Japan is a favourite country to visit for many Thais. On top of its friendly people, flavourful food and good transportation, what we love about this country is being able to enjoy its beautiful natural scenery in cool and comfortable weather. I got to experience all of this during my five-day trip to central Japan one month ago.
This time, I went to several places, including Gifu, Nagano, Aichi and Shizuoka prefectures in Chubu, a region located in the heart of Honshu.
My first stop was Takayama, a former castle town in the mountainous Hida region of Gifu. This historic city is known for its well-preserved Edo-period architecture and traditional atmosphere.
I also went to Nagoya, the capital city of Aichi prefecture and also the largest city in central Japan. Like Takayama, it was developed as a castle town during the late 16th century.
Today, it's one of Japan's major industrial and transportation hubs, with Nagoya Castle being its most famous landmark.
My journey wrapped up with a relaxing two-day stay near Lake Hamana, which is hailed as one of Japan's most famous coastal lagoons. It's located in Shizuoka prefecture, widely known as the home of Mount Fuji and the largest producer of green tea in Japan.
Here are some interesting attractions for travellers wishing to trace the Japanese way of life in ancient times while being able to enjoy the beautiful mountains and coastlines in this quieter yet charming region.
Sanmachi Suji is one of Japan's most beautifully preserved merchant districts from the Edo Period (1603–1867). Affectionately called "Little Kyoto", the area mirrors the classic grid layout and traditional dark-wood architecture of Kyoto dating back over 200 years.
Now famous for its vibrant street food scene and historic sake breweries, this historic district comprises three narrow streets lined with distinctive wooden merchant houses featuring seasoned timber facades and traditional bay windows.
Only a 10-minute walk east of Takayama Station, food lovers can enjoy local specialties, namely Hida beef sushi and skewers, traditional sake from centuries-old breweries and mitarashi dango or chewy grilled rice. Also, they are encouraged to step into cosy cafes for some Hōjicha and matcha lattes. Most shops open from 9am to 5pm.
Sitting next to the old town district is the famous Miyagawa morning market, which features around 60 outdoor tents and permanent shops along a route of about 350m. Located along the bank of the scenic Miyagawa River, the market gathers local vendors and farmers who bring their produce and seasonal fruits for sale.
Traditional artisans are also there to offer unique crafts and local souvenirs such as wooden sculptures, handcrafted chopsticks and, of course, Sarubobo dolls -- the mascots of the Hida region believed to bring good luck, protection and happy families.
Among the top street foods available for breakfast at the market are Hida beef skewers and buns, local pork soup and rich miso soup cooked with locally grown vegetables. The market opens daily from 7am to noon (from 8am in winter).
Hida No Sato (Hida Folk Village) is an open-air museum located in Takayama where visitors can experience the traditional culture of the Hida region and life in the mountains.
Covering around 130,000m², the village has more than 30 authentic traditional houses that were moved from different parts of Hida region and rebuilt to preserve them. Four of them -- two thatched-roof houses and two shingled-roof houses -- are nationally designated important cultural properties.
Visitors can walk inside almost every home to see old farming tools and indoor fire pits. Other displays in the homes include tools for weaving, for shingle roofing, for silk production and traditional Hida sledges. They will also see artisans working on traditional arts and crafts in several homes. Hailed as a hidden gem of Japan, this historical museum park is uncrowded and rather peaceful. What I liked most about this venue is that we could take a quiet stroll around the little village while enjoying the lush green plants and natural beauty in the background.
Hida No Sato is open daily from 8.30am to 5pm. Entry fee is ¥700 (145 baht) per person (¥200 for children). It can be accessed within 10 minutes by taking the Sarubobo bus from Takayama Station.
Kamikochi is a protected highland valley located at an elevation of 1,500m in the Chubu Sangaku National Park. It's famous for the clean and clear Azusa River, lush forest and the spectacular 3,000m peaks of the Hotaka mountain range, which is a major part of the Hida Mountains -- widely known as the Northern Alps of Japan.
Less than a 10-minute walk from Kamikochi bus terminal, visitors can see Kappa Bridge, which is regarded as a symbol of Kamikochi. This wooden suspension bridge over the Azusa River is the most crowded spot where local and foreign tourists enjoy capturing pictures of the unobstructed views of the towering mountain range.
At the time of my visit, the upper peaks and ridges remained covered in heavy winter snow, rendering an impressive sight. I also came across an old Japanese lady who had just finished painting this picturesque landscape. She smiled at me softly and also allowed me to take photos with her beautiful artwork.
Kamikochi is hailed as one of the best mountain resorts in Japan. It is strictly closed in winter and only open to the public from mid-April to mid-November. Private cars are prohibited.
Kamikochi is in Matsumoto city of Nagano prefecture, right on the border of Gifu prefecture. From Takayama, visitors can take the Nohi bus to Hirayu Onsen, a hot spring town, where they are required to transfer to the Kamikochi shuttle bus, which takes around 25 to 30 minutes to reach this alpine destination.
Nagoya Castle is a premier sightseeing spot that offers visitors an opportunity to witness the beautiful palace architecture, reborn in its original form over 400 years later.
