Gujo Hachiman — Water Town of Springs & Canals

Gujo Hachiman (郡上八幡) is a castle town built on spring water — over 100 natural springs flow through the streets in open stone channels (suiro), where locals wash vegetables, cool bottles, and children catch crayfish. The town's relationship with water is symbiotic: the Yoshida and Kodara rivers converge here, and spring water so pure it's designated one of Japan's 100 Best Waters flows freely from public fountains. The result is a town where water sounds are constant and every street corner offers drinkable spring water.

The old town preserves Edo-period merchant houses along narrow hillside streets leading to Gujo Hachiman Castle (reconstructed 1933, oldest wooden castle reconstruction in Japan). The town is famous for two traditions: Gujo Odori, a summer dance festival where the entire town dances through the night for 32 consecutive nights (July–September), and food sample production — 60% of Japan's plastic food samples (found in restaurant windows nationwide) are manufactured in Gujo by skilled artisans.