We visited Gifu prefecture for sightseeing last weekend. On the Saturday morning, we headed to Seki city in South of Gifu by car and visited the Cutting tools museum and the Traditional swordsmith museum. Seki was famous for sword manufacturing many years ago and is still known for knife production today. We learned a lot about the history of Japanese sword and knife manufacturing there. The manufacturing process of knives was very interesting because it was real chemistry.
After the museums, we headed to Shin-Hodaka hot springs north of Gifu prefecture. This area got damaged by heavy rain one week ago, but they got back to normal right now and we stayed in a Japanese style hotel with five hot springs bathtubs. The hot springs were amazing because the hot water quality was very good, all bathtubs were private use and outdoors with nice view of the river and mountains. I'd like to stay there next week again, because I love hot springs.
It was a fine day on Sunday and we went to former Kamioka-kozan station. I joined the diesel railcar driver experience which was a special event by NPO Kamioka Network. There was the Kamioka railway company between Inotani in Toyama prefecture and Okuhida-Onsen in Gifu, but this railway was closed in 2006 due to motorization and declining population. That driver experience uses the former railway line around Kamioka-kozan station. We needed to learn about the system of diesel railcar and follow the instructor. We drove about 100 meters and four round trips. Of course, it was the first time I've driven a railway car and it was very difficult to control especially braking. I had a great time there and my wife was interested in driving the railway car. I hope to try a railcar driver experience again someday.
