Ena: Nakasendō History, Ukiyo-e and Nature

Rail lines, the history of the Nakasendō, Japanese woodblock prints and seasonal landscapes give a trip to Ena several different focal points. Ena Station is a transfer station between the JR Chūō Main Line and the Akechi Railway’s Akechi Line. It connects the everyday life of the city’s residents with key tourist destinations. So when choosing a holiday rental, it may help to start by considering the focus of your trip: are rail connections central, or are you mainly interested in cultural history and nature?

Rail connections and trip planning

The station is a clear point of reference for travellers transferring between the two rail lines. Its connections serve both the everyday needs of the city’s residents and important tourist destinations. When planning your trip, it is worth considering this rail connection alongside your other interests in Ena. The area’s different themes offer their own perspectives on a visit, without implying a set itinerary.

Cultural history in the surrounding area

In the surrounding area, Ooi-juku tells the story of the Nakasendō: counted from Edo, it was the 46th of the route’s 69 post stations. The honjin served as accommodation for daimyō and others. It burned down completely in 1947; its entrance gate and garden survived. The inn’s historic role and the remaining features offer two different points of reference for understanding Ooi-juku’s place on the old transport route.

Another story is associated with Hishiya. The former residence of the prominent Koyama merchant family in Ooi-juku also served as the village headman’s house. Ena City had the impressive Edo-period residence restored, and the Nakasendo Hishiya Museum opened in 2000. The restoration brought the building largely back to its original condition. Hishiya is designated a cultural property by Ena City. The museum displays historical materials about Ooi-juku and neighbouring villages, including records relating to trade and the head of the household’s haikai poetry.

The former Ito family inn in Ooi-juku also preserves a specific historical episode. Its living quarters, bath and toilet remain intact; these rooms were used during Emperor Meiji’s journey in 1880. While the post station’s history sheds light on a broader period of travel, these preserved rooms draw attention to how a single house was used during a particular journey.

Ukiyo-e and printmaking

In the surrounding area, the Nakasendo Hiroshige Museum of Art preserves mainly ukiyo-e prints, including Hiroshige’s “Kisokaidō Rokujūkyū-tsugi.” Exhibitions change almost monthly, though the schedule may vary. If you want to see a particular work, check which pieces are currently on display before your visit. The museum’s Ukiyo-e Navi Room in the surrounding area also offers a multi-colour printing activity using a reproduction woodblock. This provides two different ways to engage with the subject: the woodblock prints passed down through history, and the printing process itself.

Rock formations and seasonal blossoms

In the surrounding area, striking rock formations line both banks of the Ena Gorge. Kasagi Rock is about 4.5 metres high, with an upper section that widens like an umbrella. On the left bank, a walking path loops around Sazanami Plaza. About 200 cherry trees and azaleas bloom there in spring; depending on the season, cherry blossoms, wisteria and Japanese azaleas can also be seen in the plaza. Nature here ranges from a striking individual rock formation to a landscape whose plants change over the course of the year.

When choosing your holiday rental, you can weigh these different focal points against one another: the station is a useful reference point if rail connections matter to your plans, while cultural history, printmaking and seasonal landscapes offer other themes for your stay. Consider which of these aspects interests you most, and choose accommodation to suit the kind of trip you want.

Discover more destinations: Hatotani, Gujo, Gifu, Ōgaki, Gero, Hida, Toki, Seki.

For the overview of the wider region, see: Gifu Prefecture.