The castle was constructed in 1610 by order of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder and first shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan. However, many of its parts -- including the Main Castle Tower and the magnificent Hommaru Palace -- were destroyed during the bombing of Nagoya in World War II.
The Main Castle Tower was rebuilt in 1959. Its inside functioned as a museum, displaying weapons, armour, the screen paintings that escaped the flames of destruction and other artefacts. Even though it is currently closed to visitors for a wooden reconstruction project, its exterior features still impress all visitors from a distance.
Standing around 50m tall atop its gigantic stone base, the five-storey tower has distinct colour contrast of bright green roofs, dark grey clay tiles and white walls. What also caught our eye were the two gold statues of Kinshachi sitting on opposite ends of the roof ridge. They are symbols of Nagoya Castle, modelled from an imaginary creature with the head of a dragon and the body of a fish.
Meanwhile, the restoration of the Hommaru Palace began in 2009 and completed in 2018. It has been fully opened to the public since, allowing visitors to witness its beautiful interior.
This 3,100m² palace has over 30 individual rooms. Almost every major room boasts decorative fittings and painted partitions which depict traditional scenes of natural beauty. Among them are images of plum trees, bamboo, tigers, leopards and sparrows in the snow.
The Nagoya Castle complex spans around 250,000m². It is open daily from 9am to 4.30pm. Admission fee is ¥500. It's easily accessed via Subway Meijo Line.
Kanzanji Ropeway is the only cable car in Japan that travels entirely over a lake. Located in Hamamatsu city of Shizuoka prefecture, it offers a scenic 4-minute ride connecting the Kanzanji Onsen resort area to the summit of Mount Okusa.
At the Okusayama observation deck located on the rooftop of Hamanako Orgel Museum, visitors can enjoy the endless expanse of blue skies and take in the stunning 360-degree panoramic view of Lake Hamana, a large brackish lagoon connected to the Pacific Ocean; the surrounding hot spring town and Mount Fuji.
Installed on the deck is a large, melodic carillon bell tower that produces a beautiful sound when the bells are struck. This musical monument plays a unique melody on the hour.
Located on the second floor is the exhibition hall showcasing a valuable collection of orgels or music boxes, fairground organs and mechanical dolls. Visitors can also shop for their favourite music boxes at an orgel shop on the first floor.
The ropeway base is adjacent to the Hamanako Palpal amusement park. The ropeway service is open daily from 9.30am to 5.30pm. However, hours of operation change seasonally.
The fee is ¥1,300 for a round trip. Visitors can take a 45-minute ride on Entetsu Bus from Hamamatsu Station to the ropeway.
Tea Museum, Shizuoka is on top of the to-go list for most visitors including a tea lover like me. Located in Shimada city, the museum is Japan's premier facility dedicated to the history, culture and production of tea.
Once there, I had the chance to participate in a traditional tea ceremony held in a separate teahouse. After walking along a tranquil stone path through the Edo-period style garden, we entered a tatami-matted tearoom where a tea master, dressed in a kimono, sat before us and demonstrated how to prepare a bowl of hot matcha step by step.
Each guest was also served wagashi, a seasonal Japanese sweet, which should be finished before drinking the tea. The tea experience lasted around 20 minutes before we proceeded to the museum.
Spanning from the 1st to 3rd floor, the museum offers interactive exhibits, allowing visitors to explore various types of tea, global tea-drinking cultures and tea-processing machines. Also showcased are replicas of traditional teahouses from China, Turkey and Tibet; while samples of dried tea leaves from many countries are available for up-close viewing and smelling.
The museum is open daily from 9am to 5pm, except Tuesday. Entry fee is ¥300 and the fee for the tea ceremony is ¥700. The nearest train station to the museum is Kanaya Station. From there, visitors can take a local bus or a quick taxi ride to the museum.
WHERE TO STAY
I spent the first two nights at Mercure Hida Takayama, which has 161 guestrooms, a Mediterranean-inspired restaurant and bar, as well as the indoor and outdoor onsens on the top floor for guests to unwind and take in the beautiful scenery of Takayama. The hotel is situated within a four-minute walk from Takayama Station. Visit mercure-hida-takayama.com/en.
On my third night, I stayed at Ibis Styles Nagoya, a budget hotel with modern comforts and unique design. It accommodates 284 rooms and has a café style restaurant that offers freshly brewed coffee and all-day dining of both local and international flavours. The hotel is located within walking distance from Nagoya Station. Visit ibisstyles-nagoya.com/en.
My last two nights were marked by luxury and serenity at Grand Mercure Lake Hamana Resort & Spa. This all-inclusive hotel has 369 spacious guest rooms available in both Western and Japanese styles. Its buffet breakfast and dinner offer Japanese and Western dishes, signature local flavours and regional specialties. Indoor and outdoor baths are available, with soothing waters drawn from natural hot springs. The hotel is located along Lake Hamana. It takes around 20 minutes by car from Hamamatsu-nishi IC on the Tomei Expressway. Visit grand-mercure-lakehamana-resortandspa.jp/en.
