Editing Gifu Prefecture (section)

== Geography ==
One of the few landlocked prefectures in Japan, Gifu shares borders with seven other prefectures: [[Toyama Prefecture|Toyama]], [[Ishikawa Prefecture|Ishikawa]], [[Fukui Prefecture|Fukui]], [[Shiga Prefecture|Shiga]], [[Mie Prefecture|Mie]], [[Aichi Prefecture|Aichi]], and [[Nagano Prefecture|Nagano]]. Japan's [[postal code#Japan|postal codes]] all start with a three-digit number, ranging from 001 to 999. Part of Gifu has the 500 prefix, reflecting its location in the center of Japan.
The [[Center of population|center of Japanese population]] is currently located in Seki City, Gifu Prefecture. The center of population is a hypothetical point at which a country is perfectly balanced assuming each person has a uniform weight. The spot was calculated using the 2005 census.

{{as of|2019|03|31|post=,}} 18 percent of the total land area of the prefecture was designated as [[Prefectural Natural Park|Natural Parks]], namely the [[Hakusan National Park|Hakusan]] and [[Chūbu-Sangaku National Park|Chūbu-Sangaku]] National Parks, [[Hida-Kisogawa Quasi-National Park|Hida-Kisogawa]] and [[Ibi-Sekigahara-Yōrō Quasi-National Park|Ibi-Sekigahara-Yōrō]] Quasi-National Parks, and fifteen Prefectural Natural Parks.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.env.go.jp/park/doc/data/natural/naturalpark_4.pdf |script-title=ja:自然公園都道府県別面積総括 |trans-title=General overview of area figures for Natural Parks by prefecture |language=ja |publisher=[[Ministry of the Environment (Japan)|Ministry of the Environment]] |date=31 March 2019 |access-date=22 July 2019}}</ref>

===Regions===
Gifu has five unofficial regions, which allows local municipalities to work together to promote the surrounding area. The five regions are [[Seinō]],<ref name="nishimino">[http://www.ginet.or.jp/nisimino/index.shtml Nishi Mino Portal Site]. {{in lang|ja}} Ginet. Accessed June 24, 2008.</ref> [[Gifu (region)|Gifu]],<ref name="gifushinko">[http://www.pref.gifu.lg.jp/soshiki/shinkokyoku/gifu/ Gifu Regional Promotion Office] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927153534/http://www.pref.gifu.lg.jp/soshiki/shinkokyoku/gifu/ |date=September 27, 2011 }}. {{in lang|ja}} Gifu Prefecture. Accessed August 9, 2011.</ref> [[Chūnō]],<ref name="chunoshinko">[http://www.pref.gifu.lg.jp/soshiki/shinkokyoku/chuno/ Chūnō Promotion Office] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927153556/http://www.pref.gifu.lg.jp/soshiki/shinkokyoku/chuno/ |date=September 27, 2011 }}. {{in lang|ja}} Gifu Prefecture. Accessed August 9, 2011.</ref> [[Tōnō]]<ref name="tonoshinko">[http://www.pref.gifu.lg.jp/soshiki/shinkokyoku/tono/ Tōnō Promotional Office] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927153606/http://www.pref.gifu.lg.jp/soshiki/shinkokyoku/tono/ |date=September 27, 2011 }}. {{in lang|ja}} Gifu Prefecture. Accessed August 9, 2011.</ref> and [[Hida (region)|Hida]].<ref name="hidashinko">[http://www.pref.gifu.lg.jp/soshiki/shinkokyoku/hida/ Hida Promotional Office] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927153611/http://www.pref.gifu.lg.jp/soshiki/shinkokyoku/hida/ |date=September 27, 2011 }}. {{in lang|ja}} Gifu Prefecture. Accessed August 9, 2011.</ref> The borders of the regions are loosely defined, but they are usually delineated among major cities.

===Topography===
The northern [[Hida (region)|Hida region]] is dominated by tall mountains, including parts of the [[Japanese Alps]]. The southern [[Mino Province|Mino]] region is mostly parts of the fertile [[Nōbi Plain]], a vast plains area with arable soil. Most of the prefecture's population lives in the southern part of the prefecture, near the [[Cities designated by government ordinance of Japan|designated city]] of [[Nagoya, Aichi|Nagoya]].

The mountainous Hida region contains the [[Hida Mountains]], which are referred to as the "Northern Alps" in Japan. The [[Ryōhaku Mountains]] are also in the Hida region. Other major ranges include the [[Ibuki Mountains]] and the [[Yōrō Mountains]].

