Editing Gifu Prefecture (section)

== Economy ==
[[File:Mitarashi dango 001.jpg|thumb|''[[Dango|Mitarashi dango]]'', a traditional sweet dumpling from [[Hida, Gifu]]]]

Traditional industries such as paper-making and agriculture are found in Gifu, but its economy is dominated by the manufacturing sector including aerospace and automotive, with industrial complexes extending from the Nagoya area. A wealth of small component manufacturing is also found, such as precision machines, dye and mold making, and plastic forming.

===Traditional industries===
[[File:Ukai Gifu Nagaragawa 05.jpg|thumb|[[Cormorant fishing]] in Nagara River]]
Gifu is famous for [[Cormorant Fishing on the Nagara River|cormorant fishing]], which has a history of over 1,300 years. Agriculture is also a major industry because of Gifu's vast, arable plains. The forests in the north provide materials for woodworking and for the viewing boats used in cormorant fishing.

The Mino region has long been known for its high-quality paper called ''[[Mino washi]]'', which is stronger and thinner than most other papers in Japan, and was used by the Japanese military during World War II.<ref name="fireballoon">{{cite web |title=The Fire Balloons |url=http://www.faqs.org/docs/air/avfusen.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303175214/http://www.faqs.org/docs/air/avfusen.html |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |author=Greg Goebel |access-date=November 23, 2007}}</ref> Other paper-based products include [[Gifu Lanterns]] and [[Gifu Umbrellas]], made in the prefectural capital of [[Gifu, Gifu|Gifu]]. Other traditional goods include ''mino-yaki'' pottery in [[Tajimi, Gifu|Tajimi]], [[Toki, Gifu|Toki]], and [[Mizunami, Gifu|Mizunami]], [[cutlery]] in [[Seki, Gifu|Seki]], and [[lacquerware]] in [[Takayama, Gifu|Takayama]]. [[Sake]] is often brewed with clear water from the rivers.

===Modern industries===
[[Kakamigahara, Gifu|Kakamigahara]] has a large role in the prefecture's modern industries. It boasts large aerospace facilities of both [[Kawasaki Heavy Industries]] and [[Mitsubishi Heavy Industries]], as well as many [[metalworking]] and [[manufacturing]] companies.

Information technology (IT) is gaining a foothold in the prefecture with both [[Softopia Japan]] in [[Ōgaki, Gifu|Ōgaki]] and VR Techno Japan (part of Techno Plaza) in Kakamigahara. The capital city of Gifu, located between Ōgaki and Kakamigahara, is also working to strengthen its IT fields, too.

===Tourism===
[[File:Ogi Shirakawa01n3200.jpg|thumb|Traditional housing in Shirakawa-gō]]

Gifu has many popular tourist attractions, bringing visitors to all parts of the prefecture. The most popular places are Gifu, [[Gero, Gifu|Gero]], [[Shirakawa, Gifu (village)|Shirakawa]] and [[Takayama, Gifu|Takayama]]. Gero is known for its relaxing [[hot spring]]s, which attract visitors throughout the year. Shirakawa's [[Historic Villages of Shirakawa-gō and Gokayama|historic villages]] are a UNESCO [[World Heritage Site]]. Takayama is famous for retaining its original appearance and is often referred to as ''Little [[Kyoto]]''.

In addition to international tourists, Gifu also plays host to many international events. The [[World Event and Convention Complex Gifu]] is available for many types of events. Other areas of Gifu, too, bring international events. The [[World Rowing Championships]] were held in the city of [[Kaizu, Gifu|Kaizu]] in 2005. The [[FIS Snowboard World Cup]] was held in the city of [[Gujo, Gifu|Gujo]] in 2008. The [[APEC]] Japan 2010 SME Ministerial Meetings were held in [[Gifu City]].

===Science===
The Kamioka area of the city of [[Hida, Gifu|Hida]] is home to the [[Kamioka Observatory]] underground laboratory. Located {{Convert|1000|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} underground in Kamioka Mining and Smelting Co.'s Mozumi Mine, the [[Super-Kamiokande]] experiment searches for neutrinos from the high atmosphere, the sun and supernovae, while the [[KamLAND]] experiment searches for antineutrinos from regional nuclear reactors. The Super-Kamiokande consists of a cylindrical stainless steel tank that is {{Convert|41.4|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} tall and {{Convert|39.3|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} in diameter holding 50,000 tons of ultra-pure water. Some of the 11,146 photomultiplier tubes are on display at the [[Miraikan]] in Tokyo. The same facility also hosts the [[CLIO]] prototype and [[KAGRA]] gravitational wave detector.