The Chubu region lies almost in the geographical center of Japan. Here you have the soaring peaks of the "Japan Alps," the Japan Sea coast which retains much of the nation's older and traditional lifestyles, all the way to the Pacific coast that thrives with highly developed modern industry. These are the varied faces that constitute this region.

Nagoya & Vicinity

Nagoya is 366 km. (229 mi.), or 1 hr. 50 min. by Shinkansen super express from Tokyo and 1 hr. from Shin-Osaka. Japan's fourth largest city, Nagoya is an old castle town, with a fine network of streets and wide boulevards. The region is noted as the center of Japan's porcelain industry, lacquer ware, the "shibori-zome" tie-dyed cloth, and other arts and handicrafts. Near the center of the city stands Nagoya Castle, originally a residence and military headquarters for the Tokugawa clan. The Tokugawa Museum in the Sakae district is well worth a visit as it houses over 10,000 articles handed down by the Tokugawa family.

A number of pottery producing centers can be found in the environs surrounding Nagoya. Seto, 30 min. by rail from Nagoya, is the largest pottery producer in Japan well known for its pottery and many local kilns. Throughout the town there are many shops as well as studios offering a pottery making hands‑on experience to visitors. Reasonably priced small souvenir plates are highly popular. Also Tokoname, 40 min. by train from Nagoya, has long been known for its Tokoname-yaki pottery.

Inuyama, 30 min. by rail from Nagoya, is famous for its white-walled castle, Japan's oldest existing fortress. Shooting the Kiso River rapids on a wooden boat is a truly exciting attraction.

Museum Meiji-mura, a 90‑min. bus ride from Nagoya, is an impressive outdoor museum of buildings collected from the Meiji period (1868 - 1912).

Side Trips from Nagoya

Ise-Shima National Park harbors the Ise Grand Shrine as well as numerous pearl fisheries along its magnificent seacoast.

The Ise Grand Shrine, about 1 hr. 30 min. by rail from Nagoya, is the most venerated of all Shinto shrines in Japan. The main shrine is completely rebuilt every 20 years.

Toba, 20 min. by rail or 40 min. by bus from Ise, is a port town famous for its "Wedded Rocks," a pair of islets linked by a giant rope, and is a sacred Shinto spot of worship. Don't pass up a visit to Mikimoto Pearl Island, where pearls were first artificially cultured.

Takayama, 2 hrs. 10 min. by limited express from Gifu is an old castle town situated in a valley surrounded by the Japan Alps. Takayama retains much of the atmosphere of old Japan. The whole town is museum-like, dotted with attraction after attraction, including a variety of small museums devoted to traditional crafts embodying the town's long-standing tradition of the finest in craftsmanship.

A 40-min. bus ride takes you to mountainous Shirakawa-go Village. Nestled in a rural setting reminiscent of the old Japan, Shirakawa-go is world-famous for its steeply thatch-roofed or "gasshozukuri"-style traditional farmhouses, some offering an overnight stay as family-run inns.

Other Areas

The mountains of the Japan Alps are a series of volcanic peaks running from north to south through the central and widest part of Honshu. They are often compared to the Alps of Europe in ruggedness and beauty. The Northern Alps form the core of Chubu Sangaku (Japan Alps) National Park.

Zenkoji Temple		Nagano

Nagano became world-famous as the host for the 1998 Winter Olympics. Its highland areas offer superb skiing in winter and their refreshingly cool summer is ideal for walking and trekking.

Zenkoji Temple in central Nagano City has been highly revered for 1,400 years as a primary center of Buddhist faith. Its imposing main building is a national treasure.

The main donjon of Matsumoto Castle in the city of Matsumoto is nicknamed the "Crow Castle" because of its black walls. The castle was built during the Age of Civil Wars, and therefore it has little decorative features, yet shines with a simple and masculine beauty.

Kanazawa, 3 hrs. by limited express from Nagoya or Osaka, originated as a castle town that retains much of the flavor of those early feudal times.

The prevailing practices of Noh drama, tea ceremony, and flower arranging among the citizens came about as a result of the long period of unbroken peace that their ancestors enjoyed from the 17th to 19th centuries. Kenrokuen Park, created in 1822, lies in the center of the city, and is known as one of the three most beautiful landscape gardens in Japan, along with Kairakuen Garden in Mite and Korakuen Garden in Okayama.

A 1 hr. 30-min. train ride from Kanazawa via Fukui takes you to Eiheiji Temple, celebrated as one of the headquarters of the Soto sect of Zen Buddhism.

It was founded by Priest Dogen (1200 - 1253), who brought Zen Buddhism to Japan from China.

Northeast of Kanazawa, the Noto Peninsula projects into the Japan Sea. Its long coastline features a diversified geography. The outer coast is characterized by its ruggedness while the inner coast is rich with bays and inlets with numerous photogenic fishing villages.

Japan Sea Coast		Sado Okesa Dance

Niigata Prefecture, 1 hr. to 2 hrs. from Tokyo, is one of the world's snowiest areas and, as such, attracts large numbers of skiers throughout the winter.

Sado Island, 1 hr. by hydrofoil from Niigata, is the fifth largest of Japan's islands, and is home to many small rice farms nestled between its twin parallel mountain chains.

© 2002 by Japan National Tourist Organization. For more information on any of these sights, please contact JNTO at 213.623.1952 www.jnto.go.jp