Travel guides and hidden gems in the Chubu region of Japan
Central Japan · Alpine Spine
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.
April for cherry blossom along Mt. Fuji. July–August for the climbing season (Mt. Fuji, Northern Alps). October for autumn at Kamikochi and Naraijuku. December for Mt. Fuji visibility at its annual peak.
JR Tokaido Shinkansen passes through Shizuoka/Nagoya; Hokuriku Shinkansen reaches Nagano/Kanazawa. Mt. Fuji area: Kawaguchiko via Otsuki, then Fujikyuko Line. Kiso Valley: JR Chuo Main Line.
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All Chubu articles
Togakushi Shrine 2026 visit guide — the Okusha reopened April 21, the 2 km approach runs through 600+ giant cedars over 420 years old, the Zuishinmon crimson gate is the photo anchor. Five-shrine pilgrimage, etiquette, access from Nagano Station.
Narai-juku 2026 visit guide — Japan's longest preserved Edo post town at about 1 km, designated 1978, 34th of 67 Nakasendo stops. JR Narai access, 5 parking lots (3 free), Tokuriya + Nakamura House, the seven wells, soba + gohei-mochi, Kiso Lacquerware Festival.
Intro Escape the winter chill and step into Japan’s earliest spring at the Atami Plum Blossom Festival (熱海梅園梅まつり, Atami Baien Ume Matsuri). Nestled in the scenic hills of the famous onsen town, this historic garden welcomes visitors with a breathtaking…
Are you exploring the Mt. Fuji area and craving a truly local, delicious, and affordable meal? Look no further than Tiger Shokudo in Fujiyoshida. This beloved diner, a personal favorite of mine, offers a genuine taste of Japanese comfort food…
Japan’s cherry blossom season is a world-renowned spectacle, but the early-blooming Kawazu Sakura in Shizuoka Prefecture offers a unique, month-long preview starting in early February. Unlike the more common Somei Yoshino, these blossoms are a vibrant pink and last longer,…
I came to Suwa Taisha on a clear autumn morning. The task was simple: visit all four shrines in a single day. This is called yonsha meguri—the four-shrine pilgrimage. It is not a difficult walk, but it is a deliberate…
Current date: 2026-01-06 (JST) What Happened The dates for the 36th annual Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival have been officially announced. The event will take place from Saturday, February 7 to Sunday, March 8, 2026. This festival celebrates the early-blooming Kawazu-zakura,…
I walked Narai-juku for the first time in early November — late afternoon, after the day-trip buses had left, when the kilometer of Edo-period storefronts went quiet again and the lacquerware shop owners were sweeping the street with bamboo brooms.…
Current date: 2025-12-21 (JST) The Kumano Kodo is not a single path, but a network of ancient pilgrimage routes that crisscross the Kii Peninsula. For over a thousand years, emperors and commoners alike have walked these trails, seeking spiritual purification…
Current date: 2025-12-18 (JST) Shirakawa-go is one of those places that feels suspended in time. Seeing the iconic Gassho-style farmhouses with their steep, thatched roofs, you understand why it’s often described as a fairytale village. Nestled in a remote mountain…
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