Gujō, Mountain city in Gifu Prefecture, Japan.
Gujō is a city in Gifu Prefecture in central Japan that runs along the Nagara River through forested mountain landscape. Streets follow the natural slope and small channels carry clear river water through residential areas and shopping streets.
Several towns merged in 2004 to form a new administrative unit and adopted the name of the old district. The tradition of water management and craftsmanship goes back several centuries, when merchants and artisans settled along the river route.
The name comes from the historical administrative district and the city is known for its water dances, where locals move through summer nights in traditional patterns. The steps pass from one generation to the next and anyone can join on the public squares.
A railway line connects the city with other places in the prefecture and several roads run through the valley. Most sights lie in the older center and you can explore them on foot, though some districts require a bus or car.
Many of the convincingly real plastic dishes you see in Japanese restaurant windows come from here, and workshops offer courses where you shape your own wax models. The technique requires skilled hand movements and quick work before the hot material sets.
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