|
Two
contrasting districts - A pivotal point in east-west traffic
Aichi is situated at the center of Japan and is roughly divided
into the mountainous, hilly area and the plain. The Sakai-gawa River
that flows into the Kinuura Bay also divides Aichi into two
contrasting districts, the conservative, frugal Owari and the somber,
sturdy Mikawa. Aichi has been a pivotal point for the traffic between
western and eastern Japan, and has flourished as the base for
industries since olden days. The major industries include ceramics in
Seto and Tokoname, automobile manufacturing in Toyoda, and the woolen
textile industry in Ichinomiya.
Nagoya is the center for the administration, economy and culture of
Aichi. It has Nagoya Castle noted for the golden dolphins on top of
the roof and the Atsuta Shrine. The Inuyama Castle stands in the
neighboring Inuyama.
This area has many areas of beauty such as the Mikawa Bay
Quasi-National Park, the Hida-Kiso River Quasi-National Park, the Mt.
Horaiji Prefectural Park, the Atsumi-hanto Peninsula Prefectural Park,
Korankei Valley, Kuragari Valley and Miya hot spring. The people
living here celebrate the Hadaka-matsuri Festival, or naked festival
known as a peculiar festival with a history of over 1,200 years in
Owari-Konomiya in Inazawa and Hana-matsuri Festival or flower festival
in winter.
Getting therer
Take JR Tokaido Shinkansen Line for 1 hour and 40 minutes from
Tokyo Station to Nagoya Station or 55 minutes from Shin-Osaka Station
to Nagoya Station.
-
Nagoya
A
world-famous castle that is the pride of Nagoya
The golden dolphins on its roof reflect the prosperity of the Edo
era
Nagoya Castle is almost in the center of Nagoya, and is famous
for the golden dolphins that adorn the roof of its castle tower. The
castle was built in 1612 by Tokugawa Ieyasu, the then-shogun of the
Edo government. Until the revolution of 1867 it was the residence of
the Owari Tokugawas, one of the three Tokugawa houses. Much of the
castle was burnt down in 1945 during the World War II air raids, but
the tower was rebuilt in 1959 as a reinforced concrete building with
seven stories above ground and a basement. Since then, it has
continued to be a beautiful symbol of Nagoya. Floors 1 to 5 inside
the castle have been opened up as exhibition rooms, and you can see
from close-up items that tell the history of Nagoya, including
objects related to the Owari Tokugawas house. Meijo Park, which was
constructed around the castle, contains flowers that bloom in
different seasons, and many people like to walk here. There are also
lots of events that should not be missed, like the Sakura-matsuri
(cherry blossom festival) in spring, the Nagoya-jo Natsu-matsuri
(Nagoya Castle summer festival), and the Kiku-ningyo-ten
(chrysanthemum doll show). To the east of Nagoya Castle is a part of
the town that has the atmosphere of the seventeenth century mansions
and warehouses that still stand there. The scene around Nagoya
Castle is one where the old and new blend harmoniously.
Getting there
Nagoya Station is 1 Hour 36 Minutes from Tokyo Station and 52
Minutes from Osaka Station by JR Shinkansen Line. Then take the
Sakuradori and Meijo Subway Lines from Nagoya Station to Shiyakusho
Station, which takes about 10 Minutes.
-
Imaike, Kakuozan and Higashiyama
Imaike, Kakuozan and Higashiyama in Chigusa-ku are situated
along the Higashiyama Line, the oldest subway line in Nagoya. In
Imaike on the thriving commercial street Nishiki-dori that
stretches from JR Nagoya Station, there are taverns, Chinese
restaurants, barbecue restaurants and other old, popular shops
with reasonable prices as well as a number of mini-theaters and
bars with live music performances. The Imaike Broadway Monument at
the intersection is colorful and boldly designed to please the
eyes of the passers-by. The Kakuozan area spreads from the
Kakuozan Nittai-ji Temple, which is the only temple in Japan that
enshrines the ashes of Buddha bestowed by the King of Thailand. It
is a quiet residential district with rich greenery, and there are
is a traditional Japanese styled residence Yokiso, the Higashiyama
Water Tower and other classical structures.
The neighboring areas are dotted with the Shiroyama Hachimangu
Shrine, Hebi-Yakushi Temple and many other temples and shrines.
The center of Higashiyama is the Higashiyama Multiple Park made up
of a zoo, botanical garden and amusement park. It is also noted
for its cherry blossoms. There is the Higashiyama Sky Tower that
has an observation deck at an altitude of 180m where visitors can
see the entire view of Nagoya, which is particularly beautiful at
night.
Getting there
Take JR Tokaido Shinkansen Line for 1 hour and 40 minutes from
Tokyo Station, or for 55 minutes from Shin-Osaka Station to Nagoya
Station. Take the subway Higashiyama Line for 13 minutes to Imaike
Station, 15 minutes to Kakuozan Station and 17 minutes to
Higashiyama Koen Station.
