Chubu Region

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Chubu, which literally means “central part”, is Japan’s central region. It has a population of approximately 21.7 million and consists of nine prefectures: Aichi, Fukui, Gifu, Ishikawa, Nagano, Niigata, Shizuoka, Toyama, and Yamanashi. Chubu itself is also divided into three sub-regions called Hokuriku (Northern), Tokai (Southern), and Koshinetsu (Eastern). Hokuriku consists of Ishikawa, Fukui, and Toyama. Niigata is sometimes considered part of this region. The Hokuriku region lies on the coastline of the Sea of Japan. The region is known for its heavy snow in the winter. The Tokai region consists of Aichi, Gifu, and Shizuoka.

One of its highlights is Mt. Fuji in Shizuoka. With the Pacific Ocean as its border, the Tokai region is crucial in connecting Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. Nagano, Niigata, and Yamanashi comprise the Koshinetsu region. Koshinetsu region is famous for its mountains and terrains, including the Japan Alps.

Niigata Prefecture

Niigata Prefecture

Niigata is best known for its production of high quality rice. Uonuma City of Niigata produces Koshihikari rice, which is believed to be the best rice in Japan.

Where To Go In Niigata

  • Echigo Yuzawa
  • Niigata City
  • Niigata Furusato Village
  • Sado Gold Mine
  • Sado Island
  • Tsukioka Onsen

Niigata

Niigata

Niigata rice and sake are particularly well known from this area

Echigo Yuzawa

Echigo Yuzawa

The Major Ski Resort & Sake Museum

Sado Island

Sado Island

Remote Island famous for Gold Mine and Home to the Japanese Ibis

Toyama Prefecture

Toyama Prefecture

Toyama with Ishikawa Prefecture borders Toyama Bay, one of Japan’s three largest bays, which is famous for its firefly squids that emit blue light on its shores.

Where To Go In Toyama

  • Gokayama
  • Japan Alps
  • Kurobe Dam
  • Kurobedaira
  • Murodo
  • Selene Museum of Art
  • Takaoka Big Buddha
  • Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route
  • Tonami Tulip Park
  • Toyama Bay

Toyama Bay

Toyama Bay

Famous for its firefly squids that light up the bay

Japan Alps

Japan Alps

Famous Hot Spring Resorts and Relaxing Getways

Kurobe Dam

Kurobe Dam

Japan's Tallest Dam, Sightseeing Cruises on the Lake

Kurobedaira

Kurobedaira

Station between Tateyama Ropeway and Kurobe Cablecar

Ishikawa Prefecture

Ishikawa Prefecture

Ishikawa’s most visited site is Kenrokuen Garden, considered one of Japan’s three most beautiful landscape gardens. “Kaga yuzen”, a form of dyeing that produces colorful dyed silk fabric for kimono, developed in Ishikawa.

Where To Go In Ishikawa

  • Higashi Chaya Machi
  • Kanazawa Castle
  • Kenrokuen Garden
  • Myoryuji Temple
  • Nagamachi
  • Ninjadera
  • Nomura Samurai Family Residence
  • Noto Peninsula
  • Ohmicho Ichiba
  • 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art

Myoryuji Temple

Myoryuji Temple

Known as Ninja Temple with many deceptive defenses

Higashi Chaya-machi

Higashi Chaya-machi

One of three great night pleasure spots in Kanazawa district

Noto Peninsula

Noto Peninsula

The Noto Peninsula extends about 100 kilometers into the Sea of Japan

Tripadvisor Ranking 10
Kanazawa

Kanazawa

Home to famous Kenroku-en Garden regareded as Japan's three most beautiful gardens

Fukui Prefecture

Fukui Prefecture

Fukui’s two most popular tourist destinations are Eiheiji Temple and Fukui Dinosaur Museum. Fukui Dinosaur Museum is the largest dinosaur museum in Japan and recognized as one of the top three in the world.

Where To Go In Fukui

  • Asuwayama Park
  • Echizen Daffodil Village Park
  • Eiheiji Temple
  • Fukui Dinosaur Museum
  • Ichijo Fall
  • Kitagata Lakeside Iris Garden
  • Maruoka Castle
  • Nishiyama Park
  • Sotomo
  • Tojinbo

Fukui Dinosaur Museum

Fukui Dinosaur Museum

One of the Three Largest Dinosaur Museum in the World

Eiheiji Temple

Eiheiji Temple

One of the two head temple of the Soto Sect of Zen Buddhism

Tojinbo

Tojinbo

Series of rugged cliffs on the coast of Sea of Japan

Maruoka Castle

Maruoka Castle

Famous for its Donjon, Fortified Tower

Gifu Prefecture

Gifu Prefecture

Gifu is fairly rural with several hot springs and rural towns being the town’s highlights. One of these popular traditional towns is Takayama, a town of old wooden houses standing side-by side.

