Sake no Okadaya: Craft Beer Hunting in Nagoya
Yagichan
Yagichan’s Fishing & Travel Blog
Gifu Stream Fishing: A Gujo Trip to the Kanomizu River and a Craft Beer Detour
Yagichan
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Hey everyone! It’s Yagi, the traveling angler.
After road trips through Shikoku and Tottori, this time I flew from Fukuoka Airport to the Aichi and Gifu area.
This is my first time stream fishing in Gifu Prefecture. Heading out from Nagoya toward Gifu — let’s go!
目次
A Lucky Craft Beer Find! Sakenoito in Gujo Hachiman
Gujo Hachiman: Sakenoito
- Address: 5-15-3 Ono, Hachiman-cho, Gujo, Gifu 501-4221
- Hours: 8:30 AM – 8:00 PM
- Closed: Tuesdays
- Phone: 0575-65-2216
- Featured breweries: Uchu Brewing / Teenage Brewing / Himitsu Beer (a few examples)
- You can order from Sakenoito here
While heading upstream along the Nagara River system’s Yoshida River toward my next spot, I spotted a liquor store! It wasn’t on my itinerary at all, but the words “craft beer” caught my eye, so I made a detour! Inside, there were rows of Uchu Brewing cans on display, and you could really feel the owner’s love of craft beer lol. Depending on timing, the lineup varies, but
there are things like that available. If you’re lucky, Totopia Brewery too! Uchu Brewing is a given, but the one I personally tried for the first time and really loved was Teenage Brewing. The package design is incredibly artistic too — just fantastic.
Teenage Brewing Hop Icon // Hop Icon
- Style // QDH DIPA / ABV: 8.0%
- Category // Beer
- Pairing Music I // Piero Umiliani – La Ragazza Fuoristrada (Album)
- Pairing Music II // Music : Cortex – Troupeau Bleu (Album)
QDH DIPA / ABV: 8.0% — A QDH, of all things! The alcohol really hits hard!
<A rich, fragrant DIPA woven from hops, made for true hopheads>
This is Teenage Brewing’s first-ever QDH DIPA.
Four rounds of dry hopping build up layer after layer of tropical fruit, ripe citrus, pine, and dank hop character. From the first sip to the lingering finish, the hops assert themselves throughout — a beer made for hopheads.
Rather than a “pop icon” (a universally recognized symbol of its era’s culture), this beer earns the name “Hop Icon” — with the presence and polish to match.
Enjoy a satisfying DIPA defined by a juicy mouthfeel and a dry finish.
Hops used: Elani, Krush, Krush Cryo, Citra, Citra Cryo.
A Quick Detour to the Kanomizu River, Part of the Nagara–Yoshida River System
About a 30-minute drive from the liquor store brought me to the Kanomizu River.
It’s a tributary of the Yoshida River, known for its high clarity and easy access even close to its headwaters.
- Since this was a short fishing session, I picked a spot where I could cast from the bank.
- Unfortunately I didn’t get any bites, but the appeal here is being able to fish both the main river (Yoshida) and its tributary from the same base.
Good spots shift with the season and time of day. Make sure you’ve got proper safety gear, and enjoy it within your limits.
あわせて読みたい
Stream Fishing Season Is Finally Open! Top Spots on the Yoshida and Kameoshima Rivers (Gifu, Gujo)
It’s packed with info on nearby fishing spots too!
A Nearby Stop: Michi-no-Eki Meiho (Surusumi no Sato)
Michi-no-Eki Meiho (Surusumi no Sato)
- Address: 1015 Otani, Meiho, Gujo, Gifu 501-4301
- Phone number for car navigation search: 0575-87-2395
- ■Surusumi no Sato Park Products Hall (Shop / Fresh Market Meiho)
- Weekdays 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM Weekends/holidays 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM Open year-round (occasional temporary closures)
- TEL:0575-87-2395
- ※Winter hours: Weekdays 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM / Weekends and holidays 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM / No phone line
- Inquiries about the station, lost property, the shop, or anything else
- Michi-no-Eki Meiho (Facility management: Meiho Masters Co., Ltd.)
- TEL／(0575) 87-2395
Source: Meiho Masters Co., Ltd.
- About Michi-no-Eki Meiho (Click to expand)
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Michi-no-Eki Meiho (Surusumi no Sato), in Gujo City, Gifu Prefecture, sits roughly midway along the Hida-Mino Seseragi Kaido, the road connecting Gujo Hachiman and Hida-Takayama. It’s right next to Surusumi no Sato Park, which offers views of the mountain village’s seasonal scenery and the clear waters of the Yoshida River, making it one of the best viewpoints along the Seseragi Kaido. Meiho is said to be the birthplace of Surusumi, the prized horse of Kajiwara Kagesue, who distinguished himself in the race to be first across the river at the Battle of the Uji River in 1184, and a bronze statue of Surusumi stands at the center of the roadside station.
The products hall carries the local specialty Meiho Ham along with plenty of souvenirs, local vegetables, bread, and sweets. There are eight food and drink establishments here, offering local specialties — a restaurant/cafe, regional home cooking, hand-made soba, onigiri, cakes, Meiho franks, gohei-mochi, taiyaki, keichan (Gifu-style grilled chicken), soft-serve ice cream, and other distinctive local food and lunch options.
