Chubu

A vast area located in the center of Honshu Island between the Kanto and Kansai regions. Chubu is made up of a wide variety of smaller regions, such Yamanashi and Shizuoka Prefectures with Mt. Fuji and Nagano and Gifu Prefectures with highlands and mountains. It is also home to Niigata, Toyama, Ishikawa, and Fukui Prefectures, which all face the Sea of Japan, Aichi Prefecture, home to the large city of Nagoya,And Mie prefecture with its long coastline.

Important Places

Matsumoto Castle

Located in Matsumoto City,Nagano Prefecture, Matsumoto Castle boasts one of the oldest castle towers in all Japan. The view of the tower reflected in the moat with the Hide Mountains in the background is a beautiful sight.

Mt.Fuji

Rising 3,776 meters(12,388 feet) above sea level, this is the highest mountain in Japan, and is regarded as the nation’s symbol. This mountain and the surrounding area were collectively registered on the world cultural heritage list in 2013. You can access Mt. Fuji from Shizuoka and Yamanashi Prefectures. People are also allowed to climb to the summit of the mountain the months of July and August.

Kawazu Zakura(Cherry Blossonms of Kawazu)

Kawazu Town in Shizuoka Prefecture is home to a variety of cherry blossoms that flower into bloom in early February, ahead of the blossoms in other parts of Honshu Island. The town celebrates the occasion with a cherry blossom festival each year.

Katsunuma Winery

Wine is produced in many parts of Japan. There are a particularly large number of wineries in Katsunuma City in Yamanshi Prefecture. You can taste free samples at many of these wineries.

Mt. Tateyama and Kurobe

The plateau 2500 Meters above sea level in this area can be accessed by cable car and then bus in all seasons other than winter. On the plateau you can see alpine plants, rere animals such as snow grouses, and a snow gorge in summer.

Shirakawa-go and Gokayama

Shirakawa-go and Gokayama have been registered on the UNESCO world culture heritage list. These villages feature houses built in a traditional style peculiar to area called gassho zukuri.

Hida Takayama

A city in a mountainous part of Gifu Prefecture. Beautiful pieces of traditional architecture have been preserved in this city famous for woodwork. A morning market and local food, such as Hida beef, offer additional delights.

Nagoya

The Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology in Nagoya is a place where people can see the textile machines developed by a group of companies led by global automaker Toyoto, as learn about changes in industrial technologies, particularly those for automobiles.