中 部 地 方 (C H Ū B Ū)
Chuubu is the region between Kansai (Osaka and Kyoto) and Kanto (Tokyo). Historically Chuubu is part of the Kansai area. The nine prefectures of Chuubu are: Shizuoka, Aichi, Yamanashi, Nagano, Gifu, Fukui, Ishikawa, Toyama and Niigata. The eastern border is east of Izu peninsula and goes straight up to east of Niigata. The western border starts west of Nagoya and then runs northwest. Lake Biwa is on the Kansai side.
[I’m a fan of japan-guide.com. The pic is a URL-Link to the website]
The Tokaido Shinkansen tracks are in the south, next to the coastline. Since 2015 (?) the Joetsu Shinkansen, that connects Nagano and Tokyo goes further north to Joetsu-Myoko. There it becomes the Hokuriko Shinkansen and runs along the northern coast to Kanazawa. (It is planned to go further to Fukui and than to join the Tokaido.) The northmost prefecture of Chuubu is connected to Tokyo by the Niigate Shinkansen.
There are main lines from Nagoyo thru Kiso Valley to Matsumoto and Nagano and another one over Gifu to Takayama and further to Toyama. Another main line runs along the northern coast an connects Fukui, Kanazawa, Toyama, Myoko and Nagaoka. Beside JR there are a lot of other private lines.
Because of the many places I have split the post about Chuubu into two posts. I used the Nakasendo / chuo line for that. The highlights are Nagoya, Fuji, the Kisodani, Matsumoto und maybe Gifu.
名古屋 : Nagoya — MUST VISIT, 1-2 days
wikipedia DE / wikipedia EN / japan-guide
This city is a must visit and if you are good, you only need one day. You should visit three places: the castle, the Japanese Garden in the North of the city (and the museum next to it) and the big and important shrine in the South. Nagoya is a good base camp for day trips to Gifu, Inuyama, Ise and (maybe) Toya. A stopover visit to Nagoya is possible, because the shinkansen between Kyoto/Oosaka and Tokyo stops here.
岐阜 : Gifu — MUST VISIT, 1 day (day trip)
wikipedia DE / wikipedia EN / japan-guide
Gifu is doable as a day trip from Nagoya or optional as a stopover on the way from/to Takayama. If you want to watch the cormoran fishing you have to stay until late at night. But then there are only trains to Nagoya available. There is a bus from the train station to the river. Get of the bus there and visit the temple and the shrine nearby. The temple has an old Daibutsu. At the slope of the mountain is a pagoda. At the mountain top is an old castle with a small museum. You can walk or take the ropeway; depends on the time left before it is getting dark.
犬山 : Inuyama — (not rated yet) 1 day
wikipedia DE / wikipedia EN / japan-guide
Half distance betweeen Nagoya and Gifu is Inuyama. The train connection are not perfect but ok and this place is worth a visit. Because I messed up the travel route I only could visit a tiny part of Inuyama and missed most of the attractions. Therefore I will visit Inuyama again and rate this place afterwards. Inuyama seems to be a good candidate for a daytrip from Nagoya. In opposite to Gifu, Inuyama is not good for a stop over on the way to Takayama.
木曽路 : Kisodani / 中山道 : Nakasendo — MUST VISIT, 1 full day
wikipedia DE / wikipedia EN / japan-guide
Kisodani, a valley in the mountains between Nagano and Gifu prefecture, is a piece of ancient Japan. There is a hiking trail called Nakasendo. It is an historic trading route, compareable to the Tokaido, that connected Heian (Kyoto) and Edo (Toyko). In ancient times there were several post towns. Two of them are Magome and Tsumago.
My suggestion: Visit one town than walk the 7km on the Nakasendo to the other town. There are busses between both towns for the way back (and to the train stations). This trip will take a whole day. You have to stay for at least 2 nights or one night and a late train to the next base camp, There are more post towns in Kisodani but you need the help of very good hiking shoes or a Japan Rail. Since my visit in 2012 this place for sure is part of my „must visit list“.