Surusumi-an is a hidden gem within the roadside station, where you can slowly savor Amago (trout category) and Iwana (char) grilled over an irori hearth lit from the flame of the “Chiba family hearth,” which has been burning continuously for 800 years, all while taking in the park views.
Source: Meiho Masters Co., Ltd.
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Here you can enjoy the local specialty “Meiho Ham,” local vegetables, and regional food.
It’s also convenient for a break between fishing sessions or for car-camping, and it’s a great viewpoint with the Yoshida River flowing right alongside the facility.
The river here looked to be about 40 meters wide — with a 5ft rod I could only reach a little past halfway across. It had rained fairly heavily not long before, but the water wasn’t very murky, so conditions were good for fishing. At this water level you can walk both upstream and downstream without ever entering the river, so you can cast a line quickly without a lot of extra gear.
A Gifu Stream Fishing Trip You Can Enjoy Even Without a Catch
This time, unfortunately, I didn’t get a single bite on the Kanomizu River.
But stream fishing isn’t only about “catching fish” — the appeal is just as much in soaking up the natural scenery and the clarity of the water.
And with “Michi-no-Eki Meiho” and craft beer spots dotted nearby, you can enjoy the trip itself even on a day when nothing bites.
This time I introduced a stream fishing trip through the Gujo area of Gifu Prefecture.
This Trip’s Stream Fishing Gear!
Check this out too for more on the tackle!
あわせて読みたい
【伯耆大山】渓流釣り完全ガイド｜ゴギの釣り方・おすすめルアー・遊漁券まで解説
Rod: TENRYU Rayz Integral
I’ve been using the TENRYU Rayz Integral since almost the very start of my stream fishing days. When I first started using it, I didn’t really understand what made this rod so good, but the more I used it, the more its appeal became clear. It has a butt section with real backbone and a tip that responds honestly to every touch. It breaks down into four pieces for easy transport, so it’s excellent for expeditions and fishing near the headwaters. A rod with this kind of backbone lets you work the heavy-sinking minnows that are popular right now with real authority, drawing solid reactions from stream fish! And that responsiveness is what translates into results.
Reel: Shimano Stella C2000SHG
I’ve been using the Shimano 22 Stella C2000SHG since it first came out. The smooth, buttery retrieve feel is the mark of a true flagship reel. It’s also built with high rigidity, so I can use it hard on expeditions and up near the headwaters without worry — and that peace of mind lets me focus fully on the fishing.
Line: Sanyo Nylon GT-R Ultra
Sanyo Nylon has extremely high abrasion resistance. With an overseas trip to New Zealand and a Hokkaido expedition coming up, I decided to give it a try. Because the line is both supple and strong, it cuts down on tangles, and when you snag on the bottom or on grass, you can often pull hard enough to free it. It also gives you plenty of margin when fighting a fish. As a new experiment I tried the gray color — visibility is a bit lower, but it builds the habit of watching your line closely, so I’d definitely recommend giving it a try. A pink color is also available.
Lure: Palms Alexandra
It’s small, but its response to twitches is excellent, which makes it super easy to use on small streams. Its flight posture on the cast is especially clean, so it’s easy to place it right on target. It also comes in plenty of color variations with good visibility, which makes it a great pick for stream fishing beginners too.
The Mino-Seki Beer Project
Mino-Seki Beer
- Address: 1-8 Wakakusa-dori, Seki, Gifu
- Hours: Saturdays 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- Email: minoseki.beer@gmail.com
Mino-Seki Beer is a brewery in Seki, Gifu Prefecture that’s only open on weekends.
It’s a craft beer project started by a married couple who both work regular jobs, brewing original beers full of local pride.
Wrap-Up
- Discovered craft beer at Sakenoito in Gujo Hachiman
- Tried stream fishing on the Kanomizu River (an area where you can fish both the main river and its tributary)
- Took a break and enjoyed local food at Michi-no-Eki Meiho
- Picked up craft beer to go at Mino-Seki Beer
Gifu is a place where you can fish while being soothed by clear rivers and nature. On top of that, it’s rich with craft beer spots and roadside stations, which broadens the enjoyment of a fishing trip.
👉 This was a great area to recommend for anyone wanting to get into stream fishing in Gifu, or anyone who wants to enjoy fishing trips and great food together!
あわせて読みたい
【福岡発】セントレア経由！岐阜で渓流釣りとクラフトビールを満喫する旅プラン
あわせて読みたい
Gifu Stream Fishing: One Hour from Nagoya to Amago Trout and Craft Beer in Gujo’s Yoshida River
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ABOUT ME
Hi, I’m Yagi, an outdoor enthusiast from Japan who loves trout fishing and travel. I share firsthand fishing reports, local rules and licenses, destination guides, gear reviews, and outdoor adventures from across Japan and beyond. Whether you are planning a fishing trip to Japan or simply enjoy exploring nature, I hope these guides help you travel with confidence and discover something new.
