500px Photo ID: 84426259 - Northern Japanese Alps (Kita Alps) ranging from Toyama, Nagano, and Gifu prefecture. The peak on the left is Mt.Otensho (2921m). I took this photo in mid-August while trekking to Mt.Tsubakuro (2839m) in Nagano prefecture.

Nuttapoom Amornpashara / 500px

Central Honshū

Central Honshū (本州中部; Honshū Chūbu) is Japan's heartland, stretching out between the sprawling metropolises of Greater Tokyo and Kansai. The awesome Japan Alps rise sharply near the border of Gifu and Nagano Prefectures before rolling north to the dramatic Sea of Japan coast.

Attractions

Must-see attractions

  • KANAZAWA, JAPAN - JUL 31 2016: Kenroku-en located in Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan, is an old private garden. Along with Kairaku-en and Koraku-en, Kenroku-en is one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan.

    Kenroku-en

    Kanazawa

    This Edo-period garden draws its name (kenroku means 'combined six') from a renowned Sung-dynasty garden in China that dictated six attributes for…

  • Inuyama-jō in Aichi prefecture. Shutterstock.

    Inuyama-jō

    Central Honshū

    A National Treasure, Japan's oldest standing castle is said to have originated as a fort in 1440. The current donjon (main keep), built atop a 40m rise…

  • Zenkō-ji

    Zenkō-ji

    Nagano Region

    Founded in the 7th century, National Treasure Zenkō-ji is home to the revered statue Ikkō-Sanzon, said to be the first Buddhist image to arrive in Japan …

  • Meiji-mura

    Meiji-mura

    Central Honshū

    Due to war, earthquakes and development, few Meiji-era buildings have survived here. In 1965 this open-air museum was created to preserve this unique…

  • Matsumoto-jō

    Matsumoto-jō

    Matsumoto

    Must-see Matsumoto-jō is Japan's oldest wooden castle and one of four castles designated National Treasures – the others are Hikone, Himeji and Inuyama…

  • Togakushi-jinja

    Togakushi-jinja

    Nagano Region

    Comprising three sub-shrines, Togakushi-Hōkōsha, Togakushi-Chūsha and Togakushi-Okusha, each a few kilometres apart, Togakushi-jinja honours the 1911m…

  • Gyokusen Inmaru Garden

    Gyokusen Inmaru Garden

    Kanazawa

    Adjacent to the Kanazawa Castle Park, this feudal pleasure garden was first constructed in 1634 but abandoned in the Meiji era. Its five-year…

  • Atsuta-jingū

    Atsuta-jingū

    Nagoya

    Although the current buildings were completed in 1966, Atsuta-jingū has been a shrine for over 1900 years and is one of the most sacred Shintō shrines in…

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Wildlife & Nature

Scenic treks through the sacred mountains of Japan’s Gifu and Ishikawa Prefectures

Mar 18, 2021 • 5 min read

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