Introducing Central Honshū
Central Honshū is Japan’s heartland in both geography and attitude. Stretching between the two great megalopolises of Kantō (Greater Tokyo) and Kansai (Osaka–Kyoto–Kobe), the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan, this region is filled with commercial centres and traditional towns, the massive Japan Alps and a rugged northern coastline.
Advertisement
In Central Honshū’s southern prefectures, called ‘Chūbu’ in Japanese, trekking takes you through valleys and summits in the Japan Alps National Park, and onsen (mineral hot-spring) towns offer welcome recovery for the hikers and skiers, drawn to the Olympic slopes of Nagano-ken. The Sea of Japan side of this region (‘Hokuriku’ in Japanese) boasts cliff-top vistas, remarkable temples and incredibly fresh seafood.
Busy Nagoya, Japan’s fourth-largest city, is the nation’s industrial heart, with a can-do spirit and unique foods. Hokuriku’s hub is Kanazawa, a historic yet thriving city whose handsome streets once housed samurai and geisha. Lovely Takayama is admired for its traditional riverside houses, delicious cuisine and verdant countryside. Matsumoto is another favourite with visitors for its striking 16th-century black-and-white castle and many galleries.
The mountainous Unesco World Heritage sites of Shirakawa-gō and Gokayama showcase Japan’s rich architectural tradition, and Central Honshū is traversed by the Nakasendō, the Edo-period trunk road through the mountains.
Last updated: Mar 2, 2009
Thorn Tree forum discussion
Recent posts
-
RE: Travel Ideas for area around Nagoya
by MonkeyPuzzle 08 August 2009
Just got back. The weather was not the best due to a long lasting monsoon in NE Asia this year. Make sure you pack a good umbrella and…
Hotels & Hostels
Check out all our reviewed and recommended accommodation and book online.
Advertisement
Central Honshū
-
Central Honshū Overview
- Places in Central Honshū
- When to go & weather
- Getting there & around
- Hotels
- Forum
- Show map Close map
Things to do
- All things to do (145)
- Activities (3)
- Entertainment (26)
- Restaurants (43)
- Shopping (18)
- Sights (55)
- Tours (0)
Make it happen
Our Top Picks For Central Honshū
-
1 Takayama
Stroll the streets of Takayama, with its traditional architecture and skilled woodworkers
-
2 Kamikōchi
Hike the stunning mountain scenery of the Kamikōchi
-
3 Inuyama-jō and Matsumoto-jō
Step back in time at the National Treasure castles Inuyama-jō and Matsumoto-jō
-
4 Shiga-Kōgen, Nozawa Onsen and Hakuba
Ski, ski, ski at the Olympic resorts Shiga-Kōgen, Nozawa Onsen and Hakuba
-
5 Eihei-ji temple and Zenkō-ji
Train with Zen Buddhist monks in the 13th-century Eihei-ji temple or be awed by Nagano’s Zenkō-ji
Our favourite Central Honshū Blogs (beta)
-
hot tub monkey machine
Blog: The Road Forks - 15 July 2010
nagano Japanese macaque
-
Snapshot: Hida Folk Village
Blog: To China... and Beyond! - 25 February 2010
After two weeks of all cities, all the time, it was a bit of a relief to arrive in Takayama, a small town* in the Japanese Alps. We’d seen Japan’s hypermodern side on display in Tokyo and learned about its 20th century history in Hiroshima.
-
Osu Kannon Temple and Shopping Mall – Spherical Pano
Blog: Nagoya Photography - Japan Photos 名古屋 写真 日本 - 25 October 2009
Osu Temple The Osu Kannon Temple and shopping mall located in central Nagoya has a classic Japanese pagoda style Buddhist temple that is a popular tourist …
