Kaizu, Administrative city in Gifu Prefecture, Japan
Kaizu is an administrative city in southwestern Gifu Prefecture where three major rivers shape the terrain: the Ibi, Nagara, and Kiso. The urban area spreads across flat land with rice paddies and citrus groves reaching toward the riverbanks.
The region developed from 1319 onward with the construction of the first circle levee to protect against frequent flooding from nearby rivers. In the 18th century, the Horeki water control works transformed the landscape and enabled more stable agricultural use.
The Chisui Shrine honors the engineers from Satsuma who gave their lives completing the 18th-century Horeki flood control works. The memorial site draws visitors seeking to understand these sacrifices and the region's centuries-long relationship with water.
Local community buses connect different districts and make exploring the area easier without a private vehicle. The flat topography suits cycling well, especially along the river embankments with views over the waterways.
The northernmost large-scale cultivation area for satsuma oranges in Japan lies here, favored by the mild climate at the confluence of three rivers. The citrus groves contribute to a rare agricultural diversity in this otherwise rice-dominated region.
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