Chubu

Chubu Guides

Nagoya, Shirakawa-go, Tateyama-Kurobe — deep dives into central Japan. (24 in-depth guides)

Nagoya Travel Guide 2027: Castle, Ghibli Park & Nagoya Meshi

Chubu's gateway and an underrated food city — Nagoya Castle's Honmaru Palace, the Aichi Ghibli Park, Atsuta Shrine and hitsumabushi.

Chubu · Noto Now

Noto Peninsula Now: Officials Say Come, and Say Not Yet

Ishikawa's tourism site asks you to come; Wajima's notice declines individual applications. Three official recovery figures disagree, and the morning market has moved off its old street.

Chubu · Meiji-mura

Is Meiji-mura Worth It? What Your Day of the Week Actually Buys

Admission is 2,500 yen, not the 2,000 still quoted everywhere, and the three-vehicle bundle was withdrawn in April 2024. The locomotive runs Friday to Sunday only, and winter opening is six hours - exactly the length of the museum own full-day route.

Chubu · Kurobe Gorge

Kurobe Gorge Railway 2026: Keyakidaira Is Back

The full line to Keyakidaira reopens on 1 October 2026 after more than two years. Nekomata closes to passengers the same day, and Keyakidaira seats are phone-booking only.

Chubu · Ghibli Park

Ghibli Park Tickets 2026: The Choice You Can't Undo

The ¥3,300 Standard pass misses Satsuki and Mei's House, and nothing is sold inside the park. Seven ticket types, the on-sale clock, and what the overseas channels actually stock.

Chubu · Zenkoji 2027

Zenkoji Gokaicho 2027: Why It Came a Year Early

Only five years since the last one, because the Nagano chamber of commerce petitioned for it. Ticket tiers were redrawn in April 2026 and the site everyone quotes still shows 2022 prices.

Chubu · Foliage

Nagoya Autumn Foliage 2026: Which Garden Is Worth It?

The October price rise skipped two of the gardens, so the one with the most maples is also the cheapest. The city peaks one to two weeks after Korankei — by early December, Korankei is bare.

Chubu · Kamikochi

When Is Kamikochi Open? 2026-27 Season, Fares & Last Bus

The road opens April 17 and closes November 15, private cars are banned year-round, and the April 2026 fare rise makes most older guides wrong.

Chubu · Festival

Takayama Festival 2026 & 2027: Dates, Seats, Schedule

There are no paid grandstand seats — the city says so outright. Autumn 2026 falls on Oct 9–10, spring 2027 on April 14–15, and rain cancels floats outright.

Shopping · Gotemba

Gotemba Premium Outlets Guide 2026: Access, Tax-Free & Tips

290 stores at Mt. Fuji's foot — official app coupons, per-store tax-free, the Nov 2026 refund-system switch and buses from Shinjuku, Hakone and Kawaguchiko.

Chubu · Castle

Can you go inside Nagoya Castle? 2026 ticket guide

The keep is shut but the grounds are open — how the October 2026 price doubling works, and why the Honmaru Palace is the real draw.

Chubu · Winter

Nabana no Sato Illumination: Light Tunnel & Access

One of Japan's longest winter illuminations near Nagoya — the 200m light tunnel, admission, timing, and how to get there from the city.

Chubu · Karuizawa

Karuizawa Guide 2026: Kumoba Pond, Shiraito Falls & Outlets

Tokyo's easiest highland escape, 60 minutes by Hokuriku Shinkansen — Kumoba Pond reflections, Shiraito Falls, the Prince outlet, Hoshino-area churches and Harunire Terrace.

Chubu · Nagano

Nagano Snow Monkeys & Zenkoji Guide 2026

Eighty minutes from Tokyo by bullet train: wild snow monkeys bathing at Jigokudani (¥800), the 1,400-year Zenkoji and its pitch-black under-altar passage, Shibu Onsen and Obuse.

Chubu · Kiso Valley

Kiso Valley Guide 2026: Magome, Tsumago & the Nakasendo Walk

The best-preserved stretch of the old Nakasendo: car-free Tsumago-juku, sloping Magome-juku, and the classic 8 km walk over Magome Pass with ¥1,000 baggage forwarding.

Chubu · Toyama

Toyama & Kurobe Gorge Guide 2026: Torokko, Gokayama & Coast

Hokuriku's most underrated stop, 2h10 from Tokyo. From 1 October 2026 the Kurobe Gorge torokko runs the full line to Keyakidaira again; plus World-Heritage Gokayama and the Amaharashi coast.

Chubu · Fukui

Fukui Guide 2026: Eiheiji, Tojinbo & the Dinosaur Museum

Since the Hokuriku Shinkansen reached Fukui in March 2024, Tokyo is 2h51m away. Eiheiji is a Soto Zen head temple, Tojinbo a 25m basalt sea cliff, and the Dinosaur Museum runs on timed reservations.

Chubu · Hida-Takayama

Hida-Takayama Guide 2027: Old Town, Jinya, Hida Beef & Festival

The little Kyoto of Hida — the Sanmachi old streets, Japan's only surviving jinya, the morning market, Hida beef and the Takayama Festival.

Chubu · Tateyama Kurobe

Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route 2027: Snow Walls, Kurobe Dam & Tickets

A high-mountain route across the Northern Alps, mid-April to late November only — the Snow Walls, Kurobe Dam discharge and six transport modes.

Chubu · Kanazawa

Kanazawa Travel Guide 2027: Kenrokuen, 21st Century Museum & Chaya

The craft old capital of Kaga — the three-great-garden Kenrokuen, the 21st Century Museum pool, Higashi Chaya gold leaf and Omicho Market seafood.

Chubu · Matsumoto

Matsumoto Guide 2027: Matsumoto Castle, Nakamachi & Kamikochi Gateway

The old capital of Shinshu with National Treasure Matsumoto Castle — the black Crow Castle, the old streets, a Kusama museum, gateway to Kamikochi.

Chubu · Kamikochi

Kamikochi Hiking Guide 2027: Kappabashi, Taisho Pond, Season & Access

An alpine valley in the Northern Alps, one of Japan's loveliest mountain landscapes — Kappabashi, Taisho Pond, hiking routes, car-free and mid-April to mid-November only.

Anime · Hida