Gifu

Shirakawago

to see:
Ogimachi - has traditional Gasshou houses and is like nowhere else in Japan. Staying at a minshuku there is a good experience too. It is a World Heritage site. Note: some of the roads close over winter. Not really a whole day thing though.
Takayama - if you're into "Little Kyoto"-esque places and are in the area of the gasshou houses, trek to Takayama. It is small and charming.

Activities:

White-water rafting

There's a white water rafting company in the Mino area called Adventure Rafting who offer complete weekend activities. The price depends on what activity you do, but is about ￥10,000 for the weekend. The staff are helpful and explain everything. Going down the river you have the option of which course to take and whether you want them to flip the raft or not. The morning is spent rafting, stopping first to do cliff jumps and then a stop for a drinks/snacks break and in the afternoon there are optional activities (mountain biking, cave exploration, staying at the lodge) and in the evening a full barbecue is provided (all drinks included). Following day there were more activities, the main one was the shower climbing.
http://www.outdoorjapan.com/gear-services/outdoorad-adventure-rafting.html (0575) 63-2852

Pottery/ceramics

The most comprehensive place to go is the Tajimi area in Gifu, north of Nagoya, East of Gifu. It is one of the world centres for pottery and ceramics. Home to 50%+ of domestic ceramics production, it's based on the 1,300 year old pottery tradition of the region. There's lots of artists and shops you can visit or even study at, many famous museums and material research centres. The Museum of Modern Ceramic Arts is a must-see.
http://www.pref.gifu.lg.jp/pref/s11337/sangyo_web/english/ceramics.html
http://www.greaternagoya.org/eng/m_tajimi_01.html
http://www.e-yakimono.net/html/gifu_museums.html
http://www.e-yakimono.net/html/gifu-2002.html
http://www.e-yakimono.net/guide/html/mino.html

Links:

http://www.gujohachiman.com/kanko/index_e.htm

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