Day Trips from Nagoya During the Asian Games 2026
Castles, pottery towns and green gorges within reach of Nagoya during the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games (Sep 19-Oct 4) - how to slot them around match days.
Chubu
Travel guides and hidden gems in the Chubu region of Japan
Central Japan · Alpine Spine
Chubu — where Mt. Fuji, the Kiso Valley, and the Japan Alps converge.
Yamanashi, Nagano, Gifu, Shizuoka — the prefectures with the highest concentration of HJG fieldwork.
Chubu is the geographical and emotional center of HJG. It contains Mt. Fuji, the Japan Alps, the Kiso Valley post towns, Kamikochi, and the Yamanashi lakes. Many of the most-read articles on this site live in Chubu prefectures.
When to visit
April for cherry blossom along Mt. Fuji. July to early September for the climbing season (Mt. Fuji, Northern Alps). October for autumn at Kamikochi and Naraijuku. December for Mt. Fuji visibility at its annual peak.
How to get there
JR Tokaido Shinkansen passes through Shizuoka/Nagoya; Hokuriku Shinkansen reaches Nagano, Kanazawa and on to Tsuruga. Mt. Fuji area: Kawaguchiko via Otsuki, then Fujikyuko Line. Kiso Valley: JR Chuo Main Line — Narai has its own station; Magome and Tsumago need a short bus link.
Plan a trip to Chubu
StayHotels in the Fuji areaKawaguchiko, Yamanakako, Fujiyoshida free-cancellation filter.RyokanTraditional ryokanStrongest inventory for Yamanashi, Nagano, and Gifu rural inns.RailJR Pass for the whole region7-day pass covers Tokaido + access to all Chubu prefectures.DriveRental car for the AlpsKamikochi requires bus from Sawando, but Northern Alps base towns need a car.
All Chubu articles
Kadoya Tofu, Oshino: Morning-Fresh Tofu Near Mt. Fuji
Go early. That’s the whole secret to Kadoya Tofu (角屋豆富店), a family tofu maker in Oshino that calls itself the “Tofu Station.” Get there in the morning and there’s still-warm tofu — and, when I visited, a little counter where…
Hakkai Tofu, Oshino: Fresh Mt. Fuji Spring-Water Tofu
Most people come to Oshino for the eight famously clear spring ponds of Oshino Hakkai. I come for the tofu. A few minutes from the ponds, an old family tofu maker called Hakkai Tofu (八海とうふ / Asano Shokuhin) turns Mt.…
Cool Day Trips from Tokyo 2026: 10 Escapes Ranked by Actual August Temperatures
Ten classic heat-escape day trips from Tokyo, ranked by official JMA August normals: Oku-Nikko runs 8.4°C cooler — and several famous "cool spots" are exactly as hot as Tokyo. Which kind of cool each one really sells.
Japanese Road Signs: A Visual Guide for Foreign Drivers Near Mt. Fuji
Renting a car near Mt. Fuji makes the Fuji lakes and quiet back-roads far easier to explore. But the roads here are catching a lot of visitors out: foreign cyclists keep riding onto the expressway because a maps app told…
Fuji Five Lakes Fireworks 2026: Four Lakes, Four Nights (Aug 2–5) — and the Quiet Ones Nobody Plans For
Four consecutive fireworks nights across the Fuji Five Lakes, 2–5 August 2026 — Saiko, Motosu, Shoji, then the 10,000-shell Kojosai. Times, the bus trap nobody mentions, and which quiet night to pick.
Kawaguchiko Kojosai Fireworks (Aug 5, 2026): Viewing Spots, Road Closures & the ¥10M Crowdfunding Behind It
Lake Kawaguchi's century-old Kojosai fires ~10,000 shells on 5 August 2026 — the finale of four straight lake-fireworks nights. Launch sites, viewing areas, 17:00 road closures, and the town's ¥10M crowdfunding to keep the tradition alive.
Two Serious Mt. Fuji Incidents in One July Day (2026): What They Teach Every Climber
A first-timer rescued after a night out at the 2nd station; a 58-year-old climber who didn't survive the Fujinomiya route — both in 24 hours. Five lessons on preparation, pacing and knowing when to turn back.
Nagano's New Trailhead Gate Checks (Jul 18–Aug 11, 2026): What Hikers Must Show at Kamikochi & Tsugaike
From 18 July to 11 August 2026, Nagano is trialling gate checks at the Yokoo and Tsugaike trailheads — plan, gear, insurance and start time. Who it affects, and the day-pack kit that passes.
Mt. Fuji Panoramic Ropeway 2026: New Fortune Terrace, Views & Set Tickets
The Mt. Fuji Panoramic Ropeway climbs from Lake Kawaguchi to Mt. Tenjo in three minutes. Its new July 2026 Fuji Fortune Terrace, fares, hours, the smart set ticket, and how to get there without a car.
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