Mino-Mikawa Highlands, Tableland across Gifu, Aichi, and Nagano Prefectures, Japan.

The Mino-Mikawa Highlands are a tableland spanning the Ena district of Gifu Prefecture, northeastern Aichi Prefecture, and part of Nagano Prefecture. It is an uplifted peneplain of granite, mostly below 1,000 meters, continuing southwest from the Kiso Mountains. The Toyo, Yahagi, and Kiso rivers cut deep valleys through it, and the Mino and Mikawa portions are known respectively as the Mino Plateau and the Mikawa Highlands.

The area that makes up the highlands once belonged to the old provinces of Mino and Mikawa, both of which were important administrative regions during the Edo period. Their shared boundary along this elevated terrain shaped the growth of surrounding settlements for centuries.

The name of the highlands comes from the two old provinces of Mino and Mikawa, which roughly match parts of present-day Gifu and Aichi. Travelers passing through the area will notice small rural settlements where local markets and seasonal gatherings mark the year.

The highlands are best explored by car, as public transport is infrequent in the more remote parts of the region. It is worth setting aside a full day, since the distances between different parts of the plateau can be considerable.

The highlands are a raised peneplain of mainly granite, mostly below about 1,000 m, continuing southwest from the Kiso Mountains. The Hida-Kisogawa, Tenryu-Okumikawa and Aichi Kogen quasi-national parks cover parts of it, and the northern section yields fine pottery clay that has long fed kilns in Seto and the Mino ware districts of southeastern Gifu.