How about Taking a Night Walk in Gujo hachiman; A recommended route

Night view in Gujo Hachiman

Taking a day walk in Gujo Hachiman is popular in spring, summer, and autumn season of its beautiful cherry blossom trees, traditional dance and autumn leaves. Taking a walk at night is not popular so there are only a few people in Gujo Hachiman. However, the night scape in Gujo Hachiman is very beautiful and quaint mood of its waterways, bridges, spring water, old street and so on.

In Gujo Hachiman, especially winter night, it’s very cold, so make sure you wear something warm when you go out. Please watch your step especially when you walk along waterways.  I almost fell in when I was into taking photos…

Recommended Route and Places

I’d like to introduce night scape in Gujo Hachiman and suggest taking a night walk here. The recommended route is about 2 km so you can visit for about 1 hour.

1. Gujo Hachiman Visitor Center

Gujo Hachiman Visitor Center: Former Municipal Government Office Building
Gujo Hachiman Visitor Center: Former Municipal Government Office Building

Gujo Hachiman Visitor Center is also Former municipal government office building. It is opening as a visitor center and a souvenir shop in the daytime. It is closed but illuminated at night. You can take photos of this building and Shin Bashi Bridge with lamps.

2. Igawa Komichi; Waterway, Lamps and Koi Fish

Igawa Komichi
Koi Fish in Igawa Komichi

Igawa Komichi is a small, old and locals familiar path along the waterway in Gujo Hachiman. The water in Igawa Komichi streams from Yoshidagawa river. 

You can enjoy one of the typical Gujo Hachiman scene and mood here so I think it is good place for taking photos. Both daytime and nighttime are nice.  Please watch your step especially when you go at night.  I almost fell in when I was into taking photos…


3. Sakyo Inari Shrine and Otohime Gawa River

Otohime Gawa River and Lamps
Sakyo Inari Shrine

After you visit Igawa Komichi, Otohime Gawariver and Sakyo Inari Shrine are easy to access. Japanese lanterns equipped to shrine gate and riverside lamps make a beautiful,nocturnal scene.

4. Yanaka Mizu no Komichi

Yanaka Mizu no Komichi
Yanaka Inari Shrine

Yanaka Mizuno Komichi , a pocket park along a waterway in Gujo Hachiman is also good to go. It is decorated with small art crafts at different seasons of the year.

5. Sogi Sui Spring and Shimizu Bashi Bridge

Sogi Sui Spring

Sogi Sui Spring is very quaint place at night. This water is used for many years. Now it is acknowledged as good keeping spring water by Japanese Ministry of the Environment.

6. Kitamachi ward waterway and Small Art Craft

Kitamachi waterway
Kitamachi waterway

Kitamachi waterway was used for daily life water and fire fighting in years. You can see small art work like a Japanese garden here. The sculptures of a turtle and frogs are cute.