Gifu

Gifu prefecture, once known for producing the best swords in all of Japan, retains much of the historical beauty and architecture of Japan's past. Deep in the mountains, you can find the heavy thatch roofed gassho-zukuri houses of Shirakawa-go, named for their roof's appearances of hands in prayer. Most beautiful in the winter, the villages turn into a snowy paradise; it's no wonder that they were labeled as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Or, for those visiting in the summer, Takayama's Historic District is an excellent link to the past. Once a vibrant merchant's quarter, today, many of these shops are still open to the public, and you can find a number of rare traditional souvenirs.