The train that goes along the Kisodani is the Chuo-Line. The very same Chuo-Line that intersects the Yamanote ring in Tokyo at Kanda and Shinjuku. Therefore, all you need to get to the Kisodani is get in the train and wait. Be aware: The is a Super Limited Express at Chuo Line between Nagoya and Matsumoto that doesn’t stop in Margome or Tsumago. I know because I took it in 2012 by accident and nearly run aground in (Kiso)Fukushima.
松本 : Matsumoto — SHOULD, 1/2 day
wikipedia DE / wikipedia EN / japan-guide
The castle is a good argument for Matsumoto. But this the only one. The castle is a little bit away from the train station, but in walking distance. My recommendaction is similar to Nagano: good for a stop over. But Matsumoto is not interesting enough for a day trip.
富士河口湖 : Fuji-Kawaguchiko — can, 1 day
wikipedia DE / wikipedia EN / japan-guide
This place only has one advantage: It is right next to the Fuji. You can start the full hiking tour here or take a bus to the 5th station. There is a connection by bus and train to Shinjuku. (Remember: For the Japanese Shinjuku is not Tokyo.) But there is nothing to visit. The sea is one of the five Fuji lakes. Two other are accessable by hiking. A bus helps to shorten the walk. There are two caves. But they are not that fancy. Kawaguchiko is a high price area, because of its good connection to Tokyo and the view to the Mt. Fuji from the onsen bath tub. If you really stay here, make a visit to the local micro brewery. The restaurant there is nice. The suicide forest is also around the corner.
My suggestion: Spend a few days in the mountain and then turn into a pricy onsen hotel for relaxiation for one night, maybe two. If you mention the Fuji hiking you are a welcome guest. I stayed in Hotel Sansui. Awesome. I don’t have to check out the other hotels. (here are some pictures in my post from 2006)
富士山 : Mt. Fuji — SHOULD, 1 day;
over 2 days for the complete mountain experience
wikipedia DE / wikipedia EN / japan-guide
The Mt. Fuji si 3776m high and Kawaguchi is 700m above sea level. With other words: If you are standing at the summit, you can watch down 3000m of height. This isn’t possible in the alps. Going up to station 7 is kind of easy (comparing to the rest). Arriving station 5 is even easier. because there is a bus. Extrem early birds with good physical condition can go up and down in one day from/to station 5.
The hghlight is to watch a sunrise at the summit. This requires to stay of night in the mountain at one of the stations huts. If possible at close as possible to the summit. You don’t want to hike longer distances in the dark. Believe me. It also requires preperation (clothing, money, planning, booking). The station huts are small and cramped. Camping is not allowed and also not possible.
If you want to go the complete distance you have to start in Kawaguchi at station 1. This is still on my list. I will need at least 3 days. I don’t want to climb 3000m of height in one day. Going downhill is easier but also dangerous (it strains the knees, you easily accellerate and trip; and you still exhausted from going uphill).
I you arrive from Tokyo, do not use the Shinkansen. It is a very long journey. Plan your destination to be Kawaguchi and use the bus or train departing fro Shinjuku.
| am Shinkansen | an Hauptlinie | an Nebenstrecken | abseits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nagoya | Kisodani | Obuse | Shirakawa-go |
| Shizuoka | Matsumoto | Yamanouchi | Eiheiji |
| Karuizawa | Hakube | Bessho Onsen | Noto Peninsula |
| Nagano | Gifu | Five Lakes | Sado Island |
| Toyama | Gero | Gujo | Izu Peninsula |
| Takakoka | Takayama | Takato Castle | Okuhida |
| Kanazawa | Furukawa | Togura | Kamikochi |
| Echigo-Yuzawa | Kaga Onsen | Fujinomiya | Norikura |
| Niigata | Fukui | Kurobe Gorge | Mt. Fuji |
| Ueda | Lake Hamanako | ||
| Echigo-Tsumari | |||
| Nozawa Onsen |
Following place are listed in the map but are no sightseeing spot. There are places where you need to change trains or busses.
- Central Japan Airport (national airport, Nagoya)
- Kofu
- Nagaoka