Chūbu Region
The 中部 (chūbu) region of Japan lies on 本州 (honshū), the largest island in the country. This region of Japan consists of Toyama Prefecture, Ishikawa Prefecture, Fukui Prefecture, Yamanashi Prefecture, Nagano Prefecture, Niigata Prefecture, Gifu Prefecture, Shizuoka Prefecture, Aichi Prefecture, Mie Prefecture, and Shiga Prefecture. It’s easy to think that these prefectures are pretty much the same as they’re all full of nature, but this isn’t the case. They each have local foods, specialty products, and so on that they’re known for. Each of these prefectures has clear differences. This is a beautiful countryside region that (particularly) those interested in traditional Japanese culture will enjoy. Traditional alcohol (known as rice wine), Japanese cuisine, green tea, and more can be enjoyed here.
For many who decide to leave the Kantō region (particularly Tokyo) and move to the countryside, many relocate to the Chūbu region. Seeing as it’s such a nice area to live in, it’s not just relocation, but this region is also popular among those who buy holiday homes. Here, there are areas known for having many luxurious holiday homes. Because of this, many celebrities are known for coming and relaxing here in the summer months. Despite being known as areas used (mainly) by wealthy people, there are many affordable holiday homes and reasonably priced Japanese-style inns and hotels, too.
The Chūbu region is also known for some of the highest-quality rice in Japan. There are a large number of rice fields here, so there are many areas where one can see some of the most beautiful rural landscapes in the country. Not only is this rice eaten, but the コシヒカリ (koshi-hikari) rice produced in this region is also used to make some of the highest quality rice wine in the country. Many traditional Japanese warehouses in this region are used to produce this rice wine. A portion of a few of these warehouses have been renovated into small museums where you can learn about the history of the company that runs them and learn about the process by which rice wine is made. Depending on the warehouse, you can try some rice wine made there. It’s a lot of fun to visit a few of these traditional warehouses and find a particular rice wine you enjoy.
For many people, Mt. Fuji is what comes to mind first when thinking about Japan. Part of Yamanashi Prefecture in the Chūbu region, Mt. Fuji is 3,776 meters tall and is Japan’s highest mountain. To be a little bit more precise, Mt. Fuji lies in both Yamanashi Prefecture and Shizuoka Prefecture. On June 6th, 2013, Mt. Fuji was designated as a cultural property by UNESCO. Since then, those from all over the world have come to climb this mountain. But it’s not just mountain climbers; those who’d like to take photos of Mt. Fuji have also increased. Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi Prefecture, is a city that’s popular in where one can take some great pictures of Mt. Fuji. This city has great access from and is very close to Tokyo.
It isn’t just Japan’s tallest mountain, the Chūbu region is also home to “Ise Jingu”. This is a Shintō shrine that each Japanese person is said they want to visit at least once in their lifetime. In Mie Prefecture, this shrine is dedicated to the most revered Goddess in Japan, 天照大神 (amaterasu ōmikami), which is why it’s the highest-ranked shrine in the country. The grounds of Ise Jingu are large, so large that it’s split up into two areas, 内宮 (naiku) and 外宮 (geku). This shrine has the holiest and most sacred grounds in all of Japan, and is said to be the shrine around which the Shintō religion revolves. Not only is there a lot to see and experience here, but seeing as large portions of this shrine are inside a forest, there’s a mystical atmosphere there that one won’t find in other parts of the country. It wouldn’t be an overstatement to say that Ise Shrine is the most appealing part of the Chūbu region and (without a doubt) the most important part of Japan.
Cities in Japan all have their own unique charm. However, not all of them are seen as interesting places. One of such cities is in the Chūbu region. Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, is known as “the most boring city in Japan”. It’s said that there isn’t much to see or do here. However, like other cities in Japan, Nagoya has some fantastic food. There is food here that uses 味噌 (miso—a type of fermented paste made from soy beans) and even some unique noodle dishes that one won’t find in other prefectures. The food here is so good that one will become obsessed with it. It’s not a very big city, but for those who like cities but aren’t a big fan of large, overcrowded areas, Nagoya is worth checking out.
The Chūbu region is home to numerous prefectures, making it an area rich in appeal and charm. This region is famous for fantastic cultural properties and items that symbolize Japan. With a wide variety of specialty (local) products, the Chūbu region is a highly recommended destination for anyone looking to experience unique aspects of Japanese culture.
