Things to do in  Chubu

The legendary Mt. Fuji (Fuji-san) stands 12,388 feet (3,776 meters) tall. Travelers from around the world head to Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park to see the mountain, and more than one million of them hike all the way to the top each year for the 360-degree views of Lake Ashi, the Hakone Mountains, and the Owakudani Valley.

At over 7,500 feet (2,300 meters) high, the Fuji-Subaru Line 5th Station—not to be confused with Fujinomiya 5th Station—affords spectacular views over Fuji Five Lakes and Hakone National Park. Easily accessible by road, the 5th Station lies at the midpoint of the Yoshida Trail to Mount Fuji’s summit, so many hikers begin their ascent here.

With Mt. Fuji as its dramatic backdrop, Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park is beautiful from all angles. Unlike some national parks that cover one distinct area, Fuji-Hakone-Izu includes a number of dispersed sites, so there are many ways to experience it. Some parts are popular day or overnight destinations from Tokyo, with ample opportunities for hiking, boat cruises, hot-spring bathing, and admiring the views.

Shiraito Falls (Shiraito no Taki) is located in Japan's Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park in Shizuoka Prefecture. Shiraito Falls translates to "White Thread Falls" because the wide cascade makes the falling water look like many hanging threads of white silk. The site, which stretches nearly 500 feet (150 meters) across and 65 feet (20 meters) high, is officially a Natural Treasure of Japan.

It's no wonder why Kanazawa's Kenroku-en Garden is among the city's most popular attractions. Built during the Edo Period, and revamped continuously over the centuries, this gloriously landscaped spot is considered among Japan’s most beautiful. It’s also a great place to see different types of traditional landscaping from across periods.

While conical Mt. Fuji dominates the skyline, a number of other attractions and features are spread across its base, including the Fuji Five Lakes (Fujigoko). Lakes Yamanaka, Kawaguchi, Motosu, Shoji, and Sai sit north of the imposing volcano, in Yamanashi Prefecture. The attractive mountain views, lakes, and forests make this a popular area to visit on a day or overnight trip from Tokyo.

The Nakasendo Way is an ancient 331-mile (534-kilometer trail connecting Kyoto and Tokyo that was once frequented by samurai and traders. These days, a shorter 5-mile (8-kilometer walking trail connecting the villages of Tsumago and Magome, through the Kiso Valley in Nagano Prefecture, is a popular day hike. This shorter section offers visitors an opportunity to experience history, culture, and beautiful nature on an easy hike.

One of the most popular attractions in the Mount Fuji area provides quite a contrast to the volcanic mountain: it’s an underground ice cave. The Narusawa Ice Cave, formed by an ancient eruption, lies beneath the infamous Aokigahara Forest that spreads out around the base of Mount Fuji. Visitors can explore on a short circuit track.

Katsunuma, in Yamanashi prefecture, is a center of Japanese wine production, and the Katsunuma Winery is one of the most prominent wineries. Established in 1937, it produces wines mainly from the Koshu grape. Visitors can taste, learn about, and buy wines at Katsunuma Winery and dine at its restaurant, Kaze.

Ghibli Park is a fantastical theme park dedicated to Studio Ghibli, the Japanese animation studio that has made award-winning animated features acclaimed in Japan and around the world. The site is surrounded by forest and is divided into different zones that allow visitors to be immersed in the whimsical worlds of different films, from My Neighbor Totoro to Spirited Away.

The Meiji-Mura is an open-air museum in the Aichi Prefecture. This theme park-like attraction opened in 1965, allowing visitors to discover what life was like during the Meiji period, which spanned 1868 to 1912. Highlights of the museum include over 60 reconstructed Meiji period buildings—such as a sake brewery, a prison, a theater, and a hospital.

Soaking in an onsen–a bathhouse fed by natural hot springs–is an unmissable experience while in Japan. Travelers to the Lake Yamanaka area near Mount Fuji should check out the Beni Fuji no Yu Onsen. In the winter there are beautiful views of the mountain, whereas in the warmer months you can revive tired muscles after a hike.

Utagawa Hiroshige’s (1797–1858) art is among the most recognizable of Japan’s ukiyo-e genre, and even travelers who aren’t au fait with Japanese fine art will have seen some of his images on their travels. Learn more about the influential woodblock artist and the world he inhabited at the Shizuoka City Tokaido Hiroshige Museum of Art.

Gala Yuzawa Snow Resort, a popular ski destination in Niigata Prefecture, is easily accessible from Tokyo—a 75-minute direct bullet train ride away. With slopes catering to diverse skill levels for skiers and snowboarders, the resort also offers spa facilities, restaurants, snowmobile rides, and an observation deck.

Embark on an safari adventure without leaving Japan at Fuji Safari Park, one of the country’s largest safari parks. By foot or by vehicle, you can journey through the simulated habitats of freely roaming animals from around the world, including lions, tigers, giraffes, cheetahs, elephants, rhinoceroses, and zebras.