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🇯🇵 Japan Region Guide · 2026

Chubu — Central

Central · Japanese Alps · castles · Main cities: Nagoya · Kanazawa · Takayama · Mt Fuji area

About Chubu

The Chubu region

Central · Japanese Alps · castles. Covers 9 prefectures · main cities: Nagoya · Kanazawa · Takayama · Mt Fuji area. One of Japan's 9 regions, with its own distinctive charm — culture, food, climate, and destinations that show you a side of Japan most travellers never see.

Prefectures · 9 in this region

All 9 prefectures in Chubu

Every prefecture in the Chubu region — we'll review them all · click for individual prefecture guides

Aichi (愛知)
AICHI · Capital: Nagoya
Nagoya Castle · Hitsumabushi · Toyota Museum · Atsuta Shrine
✓ Guide ready
Shizuoka (静岡)
SHIZUOKA · Capital: Shizuoka
Mt Fuji · green tea · Atami Onsen · Izu Peninsula
🔜 Coming soon
Yamanashi (山梨)
YAMANASHI · Capital: Kofu
Mt Fuji Five Lakes · Chureito Pagoda · wine · houtou noodles
🔜 Coming soon
Nagano (長野)
NAGANO · Capital: Nagano
Japanese Alps · Hakuba ski · Matsumoto Castle · Jigokudani snow monkeys
🔜 Coming soon
Niigata (新潟)
NIIGATA · Capital: Niigata
Sake · Koshihikari rice · ski resorts · Sado Island
🔜 Coming soon
Toyama (富山)
TOYAMA · Capital: Toyama
Kurobe Alpine Route · firefly squid · Tateyama Mountains
🔜 Coming soon
Kanazawa (金沢)
KANAZAWA · Ishikawa's capital
Kenroku-en garden · gold-leaf geisha districts · castle & seafood
✓ Full city guide
Fukui (福井)
FUKUI · Capital: Fukui
Eiheiji Zen Temple · Tojinbo Cliffs · Dinosaur Museum
🔜 Coming soon
Gifu (岐阜)
GIFU · Capital: Gifu
Takayama old town · Shirakawa-go UNESCO · Magome-Tsumago
🔜 Coming soon
Takayama (高山)
TAKAYAMA · Hida old town in Gifu
Hida old town · riverside morning markets · Hida beef · gateway to Shirakawa-go
✓ Full city guide
Shirakawa-go (白川郷)
SHIRAKAWA-GO · UNESCO gassho village in Gifu
UNESCO gassho village · Shiroyama viewpoint · winter light-ups
✓ Full city guide
Kawaguchiko (河口湖)
KAWAGUCHIKO · Fuji lake town in Yamanashi
lake views of Mt Fuji · Chureito Pagoda · Oishi Park · Fuji-view onsen
✓ Full city guide
Region 101

Chubu at a glance

👥
Population
21 million
📐
Area
66,800 km²
🚄
Transit
Tokaido Shinkansen · JR Central · Nagoya hub
🗻
Best season
Late autumn (Alps foliage) · summer Mt Fuji
🍜
Signature food
Hitsumabushi · Niigata sake · Hida wagyu
🌡️
Weather
Summer 22-30°C · Winter -5 to 8°C (mountains) / 3-10°C (plains)
FAQ

FAQ · Chubu travel

Highlights of Chubu?
Nagoya + Japanese Alps (Takayama, Magome, Kamikochi) + Kanazawa's Kenrokuen Garden + Mt Fuji area + main Shinkansen line
When can you climb Mt Fuji?
Climbing season Jul-Sep only · above Station 5 closed other months · book huts ahead
Shinkansen through Chubu?
Tokaido Shinkansen passes Nagoya · Tokyo→Nagoya 1h40m · Nagoya→Osaka 50min

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