The Chubu region

Author: Edutraveller
Date written: 04/18/2003 07:50:38 PM
Last edited: 2003/05/25 16:52:59
Keywords: Japanese regional guide, Chubu, Central Japan, Japan travel guide, Japan guide

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Chubu

The Chubu Region encompasses most of the area between Tokyo and Osaka, and is an ideal location from which to explore the whole of Japan. It has excellent transportation through Nagoya which is the regional hub and Japan's fourth-largest city. A major international airport connects Nagoya to the world via direct flights and there are regular internal flights to all other Japanese airports. Shinkansen trains all stop in Nagoya, and main highways and train lines all pass through the region to the south and north. You can be in almost any part of Japan within a few hours by shinkansen and less by plane.

The area has a mild climate, a higher quality of life than the Japan average, excellent educational institutions and a powerhouse regional economy with many leading manufacturing corporations such as Toyota Motor, Mitsubishi, Sony and others having a large presence in the area. Outdoor activities include excellent skiing and hiking (Nagano, Gifu) and the mountainous inland area has superb scenery, some very affordable study locations and lower housing costs, although transportation in rural parts of the Japan Alps can be limited (especially during the winter months). However, transport into the mountain city of Nagano and surrounding area was improved for the 1998 Winter Olympics making the ski slopes much more accessible.

The northern area has the cultural city of Kanazawa, industrial hub of Niigata and the Sea of Japan coast including the unspoilt Noto Peninsula. In short, there are plenty of things to do and see in Chubu, and when you have finished with this area, the rest of Japan is at your disposal with Nagoya as a convenient launchpad.

Getting there

Nagoya is an international airport (code: NGO), and is linked by direct flights to many major cities around the world, and via transfers at Tokyo Narita and Osaka Kansai airports to many more. Given the cost of transport in Japan, consider flying direct to Nagoya if you are going to be based in the area unless you really want to go to Tokyo or Osaka.

If coming by train, the main Tokaido line runs through Nagoya, and all trains stop here. Shinkansen trains leave Tokyo and Osaka for Nagoya every few minutes throughout the day, and you don't usually need to reserve except at peak times or holidays. By road, the main Chuo Expressway runs through the city. From here, you can access the regional network of trains and roads that will get you to any part of the Chubu region easily and quickly.

From Nagoya, you can take a ferry that runs via Osaka, through Naha, Miyako, Ishigaki to Chilung and Kaoshiung in Taiwan, getting off wherever you like on the trip (of course, you need to buy a separate ticket every time you board). Another ferry from Nagoya runs to Sendai and then Tomakomai in Hokkaido. On the north coast, there are ferries from Naoetsu, Teradomari and Niigata to Sadogashima, and from Hakata (near Fukuoka) to Hokkaido via Naoetsu.

Weather

Chubu, like the rest of Japan, has two basic weather patterns within it. The north (Japan Sea) coast and the south (Pacific Ocean) coast are quite different. The north coast has much more severe winters, not having the Japan Alps to shelter behind. This means much higher snowfall and slightly lower temperatures in winter, while rainfall is similar in the summer (all parts of Japan experience typhoons). Sunshine during the summer is very similar, but the winter snow clouds blot out the sun on the north coast.

Chubu also has a lot of high ground, adding a third weather pattern. Nagano and some parts of Gifu in particular are located at a very high elevation and this brings with it colder weather, but also lower rainfall as the effects of typhoons are not felt so severely at the highest parts of the region. Although it has a lot of snow, Hokkaido to the far north of Japan has a much higher snowfall and more reliable snow for skiing - although lack of snow will almost never be a problem in either location.

Things to see

A brief list of some of the main sights around the Chubu region.

