Ena

Ena offers two clearly distinct starting points for planning a trip: its railway hub and the cultural and natural attractions of the municipality. Ena Station is an interchange between the JR Chūō Main Line and the Akechi Line operated by Akechi Railway. From there, it connects the daily lives of local residents with major tourist destinations. When looking for hotels in Ena, you can first consider whether art, Nakasendō history, or scenery will shape your itinerary; the station provides the transport connection, while the other themes give your trip its focus.

Art and printmaking

Within the city of Ena, the Nakasendo Hiroshige Museum of Art preserves mainly ukiyo-e prints, including Hiroshige’s “Kisokaidō Rokujūkyū-tsugi.” The works on display change almost monthly. So, if you want to see a particular work, it is worth checking the current exhibition information: the selection may change between visits.

The city of Ena also has a multi-color printing activity using a replica printing block in its Ukiyo-e Navi Room. The collection and the printing-block activity thus offer different ways to engage with printmaking.

Nakasendō and historic houses

Within the city of Ena, Ooi-juku was the 46th of the Nakasendō’s 69 stations, counting from Edo. The honjin served as accommodation for daimyō and others, but burned down completely in 1947. Its entrance gate and garden have been preserved. The honjin’s former function and the surviving features offer different insights into the history of the place.

The former inn of the Ito family in Ooi-juku, within the city of Ena, also preserves tangible traces of historic travel: living quarters, a bath, and a toilet used during Emperor Meiji’s journey in 1880.

Within the city of Ena, Hishiya is the restored former residence of the prominent Koyama merchant family in Ooi-juku. The restoration brought the building largely back to its original condition; Hishiya is designated a cultural property by the city of Ena. The Hishiya Museum displays historical materials about Ooi-juku and nearby villages, including records of trade and haikai poetry written by the head of the household.

The Nakasendo Hishiya Museum opened in 2000 after the city of Ena restored the imposing Edo-period residence of village headman Koyama. The history of the Ena community thus encompasses former residential and lodging functions alongside later restoration and interpretation in a museum.

Scenery and seasonal highlights

Within the city of Ena, striking rock formations line both banks of Ena Gorge. Kasagi Rock is about 4.5 meters high, with a top that spreads out like an umbrella. On the left bank, a walking path loops around Sazanami Square. Seasonal blossoms there include cherry blossoms, wisteria, and Japanese azaleas; about 200 cherry trees and azaleas bloom in the square in spring. The rock formations and seasonal plant life thus create distinct features in the landscape.

A visitor center has also been built within the city of Ena to introduce the history of Ena Gorge. If you plan to visit, check current access information in advance.

Discover more destinations: Kani, Kakamigahara, Nakatsugawa, Seki, Yamagata, Minokamo, Kaizu, Tajimi

For the broader travel overview: Gifu Prefecture.