Chubu/Tokai area (Nagoya, Izu, Kawazu cherry blossoms, Shirakawa-go)

The "Old Streets," with its impressive red Nakabashi bridge over Miyagawa River, is one of the most visited sightseeing spot in Hida area, where you can enjoy a stroll while admiring the atmospheric scenery. Another attraction of this area is browsing the stores filled with folk crafts and local specialties, and enjoy eating snacks such as "grilled beef skewers" and "Mitarashi dumplings". Along Miyagawa, the "Miyagawa Morning Market," known as one of the three largest morning markets in Japan, is open from early in the morning.

Famous for the Gujo Odori dance Gujo Hachiman has a charming, quaint townscape. Nurtured by abundant water flow and mountains, Gujo Hachiman is a place where pure water is a part of everyday life. Just by strolling around the town, you can see how the people of Gujo Hachiman have valued water and lived with it since ancient times, with things like a system that uses spring water, known as "mizufune," for domestic use without waste, and "Igawa no Komichi," an irrigation channel where carp and river fish swim. There are also many other sights to see, such as Gujo Hachiman Castle and Sogi-mizu. We recommend taking a leisurely stroll around the town.

This castle was built in 1612 by Tokugawa Ieyasu as the final step in unifying the country, and the golden shachihoko (golden shachihoko) on top of the linked castle tower is the symbol of Nagoya. It was used as the residence of the Owari Tokugawa family until the Meiji Restoration, but was destroyed in an air raid. The castle tower was rebuilt in 1959, and various exhibits related to Nagoya Castle can be seen on the first to fifth floors of the main tower. After about 10 years of restoration work, the Honmaru Palace was completed on Jun. 8, 2018. In addition, Kinshachi Yokocho, a street of delicious food in Owari Nagoya, has opened, and is becoming a hot topic as a new spot where Nagoya gourmet restaurants and souvenir shops gather.

Korankei is one of Japan's most famous spots for viewing autumn leaves. It is said that it began in the early Edo period when the 11th head priest of Kosekiji Temple, San'ei, planted trees one by one from the approach to the temple grounds to the grounds. Today, there are about 4,000 maple trees planted, and their vibrant colors of red, orange, yellow and green are reflected on the water surface, coloring the Tomoe River. The natural beauty is breathtaking. The best time to see the autumn leaves is usually from mid-Nov. to early Dec.. Aichi has many other famous spots for viewing autumn leaves. It is a good idea to visit places during the best time to see the autumn leaves, such as Mount Horaiji, where the contrast between the rugged rock surface and the autumn leaves is stunning, and Urakuen at Inuyama Castle, where the national treasure teahouse Jo-an is located.

Himakajima is a fishing and tourist island located in the center of Japan, with a circumference of about 5.5 km. The entire area is designated as Mikawa Bay Quasi-National Park. Himakajima is famous for its abundant seafood cuisine. It has delighted the taste buds of so many tourists that it is also called "the island of happiness (octopus) and the island of fortune (pufferfish)." The famous octopus is also a cute monument at the port of Himakajima. In addition to the cuisine, there are plenty of tourist spots where you can experience things like swimming and fishing boat cruises, and it is loved by a wide variety of tourists, from solo travelers to families.

This is a huge suspension bridge that stretches from the eastern part of Mishima City to the primeval forest on the western foot of Mount Hakone. With a total length of 400m, it is the longest pedestrian-only suspension bridge in Japan! On a clear day, you can enjoy a 360-degree panorama and experience the mysterious sensation of walking through the air towards Mount Fuji.

Izu is easily accessible from the city center. Rich in nature, you can enjoy the beautiful sea with a view of Mt. Fuji, and seasonal flowers such as Kawazu cherry blossoms. There are many popular spots with tourists, such as hot springs and aquariums where you can enjoy the scenery unique to Izu. There are many ways to enjoy Izu with your family or friends.

Located in Hamamatsu City in western Shizuoka Prefecture, Hamamatsu Castle is known as the "Castle of Success" where Tokugawa Ieyasu resided for 17 years and where the 300-year history of the Edo Shogunate began. In addition to the observation deck on the third floor, which offers a panoramic view of Hamamatsu city, there are plenty of things to see, including stone walls that still retain the appearance of the castle when it was built about 400 years ago. The surrounding area has been turned into a park, which is used as a place of relaxation for local residents.

During the Edo period, it is said that one-fifth of the total population visited Ise Jingu. Its official name is Jingu, and it is the head shrine of all Japanese shrines. The shrine enshrines Amaterasu Omikami, who is considered the most sacred deity in the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki, and the Japanese Imperial Family continues to worship her to this day. The tradition of "connecting and conveying" through the Shikinen Sengu ceremony is still alive, making Ise Jingu a special sacred place for the Japanese people. To put it simply, it is "a place where I can straighten my normally hunched back," and it is the spiritual home of the Japanese people, where the lives of gods and people have coexisted since ancient times.

The "Okage" in Okage Yokocho comes from the boom in pilgrimages to Ise Grand Shrine that occurred during the Edo period. Okage Yokocho is a recreation of the streetscape from the Edo period to the early Meiji period, when the area was bustling with pilgrimages. Opened in 1993, it is a relatively new town in the historic Ise region. The streetscape, which thoroughly recreates the wooden architecture that once existed in the temple town, boasts a quality that makes it a historical exhibit in itself.