John W. wrote:

> > > I suggest you get a rail pass

I replied:

> > Isn't it too late for that? Don't you have to get a tourist rail
> > pass (which is by far the best deal going) from a travel agent
> > outside Japan?

Louise Bremner commented:

> Since he's arriving on April 3, that suggests he still has plenty of
> time for this....

Oops! Well, back to plan A, then. Get a rail pass. Japanese residents would
kill for one of those. You can get any train from anywhere to anywhere and
see more of Japan in six days than I have in twelve years. You can go from
Hokkaido to Okinawa (yes, the pass will get you onto many ferries, as well
as the Japan Railway network), virtually living on the trains. The great
thing is you can get off anywhere you think looks inviting and jump on
another train at any time (except the middle of the night, when there's no
service).

On the other hand, maybe that's not so laid-back. As kuri rightly points
out, it might not be so good

> For 2 or days of airport waiting room and jet-lag recovery
> + half a week of holiday

You're already booked in at a hotel. Gifu's a pleasant town. It'll be
spring. The cherry blossom will be out. There are worse things than that.
After you've wandered around the town and checked out the castle, etc., you
could perhaps spend an afternoon/evening in the little town of Inuyama.
Visit the castle and the Uraku-en gardens, go to the Meiji-mura village
museum (Ernest already suggested that) and visit one or two shrines (see,
e.g.,
http://www.marimari.com/content/japan/popular_places/central/gifu.html).
Then find a beer garden, if it's warm enough, or a nice little izakaya if
not. Don't miss the last train back! Or perhaps you'll rent a car?

You'll be a bit too early to see the "ukai" (cormorant fishing), but if
you're feeling adventurous, try a boat ride through the rapids. The
Kisogawa's the classic river for that and the trip's called the "Rain
Kudari". Takayama - rather further afield - will give you a taste of the
mountains. You could stop off at Gero on the way and go to a hot spring
(there are plenty of other hot springs in the area, but Gero's the most
famous place).

I guess it all depends on what kind of holiday you want.

--
John
http://rarebooksinjapan.com