Experiences – Life – Inspiration 🇨🇭🇯🇵

Gujo Hachiman is just over an hour’s drive from our home in Kasamatsu.

My wife and I recently visited for the second time, this time exploring parts of the town we hadn’t seen before. Tucked into the mountains of Gifu Prefecture, Gujo Hachiman has a quiet, lived-in beauty that doesn’t try to impress.

Even on a cloudy, rainy day, the surroundings were striking. Low clouds hung over the mountains, and the greens felt deeper and more saturated. What stayed with me most, though, was the smell of cedar from the surrounding forests. It made the whole place feel grounded and alive, and it reminded me how rarely we slow down enough to notice scents like that.

We eventually found a small café that roasts its own coffee. It sat above the river, with a calm view of the water and the mountains beyond. Nothing fancy, just a place that felt thoughtfully put together.

On a shelf by the window, the owners had placed a pair of binoculars for guests. I couldn’t resist. Looking through them, we were lucky enough to spot a few local birds moving quietly along the riverbanks.

It was a small moment, but one that fit the day perfectly.