Gujo City in Gifu Prefecture is known as a city rich in nature, with 90% of the area covered by forests.

It is the second largest city in Gifu Prefecture after Takayama City, and is also famous for having 24 first-class rivers, including the Nagara River.

This time, we will introduce you to "Torichan," a local dish from Gujo City.

We will also tell you about the history and tourist spots of Gujo City, so be sure to read to the end.

What is Tori-chan?

Torichan is a local dish from the Oku-Mino region of Gifu Prefecture, centered around Gujo city.

The chicken is marinated in a sauce based on soy sauce, miso, and garlic, and then grilled together with vegetables such as cabbage and bean sprouts.

Although it is a simple dish, it is loved by locals as it goes well with both rice and alcohol.

Another attractive feature of Torichan is that its taste varies depending on the region, restaurant, and household.

In addition to miso- or soy sauce-based versions, there are also a variety of other ways to make it, such as salt-based versions and those using young chickens, adult chickens, offal, and skin, allowing you to enjoy the unique flavors of each region.

The history of chicken

Torichan was created around 1950. It is said to have been inspired by Genghis Khan, which was eaten in parts of Gifu Prefecture.

At the time, meat was a scarce commodity, so when the chickens that households kept stopped laying eggs and became "abandoned chickens," people began to eat them.

Originally, it was a dish eaten on special occasions, but from around 1960, local butchers and izakayas in Gujo, Gero, and other areas began creating their own versions of Torichan, and it became available in various regions.

The name of the dish "Keichan" has several origins.

One theory is that it was named "Torichan" because grilled pork innards are called "Tonchan."

Another theory is that "keijan" = "torichan" is a combination of "chan", which means to mix, and "jan", which means sauce.

Time to eat chicken

In the days when meat was a scarce commodity, it was eaten when important guests came to visit, or on special occasions such as Obon and New Year's.

Nowadays, chicken is easy to obtain, so it has become a familiar local dish that can be eaten any time.

How to make chicken

As mentioned above, there are many different ways to make Torichan, and there is no one correct way to make it.

Here we will introduce the basic method of making it.

Put the chicken, mixed miso, sake, light soy sauce, and grated garlic in a bag and rub it in. For the vegetables, prepare roughly chopped cabbage, thinly sliced carrots, and thinly sliced green peppers.

Put the seasoned chicken in a frying pan and fry in oil, then add the vegetables and fry until done.

The key here is the sauce. Some people use "Gujo Miso" made in Gujo City as a base, while others use salt or soy sauce as a base. Try making it with your favorite sauce.

Things to do in Gujo

So far, we have introduced the history of chicken and how to make it.

From here, we will introduce some tourist spots in Gujo City, which is said to be the birthplace of Torichan.

Gujo City is one of the largest cities in Gifu, and is an attractive city with 90% of its land covered by forest.

The city also receives high praise in the "Livability Ranking" conducted annually by Mitsubishi UFJ Real Estate, ranking 2nd in Gifu Prefecture and 56th in the nation.

Let's check out the charming tourist spots in Gujo City together.

Gujo Hachiman Castle

The first is Gujo Hachiman Castle, the oldest reconstructed wooden castle in Japan.

It began as a small castle built by Endo Morikazu in 1569, but in 1669 it was recognized as a castle by the shogunate.

In 1933, it was rebuilt in its current form, based on the Ogaki Castle of the time. The four-story, five-storey wooden castle tower is so beautiful that it has been designated an Important Cultural Property of Gujo City.

Furthermore, Gujo Hachiman Castle looks so fantastic when shrouded in morning mist that it is also known as the "Castle in the Sky."

Yoshida River

The second is the Yoshida River, the largest tributary of the Nagara River, which flows east-west through Yahata Town, Gujo City.

It is said that Yahata Town in Gujo City originally flourished thanks to the Yoshida River, and it is an indispensable part of the life of the people of Gujo City.

Today, the river is deeply involved in the lives of local people, providing water for fire prevention and daily life, and in the summer it is also a popular spot for local children to jump into the river from the bridge.

The Yoshida River is famous for being so clear that you can clearly see the stones at the bottom of the river. Come and enjoy the view of this beautiful river.

Access to Gujo City, Gifu Prefecture

There are various ways to get to Gujo City in Gifu Prefecture, including by car, bus, train, etc. Here we will introduce the recommended ways to get there.

If you are coming from Tokyo, take the Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Nagoya Station. Then, change to the JR Wide View Hida Express to Minoota Station. At Minoota Station, change to the Nagaragawa Railway to Gujo Hachiman Station.

If you are coming from Osaka, take the Kintetsu Bus bound for Hida Takayama from the west exit of Kintetsu Namba Station and you will arrive at Gujo Hachiman IC in about four hours.

Location of Gujo City, Gifu Prefecture

summary

This time, we introduced "Torichan," a local dish from Gujo City, Gifu Prefecture.

The appeal of this restaurant is that you can try a variety of different flavors and each restaurant has their own special chicken chan. We hope you'll find your favorite chicken chan.

Gujo City is also blessed with lots of nature and many attractive spots, so if you want to get away from your daily routine and relax, be sure to visit.

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