23 Popular Places to Visit in Chubu: Famous World Heritage Villages and Spectacular Nature in Japan

Chubu has many famous attractions and borders the Kanto region and Kansai region. Steep mountain ranges create very different climates across the region: coastal areas are warm, while the mountains can have snow up to 5 meters deep. The region consists of 9 prefectures, with Nagoya as its largest city.

The Chubu region offers a wide range of attractions, from nature, mountains, and the sea to culture and technology. Highlights include the Japanese Alps with snow walls up to 20 meters high, the grand and beautiful Matsumoto Castle, the historic thatched-roof village of Shirakawa-go, ski resorts, beaches, and many hot spring towns. This makes Chubu a great destination to visit all year round.

1. Asahi Funakawa Spring Quartet Flower Garden – Tulips and Cherry Blossoms

The Asahi Funakawa Spring Quartet flower garden is only in bloom for a short period, around April each year. The garden grows tulips and canola flowers (nanohana) that bloom together with the cherry blossoms lining the riverbank. Another highlight here is the backdrop of snow-capped mountains. In spring, the scenery is truly spectacular, combining the colors of the tulip fields, the yellow of the canola flowers, the pink of the cherry blossoms, and the gray-white mountain peaks in the distance — a view well worth seeing at least once.

2. Kawazu River

Kawazu River is in Shizuoka Prefecture. It's lined with a dense row of cherry trees stretching about 4 kilometers, some over 60 years old, making it a popular spot for visitors who want to see spectacular cherry blossoms along the water. Along the way, you'll pass several important local attractions, including a foot-bath hot spring, a shrine with a thousand-year-old camphor tree, and important temples in Kawazu. Not only can you enjoy the pink blossoms in full bloom, but you can also stroll and explore these sights along the route.

3. Sea Life Nagoya Aquarium

Sea Life Nagoya Aquarium is located next to the LEGOLAND Japan Hotel and is well worth a visit when in Nagoya. It's more than just a typical aquarium — it's also a fun place to learn about aquatic life and oceans from around the world. You can discover the habits of many species through more than 50 recreated habitats, divided into 11 zones, each with its own unique style worth exploring.

4. Ghibli Park

Ghibli Park is a large-scale theme park that opened in late 2022, a must-visit destination for Studio Ghibli fans. It was built on the grounds of the former Expo 2005 Aichi Commemorative Park in Nagakute City, Aichi Prefecture. While it doesn't have thrill rides, it delivers plenty of charm by recreating the world of the legendary Studio Ghibli animations. With its lush natural scenery and striking architecture inspired by beloved films, stepping inside feels like entering a magical world where dreams come true.

5. Nihondaira Plateau – Views of Mount Fuji

Nihondaira Plateau, also known as Nihondaira Yume Terrace, is a scenic viewpoint at the top of Nihondaira. Its modern design is inspired by the octagonal Yumedono, or Hall of Dreams, at Horyu-ji Temple in Nara. The building is made of wood and bamboo, and large windows look onto a Japanese rock garden inside. The second floor has an octagonal terrace offering panoramic views.

6. Higashi Chaya District

Higashi Chaya District is one of Kanazawa's historic teahouse districts. During the Edo period, it was an entertainment quarter where guests enjoyed geisha singing and dancing. There are two other similar districts nearby, Nishi Chaya and Kazuemachi Chaya, but Higashi Chaya is the largest and most interesting of the three.

7. Jigokudani Monkey Park

Jigokudani Monkey Park is located in the Jigokudani Valley in Yamanouchi. It's one of the most famous landmarks in the area — mention monkeys bathing in hot springs, and this is the image that comes to mind. It's also close to Shibu Onsen and Yudanaka Onsen, so it's easy to combine a visit here with a relaxing soak of your own. The park features a natural hot spring where wild monkeys come down to bathe, and it has long been home to these snow monkeys.

8. Mount Mitsutoge

Mount Mitsutoge is one of Japan's 200 famous mountains and has recently been designated a year-round hiking route. The mountain has long been considered sacred, worshipped by followers of Shugendo since the Nara period, more than 1,000 years ago.

9. Mishima Sky Walk

Mishima Sky Walk is a scenic spot where you can view Mount Fuji from a massive suspension bridge — the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in Japan, at 400 meters long. It's best visited in the early morning or evening. Mount Fuji and the ocean (Suruga Bay) look especially beautiful around 9 a.m. when temperatures are cooler, and you can also enjoy beautiful sunsets from October to February.

