Gifu Light Story 2027 (ぎふ灯り物語 2027), a nighttime light-up and projection mapping event, will take place from Saturday, January 30 to Sunday, February 28, 2027, at Gifu Park and Shobo-ji Temple in Gifu City, Gifu Prefecture. The event is produced by HITOHATA, INC. and organized by the GIFUナイトビュー事業実行委員会.
The venues are Gifu Park, at the foot of Mt. Kinka where Gifu Castle stands, and Shobo-ji Temple, which houses the Great Buddha of Gifu, one of Japan's "Three Great Buddhas." Under the theme "夜にひらく、光の千年" ("A Thousand Years of Light Opening at Night"), the event combines light-up displays using Gifu wagasa (Japanese umbrellas) and Gifu lanterns, both nationally designated traditional crafts, with projection mapping onto the rock walls of the garden at the Nobunaga-ko Kyokan-ato site (信長公居館跡), where Oda Nobunaga's residence once stood. The projected images draw on traditions unique to Gifu City, such as cormorant fishing (ukai) on the Nagara River, the clear river water and folding-screen paintings.
The event will also feature a cloud sea effect, a first for Gifu Light Story.* During the event, shops at Gifu-jo Rakuichi next to Gifu Park will open for special night hours, and hot spring inns and hotels along the Nagara River will offer day-use baths for a limited time.
Details on how to buy tickets will be announced at a later date.
* According to a survey by the GIFUナイトビュー事業実行委員会.
Official website: https://gifulightstory.com/
Light Displays Across the Venue
Each area of the venue has a different light display. The areas include the Grand Garden with Waterfall and Three-storied Pagoda, Senjojiki Terrace, Lower Senjojiki Terrace, the Kabuki Gate to the stairs, and the Great Buddha of Gifu light-up at Shobo-ji Temple.
Event Overview
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Event name | Gifu Light Story 2027 (ぎふ灯り物語 2027) |
| Dates | Saturday, January 30 to Sunday, February 28, 2027 |
| Hours | 5:30 PM to 9:00 PM (last entry 8:30 PM) |
| Venues | Gifu Park (1 Omiyacho, Gifu City) and Shobo-ji Temple (8 Daibutsucho, Gifu City) |
| Organizer | GIFUナイトビュー事業実行委員会 |
| Producer / production | HITOHATA, INC. |
| Official website | https://gifulightstory.com/ |
Tickets
- Advance tickets: on sale from Sunday, November 1, 2026, 10:00 AM to Friday, January 29, 2027, 11:59 PM
- Day-of tickets: on sale from Saturday, January 30, 2027, 12:00 AM to Sunday, February 28, 2027, 8:30 PM
Details on how to buy tickets will be announced at a later date.
Weekdays
| Advance | Day-of | |
|---|---|---|
| Adults (18 and over) | ¥1,100 | ¥1,200 |
| Junior high and high school students | ¥800 | ¥900 |
| Elementary school students and under, people with disabilities, etc. | Free | Free |
Weekends and Public Holidays
| Advance | Day-of | |
|---|---|---|
| Adults (18 and over) | ¥1,300 | ¥1,400 |
| Junior high and high school students | ¥1,000 | ¥1,100 |
| Elementary school students and under, people with disabilities, etc. | Free | Free |
- Elementary school students and under, and people with disabilities along with one caregiver, are admitted free of charge.
- Visitors may be asked to show a student ID or other proof of age, or a disability certificate such as a physical disability certificate, Ai-no-Techo, rehabilitation certificate, mental health and welfare certificate or atomic bomb survivor's certificate (the "Mirairo ID" is also accepted).
Access and Parking
- By public transportation: From JR Gifu Station or Meitetsu Gifu Station, take a Gifu Bus bound for Nagarabashi or the City Loop Line (counterclockwise) and ride for about 15 minutes. Get off at the "Gifu Koen / Gifu Castle" bus stop, right next to the venue.
- By car: About 20 minutes from the Gifu-Kakamigahara IC on the Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway, or about 15 minutes from the Gifu IC on the Tokai-Kanjo Expressway, to the Gifu Park parking lots.
| Parking lot | Capacity |
|---|---|
| Kagamiiwa Parking Lot (free) | 370 spaces |
| Teigai Parking Lot (No. 1) | 143 spaces |
| Teigai Parking Lot (No. 2) | 36 spaces |
| Omiyacho Parking Lot | 50 spaces |
Parking for people with disabilities and courtesy parking (Omoiyari parking) is available at the Omiyacho Parking Lot (12 spaces).
Notes for Visitors
- Entry may be temporarily restricted depending on how crowded the venue is, and some of the program may be changed. Please follow staff instructions when moving around the venue.
- Please take care when walking at night.
- When taking photos, please do not use flash or drones, or take long exposures with a tripod. Burst-mode shutter sounds can disturb other visitors, so please avoid burst shooting when it is crowded or use a silent shooting function.
- Areas suitable for viewing are limited, so please be considerate of others.
- Visitors may appear in photos and videos taken by staff, or in media coverage.
- Visitor movement may be analyzed in a form that does not identify individuals, in order to improve the event.
- Public transportation is recommended. If you come by car, waiting times of an hour or more may occur before parking.
Nearby Spots
Gifu-jo Rakuichi
Gifu-jo Rakuichi, in Gifu Park at the foot of Mt. Kinka, will have some shops open for special night hours during the event. Visitors can enjoy local Gifu ingredients and dishes, as well as light meals and sweets.
Shops open at night:
- 四季彩うどん 華きんとん
- 井ノ口珈琲焙煎所
- 農家の台所 きさら
- 愛岐三食堂
- 肉工房 美乃家
- Fruits Candy ar.
- はちみつ専門店 秋田屋
Please check the official website for shop information and business hours.
Nagaragawa Onsen
During the event, five facilities at Nagaragawa Onsen will offer day-use baths for a limited time, so visitors can combine Gifu Light Story 2027 with a soak in the hot springs along the Nagara River.
Participating facilities:
- Gifu Grand Hotel (岐阜グランドホテル)
- 鵜匠の家 すぎ山
- 石金
- Hotel Park (ホテルパーク)
- 十八楼
Day-use bath hours and details will be announced at a later date. Days and hours of day-use bathing differ by facility, so please check each facility's information before visiting.