Much of the Mino region is made up of the [[alluvial plain]] of the [[Kiso Three Rivers]], which are the [[Kiso River]], [[Nagara River]] and [[Ibi River]]. The sources of Kiso river is in Nagano prefecture, and those of the others are in Gifu prefecture. They eventually run through Aichi and Mie prefectures before emptying into [[Ise Bay]]. Other major rivers in the prefecture include the [[Jinzū River|Miya]], [[Takahara River|Takahara]], [[Shō River|Shō]], [[Shōnai River|Toki (Shōnai)]], [[Yahagi River|Yahagi]], and [[Itoshiro River|Itoshiro]] rivers.

=== Climate ===
[[File:MagomeVista.jpg|thumb|right|View from the top of a hill in [[Magome-juku]], Nakatsugawa, Gifu Prefecture]]
Gifu's climate varies from [[humid subtropical climate]] in the south, eventually making the transition to [[humid continental climate]] in the north.

Because the Mino region is surrounded by low mountains, the temperature fluctuates through the year, from hot summers to cold winters. The eastern city of [[Tajimi, Gifu|Tajimi]], for example, often records the hottest temperature in Japan each year and is considered to be the hottest city within Honshu boasting an average daytime high of {{convert|34.1|C}} during the peak of summer. On August 16, 2007, Tajimi set the record for the hottest day recorded in Japan's history—{{convert|40.9|C}}.<ref>[http://www.japannewsreview.com/society/national/20070816page_id=1553 Gifu Prefecture sees highest temperature ever recorded in Japan – 40.9]  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818051003/http://www.japannewsreview.com/society/national/20070816page_id%3D1553 |date=August 18, 2016 }} – [http://www.japannewsreview.com Japan News Review]  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161019083232/http://www.japannewsreview.com/ |date=October 19, 2016 }}</ref> Summers are hotter, as the landlocked area becomes a heat island, and the temperature rises even further when hot, dry [[foehn wind]]s blow over the Ibuki Mountains from the [[Kansai region]]. The Hida region, with its higher elevation and northerly latitude, is significantly cooler than the Mino region, although there are sometimes extremely hot days there too. The Hida region is more famous for its harsh winters, bringing extremely heavy snowfall, especially in the northwestern areas. Gifu boasts a high amount of skiing locations. [[Shōkawa, Gifu|Shōkawa-chō]], part of the city of [[Takayama, Gifu|Takayama]], is up in the mountains, and its location has led it to be called the coldest inhabited place on Honshū.

