimyojin, a deity associated with the legendary water creatures known as kappa in Japanese folklore. The annual Kappa Festival is held here in July.
This landscaped garden represents Daiyashima, an ancient name for the Japanese archipelago, through its garden design.
The shrine office handles prayer requests and offers visitors access to the shrine’s amulets and other religious items.
The first floor of the assembly hall houses the office of the Gifu Prefecture Bereaved Families Association.
This facility is used for wedding receptions and as an assembly venue for gatherings and ceremonies.
The shrine’s celebrated early-blooming cherry tree is a seasonal highlight. Traditionally, its flowering condition was observed as an indicator of the expected abundance of sweetfish caught during the cormorant fishing season.
The shrine was established after two earlier memorial shrines had been founded in Gifu Prefecture: Ogaki Shokonsha, established within Ogaki Castle in 1870 and later known as Nohi Gokoku Shrine, and Hida Shokonsha, established at the former site of Takayama Castle in 1909 and later known as Hida Gokoku Shrine.
Following the outbreak of the Second Sino-Japanese War in 1937, construction of the shrine buildings proceeded, and the complex was completed in November 1940. It was formally established as Gifu Gokoku Shrine.
After World War II, the shrine was temporarily renamed Mino Mitama Shrine. Following the restoration of Japan’s sovereignty, it returned to its original name. In 1952, it was designated a Kinpeisha, a shrine recognized by the Gifu Prefecture Association of Shinto Shrines.
This annual festival is one of the shrine’s principal religious observances, bringing worshippers together for prayers and ceremonies.
During these periods, lanterns are dedicated in honor of the enshrined spirits, creating a solemn and reflective atmosphere within the shrine grounds.
This traditional festival honors Kappa Daimyojin, the deity enshrined at Kappa Hall, and celebrates the area’s connection with Japanese folklore and water-related traditions.
Held on August 15, this memorial observance honors the spirits enshrined at Gifu Gokoku Shrine.
The autumn festival is another major annual observance, providing an opportunity for worshippers to pay their respects and participate in the shrine’s traditions.
Gifu Gokoku Shrine combines solemn memorial traditions with the natural beauty of Mount Kinka and the Nagara River. Visitors can explore its historic grounds, learn about its role in commemorating the war dead, and enjoy the early cherry blossoms of the famous Ukai-zakura tree in spring.
For travelers interested in Japanese history, religious traditions, and seasonal scenery, the shrine offers a meaningful cultural experience in Gifu City.