Type: Mountain
Built in: 1201 by Nikaido Yukimasa
Class: reconstructed

History
Gifu Castle was built in 1201 by Nikaido Yukimasa. In the middle of 15th century, Saito Toshinaga repaired this castle for himself.
In 1525, Nagai Nagahiro betrayed Saito clan and attacked this castle, then Nagai clan became the lord of this castle.
In 1533, Saito Dozan succeeded this castle and built Tenshu on the top of the Mt. Kinka.
In 1556, Saito Dozan was killed by his son Yoshitatsu, but Yoshitatsu died in 1561, and Yoshitatsu became the lord of the castle and Mino.
In 1567, Oda Nobunaga defeated Saito clan and moved himself to this castle. He changed the name of the castle from Inabayama Castle to Gifu Castle. After this conquer,
Nobunaga started to have a vision of the unifying Japan, and using red seal of "Tenkafubu."
In 1576, Nobunaga gave the position of the lord of Oda clan and this castle to his sone Nobutada.
In 1582, Nobunaga and Nobutada were killed at Honnoji. After Nobutada, this castle was ruled by Ikeda Clan, Toyotomi clan then back to Oda clan again.
In 1592, Oda Nobuhide, the son of Nobutada became the lord of Gifu Castle and he was the last lord of this castle. After the battle of Sekigahara, this castle was abandoned by Tokugawa Ieyasu.

Kinoshita Tokichiro and Sennari Byotan (gourd)
It is said that on August 14, 1567, Kinoshita Tokichiro, later Hashiba Hideyoshi, infiltrated the Inabayama castle from Iwadoguchi, accompanied by only 7 men, including Hachisuka Koroku and Horio Mosuke, who were huntsmen in the mountains. They set fire on woodsheds and were greatly praised for their work. Hideyoshi loudly called out victory as he brandished a gourd tied to his spear used to kill the castle soldiers. Since then, this place is considered to be the original site of SEnnari Byotan Gourd.

Hiking courses
Nanamagaricuchi: 1900m long, 60 min. for beginners.
Hyakumagariguchi: 1100m long 40 min. where Hideyoshi climbed.
Umanoseguchi: 1100m long 40 min. Requires hard climbing. Very dangerous for climbing down.
Mizunoteguchi: 2300m long 70 min. for beginners.
Hanadakatozan route: 1500m long 40 min. Has great view.
Higasizakatozan route: 1100m long 45 min.