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Alps and Central Japan |
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The Japanese
Alps are situated in the centre of Honshu Island,
an area known as ‘the Roof of Japan’.
A favourite natural playground for hikers, climbers and sightseers
year round, a large part of the area is protected as a National
Park. Nagano, the prefectural capital, was host
of the 1998 Winter Olympics and is well known for its great Zenkoji
Pilgrimage Temple. The surrounding area has many skiing
and hot spring resorts. Matsumoto is the gateway
to the Alps and preserves its original medieval castle. The nearby
Kamikochi Highlands are a popular destination
for hikers, especially in the autumn when the colours of
the leaves are spectacular.
Takayama is well known for its colourful
festivals and boasts a chiefly preserved 17th-century townscape.
The historic city of Kanazawa is famous for the
stunning Kenrokuen Garden and for a variety of
traditional industries such as ceramics and silk-dying. To the north,
the Noto Peninsula’s dramatic coastline and
small fishing villages beckon adventurers, while to the south are
the amazing Zen temple complex of Eiheiji and the
beautiful Shirakawa-go folk villages. 1 hour by
boat from the coastal city of Niigata lies Sado
Island, rural, un spoilt and home to the world-renowned
Kodo Drummers.
Japan’s 4th-largest city Nagoya, is well
known for its porcelain industry, textile and lacquer crafts. Nagoya
Castle is an amazing sight, as is Atsuta Jingu,
among Japan’s most important shrines. Meiji Mura
is a large outdoor museum of characteristic buildings from the Meiji
period. Japan’s pre-eminent Shinto shrine
is the revered Ise Grand Shrine, located 1 hour
and thirty minutes from Nagoya. The Ise Shima National Park
shields the scenic coastal area dotted with many small pearl fishing
villages. The port of Toba is well known for its
‘Married Rocks’, two islets linked
by a huge Shinto rope, and Mikimoto Pearl Island
features demonstrations of techniques employed in the pearl industry. |
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