Where To Go In Gifu

  • Gero Onsen
  • Gokayama
  • Gujo Hachiman
  • Hida Folk Village
  • Shinhotaka Ropeway
  • Shirakawago
  • Takayama Jinya
  • Takayama Morning Market
  • Takayama Old Town

Takayama Festival

Takayama Festival

Decorated Floats Yatai and Portable Shrine Mikoshi

Tripadvisor Ranking 19
Shirakawago

Shirakawago

UNESCO World Heritage Gassho-zukuri farmhouses

Takayama Old Town

Takayama Old Town

Beautifully Preserved with Old Homes in Takayama

Takayama Morning Market

Takayama Morning Market

Find local fresh vegetables, fruits, mountain vegetables of Takayama

Aichi Prefecture

Aichi Prefecture

Nagoya Castle in Aichi, built in the beginning of the Edo Period, was one of the largest castles in Japan. Having developed as a castle town, Nagoya has several historically significant buildings.

Where To Go In Aichi

  • Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens
  • Inuyama Castle
  • Meiji Mura
  • Nagoya
  • Nagoya Aquarium
  • Nagoya Castle
  • Nagoya City Science Museum
  • Nagoya TV Tower
  • Toyota Techno Museum

Tripadvisor Ranking 6
Nagoya

Nagoya

Japan's third most populated metropolitan area and the capital of Aichi Prefecture

Toyota

Toyota

Toyota City is the largest city in Aichi and home to Toyota Motor Corporation Headquarter

Nagoya TV Tower

Nagoya TV Tower

Japan's Oldest TV Tower constructed in 1954 in Aichi

Shizuoka Prefecture

Shizuoka Prefecture

Shizuoka is most known for its green tea production, accounting for approximately half of the country’s green tea. Visitors can witness the impressive green tea plantations that run miles when traveling across Shizuoka on the bullet trains.

Where To Go In Shizuoka

  • Fuji Safari Park
  • Gotemba Premium Outlets
  • Ito Marine Town
  • Izu Cactus Park
  • Izu Granpal Park
  • Kawazu
  • Koibito Misaki - Lover's Cape
  • Lake Ashi
  • Lake Hamana
  • Mt. Fuji
  • Ryugashido
  • Teddy Bear Museum
  • World Tea Museum (Ochanosato)

Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival

Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival

Early Hanami in Izu Peninsula

World Tea Museum (Ochanosato)

World Tea Museum (Ochanosato)

Composed of a Museum, Tea House and Garden

Lake Hamana

Lake Hamana

Japan's tenth largest lake famous for cultivated eel

Shimoda

Shimoda

Beautiful destination with hot springs and beaches

Yamanashi Prefecture

Yamanashi Prefecture

Yamanashi Prefecture is located in the Chubu region and is best known for its many large mountains, including the famous Mt. Fuji. A popular way to view the beautiful Mt. Fuji is from Lake Kawaguchiko, one of the Fuji Five Lakes.

Where To Go In Yamanashi

  • Aokigahara Suicide Forest
  • Atae Yuki Museum (Kawaguchiko Muse Museum)
  • Fuji Five Lakes
  • Fuji Q Highland
  • Itchiku Kubota Art Museum
  • Kawaguchiko Music Forest
  • Lake Kawaguchi
  • Lake Yamanaka
  • Mt. Fuji
  • Mt. Kachikachi
  • Shosenkyo
  • Yamanashi Fuefukigawa Fruits Park

Itchiku Kubota Art Museum

Itchiku Kubota Art Museum

Museum displaying beautifully crafted kimono

Yamanashi Fuefukigawa Fruits Park

Yamanashi Fuefukigawa Fruits Park

Fruit park with extensive array of fruits and tropical greenhouse

Fuji Shibazakura Festival

Fuji Shibazakura Festival

800,000 shibazakura or pink moss cover the fields in shades of pink

Kawaguchiko Music Forest

Kawaguchiko Music Forest

Small theme park featuring music boxes, automatic musical instruments

Nagano Prefecture

Nagano Prefecture

Its mountain resorts and hot springs make Nagano a popular tourist destination for those seeking to appreciate nature. The Jigokudani Monkey Park in Yamanouchi is one of the many unique sights that attracts tourists.

Where To Go In Nagano

  • Azumino Wasabi Farm
  • Hakuba
  • Jigokudani Wild Monkey Park
  • Kamikochi
  • Karuizawa Picturebook Forest Museum
  • Kids Ninja Village
  • Matsumoto Castle
  • Obuse Hokusai Museum
  • Shibu Onsen
  • Shiga-Kogen Highlands
  • Tsumago
  • Yudanaka
  • Zenkoji Temple

Matsumoto Castle

Matsumoto Castle

Hirajiro castle built on plains rather than a hill

Zenkoji Temple

Zenkoji Temple

Stores the first Buddha statue brought into Japan

Yudanaka

Yudanaka

Famous for its snow monkeys that bathe; free foot baths in town

Karuizawa

Karuizawa

Most popular summer resort; second home to many wealthy urbanites

Obuse Hokusai Museum

Obuse Hokusai Museum

Features ukiyoe works by famous painter Katsushika Hokusai

Kamikochi

Kamikochi

Japan's Yosemite; remote mountainous highland

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