Things to Do in Chubu, Japan
Central Japan: Mount Fuji, the Japan Alps, historic post towns and the Sea of Japan coast.
105 destinations across 9 prefectures
Festivals in Chubu
© Bernard Gagnon / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Takayama Matsuri
9 to 10 October 2026
Gifu · Float procession
© Koichi_Hayakawa / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)
Nagaoka Fireworks
2 to 3 August 2027
Niigata · Fireworks festival
© 信州高原青馬写真クラブ / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Lake Suwa Fireworks
15 August 2027
Nagano · Fireworks festival
© Kropsoq (talk) / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0)
Katakai Fireworks
10 to 11 September 2027
Niigata · Fireworks festival
Suggested Itineraries
Places to Visit in Chubu
Heisenji Hakusan Shrine
Heisenji Hakusan Shrine - Japan's Most Beautiful Moss Garden
A serene moss-covered shrine on the ruins of one of medieval Japan's largest temple cities, famou...
Fukui Kodomo Kazokukan
Fukui Kodomo Kazokukan Children's Center
A large indoor play-and-learning center for children at the Umin-pia Ohi seaside complex on the W...
Nagoya
Japan's industrial powerhouse with a proud castle, unique local cuisine, and the Toyota heritage.
Kanazawa
A preserved castle town with Kenrokuen Garden, samurai districts, geisha quarters, and 99% of Jap...
Tsumago-juku
Japan's best-preserved Nakasendo post town where cars are banned from the historic center, offeri...
21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art
Kanazawa's Round Contemporary Art Museum
A striking circular glass museum by SANAA architects, famous for its interactive Swimming Pool in...
Echigo-Tsumari Art Field
The World's Largest Outdoor Art Festival
Spanning 760 square kilometers of rural Niigata, the Echigo-Tsumari Art Field is the world's larg...
Izu Peninsula
Coastal Resort with Hot Springs and Beaches
A mountainous coastal peninsula southwest of Tokyo, famous for hot spring resorts, beautiful beac...
Kenroku-en
One of Japan's Three Great Gardens
One of Japan's three great landscape gardens, named for the six qualities a garden was said to need.
Osu Shopping District
Nagoya's Vibrant Retro Shopping Arcade
A lively covered shopping district with over 1,200 shops spanning electronics, vintage clothing, ...
Kawaguchiko
Lake Kawaguchi
Scenic lake at the northern base of Mount Fuji, with classic views and year-round outdoor activit...
Wajima Morning Market
One of Japan's three great morning markets with over 1,000 years of history, where local vendors ...
Kanazawa Higashi Chaya District
Kanazawa Higashi Chaya District - Edo-Era Geisha Quarter
One of Japan's best-preserved geisha districts, featuring Edo-period wooden teahouses, gold leaf ...
Myoryuji (Ninja Temple)
A Temple of Hidden Traps and Secret Passages
A fascinating temple built with hidden staircases, trap doors, and secret passages as defensive m...
Gokayama
UNESCO Thatched-Roof Mountain Village
Secluded UNESCO World Heritage village with traditional gassho-zukuri thatched-roof farmhouses, a...