Japan · Areas
Chubu
Stretching from the Sea of Japan to the Pacific. Between Mount Fuji, the Japanese Alps and the gassho-style villages lie the teahouse streets of Kanazawa and the battlefields and castle sites of the Sengoku era.
Prefectures · Niigata · Toyama · Ishikawa · Fukui · Yamanashi · Nagano · Gifu · Shizuoka · Aichi
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Places to explore
Chubu
Mount Fuji
Japan's sacred 3,776-m peak, the 'once in a lifetime' place to greet the sunrise
Shirakawa-gō
A snow-country fairy tale of thatched gasshō-zukuri roofs: a farming poem within a World Heritage Site
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Kawaguchiko Lawson photo spot
A convenience store framed with Mount Fuji: the most magical-realist 'Japanese postcard'
Fuji Dream Bridge (Yume no Ōhashi)
Steps that seem to lead straight to Mount Fuji: a road bridge 'to the sky'
Shirakawa-gō Light-Up
Warm lights in a gasshō village on a snowy night: a fairy tale on just four nights a year
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Jigokudani Monkey Park
Snow monkeys in hot springs: the world's only 'monkey spa'
Mishaka Pond
The model for Higashiyama Kaii's 'Green Echo': fresh green reflected in an acidic pond
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Nagoya Castle
The 'pinnacle of early-modern castles', ordered built by Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1610: golden shachihoko gleam against the sky, and the painted panel…
Nagaoka Fireworks Festival
August 2, 2026
One of Japan's three great fireworks displays, themed on remembrance, recovery and peace: the giant 'shōsanjakudama' and the 'Phoenix fireworks …
Atami Marine Fireworks
Famous seaside fireworks held more than ten times a year: the 'bowl-shaped' bay, surrounded by mountains on three sides, makes the sound roar li…
Lake Suwa Festival Fireworks
August 15, 2026
Held on 15 August, the main day of Obon: about 40,000 shells rise from the lake, and the natural acoustics of the surrounding mountains make it …
Gujō Odori
July 11 – September 5, 2026
One of Japan's three great Bon dances and on UNESCO's intangible heritage list: 'step into the circle and you're a dancer'. The whole town dance…
Sunpu Castle Park
Sunpu Castle Park area, Aoi-ku, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture, north of Shizuoka Station in the city centre; the retired-shogun castle site…
Sekigahara Battlefield
Around Sekigahara Town, Fuwa District, Gifu Prefecture, in the narrow valley along the Nakasendo; today a town of scattered camp sites, monument…
Ueda Castle
Ninomaru area, Ueda City, Nagano Prefecture, now Ueda Castle Ruins Park; the Sanada clan's castle and one of Japan's 100 famous castles, noted f…
Kasugayama Castle Ruins
Around the summit of Mount Kasuga in central Joetsu City, Niigata Prefecture; a mountain-castle ruin, a national historic site and one of Japan'…
Mikatagahara Battlefield
The Mikatagahara plateau in the Kita-ku area of Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture; today a set of scattered historic spots and viewpoints, not…
Kawanakajima Battlefield
Southern Nagano City, Nagano Prefecture, on the Kawanakajima plain between the Chikuma and Sai rivers; today a battlefield park area including H…
Nagashino Castle Ruins and Shitaragahara
Shinshiro City, Aichi Prefecture. Nagashino Castle stands on a terrace at a river confluence, and Shitaragahara, the 1575 battlefield plain, lie…
Okehazama Battlefield Park
A small memorial park in the Toyoake area, Aichi Prefecture, near the traditionally identified site of Imagawa Yoshimoto's camp; a nationally de…
Eiheiji Temple
Eiheiji Town, Yoshida District, Fukui Prefecture, in mountains about 15 kilometres east of Fukui City; one of the two head temples of the Soto s…
Tojinbo Cliffs
Anto, Mikuni Town, Sakai City, Fukui Prefecture, on the Sea of Japan coast, within Echizen-Kaga Kaigan Quasi-National Park; the cliffs run about…
Gokayama Gassho-zukuri Villages, Toyama
Gokayama, Nanto City, Toyama Prefecture, in the upper Shogawa River valley; the World Heritage hamlets are Ainokura and Suganuma, with no railwa…
Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route
From Tateyama Town, Toyama Prefecture, to Omachi City, Nagano Prefecture, across the Northern Alps; the Toyama-side start is Tateyama Station (a…
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Higashi Chaya District, Kanazawa
Edo's geisha district across the Asano River: latticed teahouses, stone paving and a thin layer of gold leaf.
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Hida-Takayama
The machiya streets of 'Little Kyoto' and the only surviving Edo-period intendant's office, hidden among the mountains of Hida.
Matsumoto Castle
A black-walled National Treasure keep, one of only 12 original castle keeps left in Japan, backed by the Northern Alps.
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Kenroku-en, Kanazawa
The daimyō garden of the million-koku Kaga domain: the Kotoji lantern and snow-roped pines, with a different face in every season.