{|
|-
|'''Gifu City (Mino Region)'''
{{Weather box|width=100%
|location = Gifu, Gifu (1981–2010)
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|Jan record high C = 20.4
|Feb record high C = 22.2
|Mar record high C = 25.8
|Apr record high C = 30.8
|May record high C = 33.5
|Jun record high C = 36.2
|Jul record high C = 39.0
|Aug record high C = 39.8
|Sep record high C = 37.7
|Oct record high C = 31.0
|Nov record high C = 26.7
|Dec record high C = 21.1
|year record high C = 39.8
|Jan high C = 8.8
|Feb high C = 10.0
|Mar high C = 13.7
|Apr high C = 19.8
|May high C = 24.2
|Jun high C = 27.4
|Jul high C = 31.0
|Aug high C = 33.0
|Sep high C = 28.8
|Oct high C = 23.1
|Nov high C = 17.2
|Dec high C = 11.6
|year high C = 20.7
|Jan low C = 0.5
|Feb low C = 0.9
|Mar low C = 3.9
|Apr low C = 9.3
|May low C = 14.2
|Jun low C = 19.0
|Jul low C = 23.0
|Aug low C = 24.3
|Sep low C = 20.4
|Oct low C = 13.8
|Nov low C = 7.7
|Dec low C = 2.7
|year low C = 11.6
|Jan record low C = &minus;14.3
|Feb record low C = &minus;13.7
|Mar record low C = &minus;6.7
|Apr record low C = &minus;2.8
|May record low C = 1.7
|Jun record low C = 6.8
|Jul record low C = 12.8
|Aug record low C = 14.0
|Sep record low C = 8.3
|Oct record low C = 0.8
|Nov record low C = &minus;2.4
|Dec record low C = &minus;8.7
|year record low C = &minus;14.3
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 67.0
|Feb precipitation mm = 82.1
|Mar precipitation mm = 143.0
|Apr precipitation mm = 161.2
|May precipitation mm = 204.7
|Jun precipitation mm = 245.3
|Jul precipitation mm = 261.6
|Aug precipitation mm = 148.9
|Sep precipitation mm = 237.3
|Oct precipitation mm = 125.5
|Nov precipitation mm = 93.0
|Dec precipitation mm = 58.0
|Jan snow cm = 19
|Feb snow cm = 17
|Mar snow cm = 1
|Apr snow cm = 0
|May snow cm = 0
|Jun snow cm = 0
|Jul snow cm = 0
|Aug snow cm = 0
|Sep snow cm = 0
|Oct snow cm = 0
|Nov snow cm = 0
|Dec snow cm = 9
|Jan humidity = 67
|Feb humidity = 63
|Mar humidity = 60
|Apr humidity = 60
|May humidity = 65
|Jun humidity = 71
|Jul humidity = 74
|Aug humidity = 70
|Sep humidity = 71
|Oct humidity = 67
|Nov humidity = 67
|Dec humidity = 68
|Jan precipitation days = 9.5
|Feb precipitation days = 9.7
|Mar precipitation days = 10.7
|Apr precipitation days = 10.7
|May precipitation days = 11.6
|Jun precipitation days = 12.7
|Jul precipitation days = 13.7
|Aug precipitation days = 9.7
|Sep precipitation days = 12.5
|Oct precipitation days = 9.3
|Nov precipitation days = 8.1
|Dec precipitation days = 9.3
|unit precipitation days = 0.5 mm
|Jan snow days = 9.4
|Feb snow days = 8.2
|Mar snow days = 2.9
|Apr snow days = 0.2
|May snow days = 0.0
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.0
|Nov snow days = 0.1
|Dec snow days = 3.7
|Jan sun = 160.3
|Feb sun = 163.6
|Mar sun = 188.3
|Apr sun = 196.0
|May sun = 199.0
|Jun sun = 159.4
|Jul sun = 167.0
|Aug sun = 202.2
|Sep sun = 157.8
|Oct sun = 174.2
|Nov sun = 157.3
|Dec sun = 160.2
|source 1 = [[Japan Meteorological Agency]]<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/view/nml_sfc_ym.php?prec_no=19&prec_ch=%8B%FA%98H%8Ex%92%A1&block_no=47632&block_ch=%8B%FA%98H&year=&month=&day=&elm=normal&view=
| title = 平年値（年・月ごとの値） | access-date = 2011-11-18 | publisher = Japan Meteorological Agency
}}</ref>
|source 2 = [[Japan Meteorological Agency]] (records)<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/view/rank_s.php?prec_no=19&prec_ch=%8B%FA%98H%8Ex%92%A1&block_no=47632&block_ch=%8B%FA%98H&year=&month=&day=&elm=rank&view=
| title = 観測史上1～10位の値（年間を通じての値）| access-date = 2010-03-06 | publisher = Japan Meteorological Agency
}}</ref>
|date=August 2010
}}
|-
|'''Hida Takayama (Hida Region)'''
{{Weather box|width=100%
|location = Central Takayama, Gifu (1971–2000)
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|Jan record high C = 16.7
|Feb record high C = 18.5
|Mar record high C = 23.4
|Apr record high C = 30.6
|May record high C = 32.1
|Jun record high C = 34.7
|Jul record high C = 36.1
|Aug record high C = 37.3
|Sep record high C = 35.4
|Oct record high C = 29.4
|Nov record high C = 23.9
|Dec record high C = 21.7
|year record high C = 37.3
|Jan high C = 2.9
|Feb high C = 3.6
|Mar high C = 8.5
|Apr high C = 16.5
|May high C = 21.9
|Jun high C = 25.2
|Jul high C = 28.7
|Aug high C = 30.1
|Sep high C = 24.9
|Oct high C = 18.8
|Nov high C = 12.3
|Dec high C = 5.9