-
Yotsuya and Yamate
Dori Street
Shops in
the high-class neighborhood are loved by people of all ages
Yotsuya and Yamate Dori Street in Nagoya connect, from north
to south, Motoyama Station on the Higashiyama Subway Line and
Yagoto Station on Tsurumai Line. Along the modern streets are
university, museum and fashionable buildings. If you take one step
back into the alley then you will find quiet accessory shops and
restaurants scattered around the high-end neighborhood. The calm
and peaceful atmosphere is loved by people of all ages. This is a
hilly area suitable for window shopping while taking a walk, and
you will see many people enjoying a slow walk along its
approximately 3.5 km route.
At the Togan-ji Temple along the Yotsuya Dori Street on the
Motoyama Station side is a gigantic wood block said to blot out
all past sins if you touch it with one hand. The Yagoto-san Kosho-ji
Temple along the Yamate Dori Street on the Yagoto Station side is
a temple built in the 17th century imitating one of the Koya-san
temples in Wakayama. The 30-meter tall five-layer pagoda,
designated as an important cultural asset, is a popular symbol of
the Temple and an approximately 300,000 square-meter huge compound
is a famous spot for viewing the changing color of leaves in the
autumn.
Getting there
About 1 hour 40 minutes from Tokyo Station to Nagoya Station
by JR Tokaido Shinkansen Line. About 55 minutes from Shin Osaka
Station. About 14 minutes from Nagoya Station to Motoyama Station
by Higashiyama Subway Line. Yagoto: From Nagoya Station via
Fushimi Station by Higashiyama Subway Line. About 20 minutes to
Yagoto Station on subway Tsurumai Line.
-
Atsuta-jingu Shrine
A historic Shinto shrine with a sacred forest
Lively celebration of religious services and festivals
Atsuta-jingu Shrine is located nearly in the center of Nagoya
and is also called Atta-san or Miya and it is very popular amongst
the locals. Atsuta-jingu Shrine is a historic shrine that is
mentioned in Japan's oldest history book from the 7th century
called "Kojiki" and has Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi, one of the three
heirlooms "Sansyu-no-jingi" that had been owned by successive
emperors and used as symbol for succession of the imperial throne.
This shrine holds more than seventy ceremonies yearly including
traditional and interesting ones such as the Eyoudo ceremony where
Shinto priests walk around laughing, which attract many visitors
throughout the year. The precincts of Jingu reach 20,000
square meters and are surrounded by a dense forest called Atsuta
Forest and this forest gives the precincts a solemn atmosphere.
The treasury inside Takayuka-shiki Bunka Den (a Building with very
a high floor and low pillars at the corners), which was
constructed in 1966, stores approximately 4,000 treasures. Also
inside of the precincts, there are precious historic site such as
the Nobunaga-Bei (a wall) dedicated by a 16th century's general
called Oda Nobunaga, the Sakuma Tourou (a lantern) and the
Nijugo-cho-bashi (a bridge).
Getting there
By JR Tokaido Shinkansen Line for 1 hour and 40 minutes from Tokyo
Station to Nagoya Station. For 55 minutes from Shin-Osaka Station
to Nagoya Station. By Meitetsu Main Line for 7 minutes from Nagoya
Station to Jingu-mae Station.
-
Inuyama
A City
with a castle that has the oldest castle tower in Japan
Enjoy the poetic charms of summer and the thrills of the Kiso-gawa
River
Inuyama is situated in the eastern Nobi-heiya Plain in
northwestern Aichi. Inuyama Castle, a national treasure, stands at
the center of the city, which still retains the atmosphere of an old
castle town built in the 17th century. Inuyama Castle, also known as
Hakuteijo Castle, was built in the late 16th century, and is the
only privately owned castle in Japan. Its Tenshukaku, or the castle
tower is the oldest existing tower in Japan. The castle is
surrounded by the Okumura Residence, Yurakien and other residences
that preserve the reminiscence of the merchants' lives in the olden
days. You can also watch a traditional event of Ukai, fishing smelts
with cormorants. Inuyama is also noted for the "Nihon Rain". This is
a downstream riverboat ride along the rapid currents of the
Kiso-gawa River, which is one of the best 100 rivers of Japan. In
the neighboring areas there are a variety of large scale theme
parks, such as Meiji-mura which preserves the structures and other
cultural assets of the 19th century, the open-air local traditions
museum "Little World", and Japan Monkey Park.
Inuyama Ukai with a history of 340 years is performed in summer.
Ukai is a kind of fishing. The fishermen train many cormorants and
make them catch smelts that are attracted to the torch at the head
of a small boat on the river. They celebrate the Inuyama Matsuri
Festival at the Haritsuna-jinja Shrine in spring where the floats
parade under the cherry blossoms.
Getting there
Take JR Tokaido Shinkansen Line for 1 hour and 40 minutes from Tokyo
Station or 55 minutes from Osaka Station to Nagoya Station. Then,
take Meitetsu Inuyama Line for 25 minutes from Shin-Nagoya Station
to Inuyama Station.
