The Tokai Region of Central Japan

The Tokai area of Japan encompasses the southern area of the Chubu region in central Japan on the main island of Honshu, and is situated between the major tourist cities of Tokyo and Kyoto. The name originally comes from the Tokaido, one of the five ancient routes that connected Edo (modern Tokyo) with Kyoto during the Edo period (1603-1868).

The area includes the prefectures of Aichi, Gifu, Mie, and Shizuoka. The largest city in the Tokai area is Nagoya, which is the 4th largest city in Japan and a commercial and industrial center for the region. Nagoya is a major transport hub and is the southern gateway to exploring this historic area of Japan.

Photo by Transitmethod on Wikimedia Commons

The Tokai area is a fascinating mix of historic and new attractions and includes world-renowned tourist destinations such as historic Nagoya Castle in Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture, Ise Grand Shrine in Ise City, Mie Prefecture, Japan’s most sacred Shinto shrine, and the UNESCO World Heritage Shirakawa-go village in the northern mountains of Gifu Prefecture.

Nagoya by Zaopharm on Wikimedia Commons

It also includes hidden gems such as the picturesque Edo period castle town of Hida Takayama (Gifu’s version of Kyoto) in the mountains of Gifu Prefecture, and Hamamatsu and the stunning coastline of the Izu Peninsula in Shizuoka Prefecture.

Hida Takayama by John Asano on flickr