Geography
The Chubu (中部) region is located in the center of Honshu; Japan’s largest island. The region is comprised of nine prefectures: Aichi, Fukui, Gifu, Ishikawa, Nagano, Niigata, Shizuoka, Toyama, and Yamanashi. The region of Chubu covers a large area and is commonly separated into three sub-regions: Tōkai, Kōshin’etsu, and Hokuriku. The famous Mt. Fuji is even located on the boundary of Shizuoka and Yamanashi Prefectures.
Cities and population
The region contains over 23 million people over an area of 28,000 square miles. There are several major cities; four of which are designated cities, while six are core cities. A designated city is a Japanese city with a population of more than 500,000. This means that they are delegated several functions that are normally performed by prefectural governments in fields such as public education, social welfare, sanitation, business licensing and urban planning. Core cities are similar, but don’t have as many functions delegated to them and are required to have a population of 300,000 while spanning at least 100 square kilometers.
The designated cities are: Nagoya City, Niigata City, Hamamatsu City and Shizuoka City. The core cities are: Kanazawa City, Toyama City, Gifu City, Nagano City, Fukui City and Kofu City.
Prefectures
Aichi
Aichi prefecture is located in the southwestern corner of the Chubu region and has a coast on the Philippine Sea. Its capital is Nagoya, which is Japan 4th largest city. The most interesting attractions in Aichi would be the city of Nagoya and the city of Inuyama. Inuyama is a former castle town, located to the north of Nagoya.
Gifu
Gifu is located on the western side of the Chubu region and does not have a coast. The capital city of Gifu is the city Gifu. Gifu has several hot springs that are great to visit, such as Okuhida and Gero Onsen. Much of Gifu’s charm comes from its well preserved “older” style towns that give you the feeling of being in the Japan of the past. Towns like Takayama, Gujo-Hachiman and Furukawa are all beautiful towns to visit.
Fukui
Fukui is located on the northwestern side of the Chubu region and does not have a coast. The capital city of Fukui is the city Fukui. Fukui has one of the smallest populations for a prefecture in Japan and contains many historic buildings and sites. Many dinosaur bones have been excavated from the prefecture and some are on display in the Fukui Dinosaur Museum. Other attractions include Awara Onsen, Ichijōdani Asakura Family Historic Ruins, and Eihei-ji Temple.
Ishikawa
Ishikawa is located on the northern side of Chubu and has a coast on the Sea of Japan. The capital of Ishikawa prefecture is Kanazawa. One of the most popular destinations in Ishikawa is the city of Kanazawa, which is rich in culture and history. Other notable attractions include the Noto Penisula, Kaga Onsen, and the Kenroku-en garden.
Toyama
Toyama is located on the northern side of the Chubu region and has a coast on the Sea of Japan. The capital city of Toyama is the city Toyama. The prefecture contains many scenic views like the Kurobe Gorge and the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route. Toyama contains part of Japan’s Northern Alps and the Alpine route is a beautiful way to see them. Other attractions include the Shirakawago and Gokayama farmhouses and Unazuki Onsen.
Nagano
Nagano is located on the eastern side of the Chubu region and does not have a coast. The capital city of Nagano is the city Nagano. The capital city is famous for being where the 1998 Olympics were held. Other popular attractions include the mountain resort of Kamikochi, Yamanouchi (a place where monkeys bathe in the hot springs), and Hakuba ski resort.
Niigata
Niigata is located on the central eastern side of Chubu and borders the Sea of Japan. The capital city of Niigata is the city Niigata. The prefecture has great skiing and onsens, as well as a beautiful coast against the sea. Attractions include ski resorts in Yuzawa, and Sado island, which is a remote island previously used for political exiles.
Shizuoka
Shizuoka is located on the southern side of the Chubu region and has a coast on the Philippine Sea. The capital of Shizuoka is the city Shizuoka. The prefecture’s most well known product is tea. Also, part of Japan’s most famous land mark, Mt. Fuji, is located in Shizuoka prefecture. Other great attractions include the Izu Peninsula, Lake Hamanako, and the city of Fujinomiya located at the base of Mt. Fuji.
Yamanashi
Yamanashi is located on the eastern side of the Chubu region and does not have a coast. The capital city of Yamanashi is Kōfu. Sharing with Shizuoka prefecture, Yamanashi contains the other part of the famous Mt. Fuji. At the base of Mt. Fuji, there is an area called the Fuji Five Lakes region which is located on the Yamanashi side. Other popular attractions include Fuji-Q Highland amusement park, Senga Falls, and Koshu wineries.
The Authentic Experience
The region of Chubu is very diverse in geography. Located centrally and spanning from one coast to the other, it offers serene mountains, valleys and lakes, with beautiful coastal beaches and warm hot springs to offset the cool Northern Alps. Many of the towns and cities have preserved their classic Japanese look and feel and offer an authentic view of traditional Japan. If you’re looking to experience Japan’s diverse geography or their rich history then it’s hard to beat the appeal of the Chubu region.
 region is located in the center of Honshu, Japan’s largest island. The region is comprised on nine prefectures.){kind=link}