|year high C = 16.6
| Jan mean C = -2.1
| Feb mean C = -1.1
| Mar mean C = 2.9
| Apr mean C = 9.7
| May mean C = 15.2
| Jun mean C = 19.8
| Jul mean C = 23.6
| Aug mean C = 24.7
| Sep mean C = 20.1
| Oct mean C = 13.4
| Nov mean C = 7.2
| Dec mean C = 1.6
|year mean C = 11.2
|Jan low C = -7.1
|Feb low C = -5.7
|Mar low C = -2.5
|Apr low C = 2.9
|May low C = 8.4
|Jun low C = 14.3
|Jul low C = 18.5
|Aug low C = 19.3
|Sep low C = 15.1
|Oct low C = 7.9
|Nov low C = 2.0
|Dec low C = -2.7
|year low C = 6.0
|Jan record low C = -23.5
|Feb record low C = -25.5
|Mar record low C = -21.2
|Apr record low C = -7.6
|May record low C = -3.1
|Jun record low C = 1.8
|Jul record low C = 8.1
|Aug record low C = 9.4
|Sep record low C = 3.8
|Oct record low C = -3.5
|Nov record low C = -10.7
|Dec record low C = -19.5
|year record low C = -25.5
|Jan precipitation mm = 88.9
|Feb precipitation mm = 99.7
|Mar precipitation mm = 120.5
|Apr precipitation mm = 139.1
|May precipitation mm = 134.8
|Jun precipitation mm = 193.1
|Jul precipitation mm = 226.2
|Aug precipitation mm = 169.1
|Sep precipitation mm = 257.8
|Oct precipitation mm = 126.7
|Nov precipitation mm = 98.5
|Dec precipitation mm = 79.3
|year precipitation mm = 1733.5
|Jan snow cm = 166
|Feb snow cm = 155
|Mar snow cm = 66
|Apr snow cm = 7
|May snow cm = 0
|Jun snow cm = 0
|Jul snow cm = 0
|Aug snow cm = 0
|Sep snow cm = 0
|Oct snow cm = 0
|Nov snow cm = 15
|Dec snow cm = 98
|year snow cm = 511
|Jan sun = 95.6
|Feb sun = 112.6
|Mar sun = 150.9
|Apr sun = 174.6
|May sun = 181.3
|Jun sun = 143.0
|Jul sun = 146.5
|Aug sun = 180.5
|Sep sun = 124.1
|Oct sun = 125.8
|Nov sun = 98.9
|Dec sun = 89.0
|year sun = 1623.7
|source 1 = [[Japan Meteorological Agency]]<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/view/nml_sfc_ym.php?prec_no=52&prec_ch=%8A%F2%95%8C%8C%A7&block_no=47617&block_ch=%8D%82%8ER&year=&month=&day=&elm=normal&view=
| title = 平年値（年・月ごとの値） | access-date = 2010-03-06 | publisher = Japan Meteorological Agency
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/view/rank_s.php?prec_no=52&prec_ch=%8A%F2%95%8C%8C%A7&block_no=47617&block_ch=%8D%82%8ER&year=&month=&day=&elm=rank&view=
| title = 観測史上1～10位の値（年間を通じての値）| access-date = 2010-03-06 | publisher = Japan Meteorological Agency
}}</ref>
|source 2 = All Met Sat<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://en.allmetsat.com/climate/japan.php?code=47617
| title = AllMetSat Takayama| access-date = 2012-02-11 | publisher = All Met Sat
}}</ref>
|date=February 2012
}}
|-
|'''Shōkawa, Takayama (Hida Region)'''
{{Weather box|width=100%
|location = Shōkawa, Takayama, Gifu (1971–2000)
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|Jan high C = -0.2
|Feb high C = 0.7
|Mar high C = 4.6
|Apr high C = 12.1
|May high C = 17.8
|Jun high C = 21.2
|Jul high C = 24.7
|Aug high C = 26.1
|Sep high C = 21.6
|Oct high C = 15.6
|Nov high C = 9.5
|Dec high C = 3.0
|year high C = 13.0
| Jan mean C = -5.1
| Feb mean C = -4.9
| Mar mean C = -1.1
| Apr mean C = 5.2
| May mean C = 10.9
| Jun mean C = 15.4
| Jul mean C = 19.4
| Aug mean C = 20.3
| Sep mean C = 16.1
| Oct mean C = 9.2
| Nov mean C = 3.1
| Dec mean C = -2.3
|year mean C = 7.2
|Jan low C = -11.7
|Feb low C = -12.3
|Mar low C = -7.5
|Apr low C = -1.8
|May low C = 3.5
|Jun low C = 9.6
|Jul low C = 14.7
|Aug low C = 15.5
|Sep low C = 11.3
|Oct low C = 3.4
|Nov low C = -2.6
|Dec low C = -8.0
|year low C = 1.2
|Jan precipitation mm = 152.0
|Feb precipitation mm = 135.4
|Mar precipitation mm = 173.4
|Apr precipitation mm = 175.9
|May precipitation mm = 221.2
|Jun precipitation mm = 262.4
|Jul precipitation mm = 331.8
|Aug precipitation mm = 233.6
|Sep precipitation mm = 324.6
|Oct precipitation mm = 165.4
|Nov precipitation mm = 143.8
|Dec precipitation mm = 137.1
|year precipitation mm = 2439.3
|Jan sun = 75.8
|Feb sun = 103.3
|Mar sun = 149.6
|Apr sun = 181.6
|May sun = 185.1
|Jun sun = 143.2
|Jul sun = 138.2
|Aug sun = 155.6
|Sep sun = 117.0
|Oct sun = 128.3
|Nov sun = 102.3
|Dec sun = 81.7
|year sun = 1563.7
|source 1 = [[Japan Meteorological Agency]]<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/view/nml_amd_ym.php?prec_no=52&prec_ch=%E5%B2%90%E9%98%9C%E7%9C%8C&block_no=1305&block_ch=%E5%85%AD%E5%8E%A9&year=&month=&day=&elm=normal&view=
| title = 平年値（年・月ごとの値） | access-date = 2012-05-06 | publisher = Japan Meteorological Agency
}}</ref>
|date=June 2012
}}
|}