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
Ponshukan
A Sake Tasting Museum Inside a Train Station
A unique sake tasting facility inside Echigo-Yuzawa Station offering samples from all of Niigata'...
Takaoka Daibutsu
Large Bronze Buddha in Central Takaoka
A roughly 16-metre bronze seated Amida Buddha in central Takaoka, often counted among Japan's thr...
Takayama Old Town
Beautifully Preserved Edo-Period Streets
Beautifully preserved Edo-period merchant streets with sake breweries, traditional shops, and mor...
Magome-juku
A beautifully preserved post town on the historic Nakasendo trail, featuring a steep stone-paved ...
Nagara River Cormorant Fishing
Traditional Cormorant Fishing on the Nagara River
A traditional form of fishing on the Nagara River in Gifu city, in which fishermen use trained co...
Iwase
Preserved Edo-Period Merchant and Sake District
A preserved port district near Toyama's harbour where Edo- and Meiji-era merchant houses and a wo...
Niigata City
The Sake Capital of Japan
A vibrant port city on the Sea of Japan coast, Niigata is renowned as the sake capital of Japan w...
Shosenkyo Gorge
Shosenkyo Gorge is a scenic 5-kilometer granite ravine along the Arakawa River that has been desi...
Zuiryuji Temple
National Treasure Zen Temple in Takaoka
A Soto Zen temple in Takaoka built for the Maeda clan, whose main gate, Buddha hall, and Dharma h...
Inuyama Castle
One of only five National Treasure castles in Japan, with an original donjon dating to 1537.
Sado Island
Japan's sixth largest island with gold mines, traditional performing arts, and rugged coastal sce...
Myoko Kogen
A Mountain Resort with Waterfalls and Hot Springs
A scenic highland area at the base of Mount Myoko, known for the dramatic Naena Falls, natural ho...
Chirihama Nagisa Driveway
Beach You Can Drive a Car On
A stretch of firm sand beach in Hakui where cars, motorcycles and bicycles can drive directly alo...
Fujisan Hongu Sengen Taisha
Head Shrine of Japan's Sengen Shrines and Mount Fuji Worship
The head shrine of roughly 1,300 Sengen (Asama) shrines nationwide, dedicated to the deity of Mou...
Legoland Japan
A family-oriented theme park built around LEGO bricks with rides, building workshops, and a minia...