10. The Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale

The Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale, held in Niigata Prefecture, is an international contemporary art festival with a history spanning 20 years. It takes place once every 3 years. Renowned artists create as many as 200 new works especially for the event, set against a simple yet charming rural backdrop.

11. Oishi Park – Flowers with Mount Fuji Views

Oishi Park is one of the most popular viewpoints for Mount Fuji. From late April to early May, you can enjoy a 350-meter flower path where a pink carpet of moss phlox spreads across the ground, blooming alongside yellow canola flowers (nanohana). It's a great spot to photograph colorful flowers with Mount Fuji in the background. Walking along the flower path with views of the beautiful mountain is a relaxing experience where time seems to fly by.

12. LEGOLAND Japan Resort

LEGOLAND Japan Resort is Japan's first large-scale outdoor LEGO theme park, offering an immersive LEGO experience that true fans shouldn't miss. It's a great destination for the whole family, especially children, with over 40 exciting rides across 8 themed zones that will make for unforgettable memories.

13. Lake Kawaguchiko

Lake Kawaguchiko is the most accessible of the Fuji Five Lakes, connected to Tokyo by train and bus. The eastern shore has accommodations and hot springs offering clear, beautiful views of Mount Fuji.

14. Oshino Hakkai

Oshino Hakkai is a small village site made up of eight ponds in Oshino, located between Lake Kawaguchiko and Lake Yamanakako. The area was once the site of a sixth lake that dried up 200–300 years ago. The 8 ponds are fed by melted snow flowing down slopes near Mount Fuji, filtered through porous lava rock over a period of more than 80 years, making the water exceptionally clear.

15. Chureito Pagoda

Chureito Pagoda is a five-story pagoda on a hillside offering clear, beautiful views of Fujiyoshida City and Mount Fuji in the distance. The pagoda, built in 1963 as a peace memorial, stands within the grounds of Arakura Sengen Shrine. Reaching it from the shrine's main building requires climbing nearly 400 steps.

16. 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art

The 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art opened in 2004 and is located in Kanazawa, just a short walk from Kenrokuen Garden. It showcases award-winning works by contemporary artists from both Japan and around the world, making it one of Japan's most renowned art museums.

17. Shibata Castle Ruins Park

Shibata Castle has a long history and is recognized as one of Japan's 100 finest castles. Its main gate building and the Ninomaru Sumiyagura turret are registered as important cultural properties of Japan.

18. Nagashima Spa Land

Nagashima Spa Land is known as one of the best parks in Japan for roller coasters, offering all kinds — small and large, towering drops, sit-down and suspended — for every thrill level. Besides roller coasters, there are more than 40 other rides for both young children and adults who love excitement. Right at the main entrance, you'll find the Steel Dragon 2000, a massive coaster that loops around the park.

19. Little World Museum of Man

The Little World Museum of Man is one of the key attractions in Aichi Prefecture. In one visit, you can experience over 20 countries around the world, as this outdoor museum showcases arts, culture, beliefs, and more through a variety of exhibits and live performances, including traditional dances and music. You can even try on traditional costumes from countries like France, Germany, and Korea, as well as those of the indigenous people of Okinawa. The museum also features restaurants and souvenir shops from various countries, letting you taste and shop to your heart's content, all in one place. It's a museum where you can walk, eat, and have fun all at once.

20. Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Garden

Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Garden is another popular spot for relaxing in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture. It's perfect for a full day of family activities, as the park is considered one of the best in Japan and even Asia. If you want to visit a zoo, botanical garden, and observation tower without traveling to multiple places, this is the spot where you can experience all three. The zoo houses more than 500 species, with adorable animals guaranteed to charm visitors, especially the koalas and gorillas.

21. Matsumoto Castle

Matsumoto Castle is located in Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture, and is one of the city's most popular attractions. It's also one of only 12 original castles in Japan that remain fully intact and beautifully preserved. Genuine original castles are rare in Japan, as most were destroyed at some point in history, leaving only a handful still standing in their original form. Matsumoto Castle also stands out with its unique and distinctive design.

22. Chubu Electric Power Science Museum

The Chubu Electric Power Science Museum makes science fun to learn. It's one of Nagoya's must-visit attractions. Built by Chubu Electric Power, the museum is easily recognizable from a distance thanks to its distinctive globe-shaped building design.