Aichi-ken

• Nagoya Castle (built 1610-14 by Tokugawa Ieyasu)
• Atsuta Jingu (shrine dating from the third century) houses "kusanagi no tsurugi" (one of the imperial crown jewels of Japan, but you won't see it)
• Tokugawa Art Museum (items from the Shogunate and the Scroll of Genji designated a National Treasure)
• Nagoya/Boston Museum of Fine Arts (excellent displays of western and Japanese art)
• Nagoya Port (Aquarium, Maritime Museum, Port Tower, Fuji Antarctic Exploration Ship)
• Arimatsu (traditional tie-dying techniques or Arimatsu Shibori)
• Seto-shi (home of pottery in Japan)
• Handa-shi (Kunizakari Sake Museum)

Fukui-ken

• Eihei-ji (Zen temple founded by Dogen in 13th century and one of the chief temples of Soto Zen)

Gassho-zukuri, or praying hands, is a traditional form of thatch building. They can stand huge weights of snow and used to house large extended families of up to sixty people.

Gifu-ken

• Gifu-shi (Ukai or cormorant fishing in summer, Shoho-ji papier-mache Daibutsu)
• Inuyama-shi (Inuyama-jou, oldest castle in Japan; white-water rafting, Meiji-mura examples of Meiji-era architecture)
• Gero-shi (Famous onsen supposedly cures many ailments and improves complexion; Onsen-ji temple to hot baths)
• Takayama (April Sanno Matsuri is one of the three great festivals of Japan; Gassho-zukuri traditional houses)
• Shirakawa-go (More Gassho-zukuri, museums of life in medieval Japan)

Ishikawa-ken

• Kanazawa (Important cultural centre; Kenroku-en - one of the top gardens in Japan; Nagamachi district Samurai houses; Ishikawa Prefectural Museum for Traditional Products and Crafts)
• Noto Peninsula (Rural area, plenty of local festivals and natural coastline)
• Wajima (Lacquerware museum)
• Hakusan National Park (Hike and camp in the Japanese Alps; hikes up to 26 km long)

Matsumoto-jo is the oldest castle in Japan. It is also unique for its black colour, which gives it its other name of "Black Crow Castle".

Nagano-ken

• Tenryu Gorge
• Kiso Valley (Magome and Tsumago - preserved post-towns on the old Tokyo-Kyoto road)
• Matsumoto (Matsumoto Castle; Ukiyo-e woodcut prints museum)
• Hakuba (some of the best skiing and hiking in Japan)

Niigata-ken

• Sado-ga-shima (Island where many dissidents were exiled in Japanese history - including Nichiren, founder of the Buddhist sect; Sado Kinzan Gold Mine; Festivals featuring Kodo Drummers)
• Echigo-Yuzawa Onsen (Skiing and onsen resort)
• Niigata City Niigata-shi Godo Shiryokan Folklore Museum, Niigata port, Niigata Kensei Shiryo Kan Memorial Hall of Politics (modelled on the British Houses of Parliament)
• Sado Yahiko Quasi-national Park Mount Yahiko volcano, Yahiko-mura, Yahiko-jinja

Shizuoka-ken

• Shizuoka City Hamana-ko
• Nihon-daira Kuno-zan Toshogu and Nihon-daira ropeway, Kuno-zan Toshogu Shrine
• Okuoi Prefectural National Park JR Kanaya Station to Senzu steam locomotive, Ikawa-ko and Hatanagi-ko
• Shuzen-ji Hot Spring, Niji-no-sato theme park (Igirisu-mura English Village), Takumi-no-mura (Japanese handicrafts)
• Nichi and Higashi Izu Hot Springs and botanical gardens.
• Ito Peninsula Atami, Hot Springs, Museum of Modern Art, numerous other museums.
• Amagi-toge Pass Wonderful views and walks.

Toyama-ken

• Toyama Chokei-ji temple, Toyama City Folk craft Village.
• Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route (Walking/bus/train route through Japan Alps)

Yamanashi-ken

• Mount Fuji Mount Fuji and the five lakes, Shosenkyo ravine
• Kofu and Shosenkyo Valley Takeda-jinja Shrine and Kaizenko-ji Temple
• National Parks Fuji-Hakone-Izu, Chichibu-Tama and South Japan Alps National Parks, Tanzawa-Oyama and Yatsugatake-Chushin Quasi-National Parks

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