-
Mikawa Bay
A seaside resort you can enjoy in every way all year round
Take-shima Island is covered with an evergreen wood
Surrounded by Chita-hanto Peninsula and Atsumi-hanto Peninsula,
Mikawa Bay is an inland sea that has Irako Point and Hazu Point as
the mouth of the bay. It forms a part of the Mikawa Bay
Quasi-national Park. It is known as the seaside resort that keeps
you insatiate throughout the year with sea bathing, seashell
digging, fishing or a shore seine. Maccha (a type of green tea
produced from grinding tea leaves)-producing districts and hot
spring towns such as Nishio, Gamagori or Kira-cho and hot spring
towns such as Nishiura, Mitani and Katahara lie on the coast.
As for Take-shima Island, the island itself is covered with
evergreen woods and is designated as state natural treasure. The
offshore island of Gamagori is accessible via Takeshima-bashi Bridge
and there you can visit Yaotomi-jinja Shrine worshipping Takeshima
Benten - one of the seven famous BENTEN gods in Japan, and Takeshima
Aquarium. Kira-cho's Kezo-ji Temple was built in 1600 and is known
for its Karesansui Garden, created in 19th century where the scenery
with hills and water is represented by stones and white sand. Lively
fish markets in the fishing ports spattered along Mikawa Bay and the
seafood restaurants serving local-landed fresh seafood in the
surrounding area will appease one's appetite, too.
Getting there
By JR Tokaido Shinkansen Line for 1 hour and 40 minutes from
Tokyo Station to Nagoya Station, for 55 minutes from Shin-Osaka
Station to Nagoya Station, if you are coming from Osaka. By JR
Tokaido Main Line for 35 minutes from Nagoya Station to Gamagori
Station.
-
Mt. Horai-ji
Home for Japanese scops owls noted for their hooting sutra
Mountains that overlook the East Mikawa Plain and the Mikawa Bay
Mt. Horaiji is a volcanic mountain in the Oku-Mikawa District in
eastern Aishi. It is designated as a scenic spot and a precious
natural monument of Japan, and is located within the
Tenryu-Oku-Mikawa Quasi-National Park. This mountain is noted as the
home for Japanese scops owls that are famous for their hooting which
sounds like "Bu (Buddha), Po (sutra) and So (priest)" as well as
flying squirrels. The Mt. Horai-ji Natural Science Museum is at the
gateway to the mountains where you can learn about the behavior and
conditions of the animals and plants living in the mountains. You
can see stuffed Japanese serows and Hodgson's hawk eagles, as well
as hear the recorded hooting of owls. There are also exhibits of
ferns, lilies and other plants, rocks and minerals unique to Mt.
Horai-ji to introduce the geological features of the area. You can
enjoy the panoramic view of the East Mikawa Plain and the Mikawa Bay
from the top of the mountain.
The Horai-ji Temple is located halfway up the Mt. Horai-ji, and is
covered with a dense forest of old cedars and Japanese cypresses
that spread from the approach way with 1,425 stone steps to the
precincts. The Toshogu Shrine, built by the 3rd Tokugawa Shogun
Iemitsu in the 17th century, is to the east of the main temple. The
interior walls of Toshogu are decorated with elaborate carvings that
resemble those in Toshogu in Nikko, Tochigi.
Getting there
Take JR Tokaido Shinkansen Line for 2 hours and 15 minutes from
Tokyo Station or 1 hour and 20 minutes from Shin-Osaka Station to
Toyohashi Station. Then, take a limited express on JR Iida Line for
35 minutes to Hon-nagashino Station. Take a bus for 10 minutes from
Hon-nagashino Station to Horai-ji.
-
Yuya and Asuke
A hot spring in the mountains
The old townscape along the Chuma Kaido
Yuya is a hot spring resort along the Ure-gawa River in eastern
Aichi. In the neighboring areas there is Uma-no-se-gan or horseback
rocks designated as a national precious natural monument, where a
dyke of andesite rises up in the center of the river, and the
precipitous Horaikyo Valley and Mt. Horaiji where Japanese scops
owls live.
Asuke is located in northeastern Aichi. It thrived as a post town in
the Chuma Kaido Highway, which was the route to transport salt
produced along the Mikawa Bay in the 19th century. The townscape is
plastered with houses along the street reminiscent of the olden
days. There is the Sanshu Asuke Yashiki, a replica of the townscape
in the early 20th century. Here, you can watch the performance of
the blacksmith, charcoal maker, paper maker and other artisans'
inside their re-constructed buildings. In the neighboring areas,
there is the Asuke Chuma-kan Hall, Asuke Material Hall and a number
of scenic sights such as the Korankei Valley noted for the wonderful
view of coloring maple leaves along the Tomoe-gawa River.
Getting there
Take JR Tokaido Shinkansen Line for 2 hours and 15 minutes from
Tokyo Station or for 1 hour and 20 minutes from Shin-Osaka Station
to Toyohashi Station. Then, take JR Iida Line for 1 hour and 10
minutes from Toyohashi Station to Yuya-onsen Station.
|
Chubu
Aichi
Information
provided by Japan National Tourist Organization.
