The region of Chubu is, as its name in Japanese suggests, in the Centre of Japan. Located on Japan's largest island, Honshu.

1. Inuyama

Inuyama is a city in Aichi Prefecture, near Nagoya. It is most famous for its small but beautiful castle, which is one of Japan's oldest wooden castles in its original state, dating from 1537. As with most castles in Japan there is a small entrance fee of 500 yen, approx SG$6 . Meiji Mura is one of Japan's open air museums with over sixty buildings from the Meiji period (1868-1912). The collection of replicated buildings from this era preserve the periods architectural and cultural heritage in Japan.

How to get to Inuyama

On arrival at Nagoya International Airport make your way to Nagoya Station. The fastest way to reach Inuyama is by Meitetsu train from, express trains (Kyuko) take about 30 mins and are the cheapest at approx 550 yen.

2. Takayama

This beautifully preserved old town is commonly referred to as Hida-Takayama, popular with those wishing to add an element of rural Japan into their visit. Host of the spring and autumn Takayama Festival, considered to be one of Japan's top festivals , this picturesque town is a must visit whilst in the Chubu region. As well as exploring the old town take a visit to the Hida Folk Village where there are over 30 traditional houses to explore. The carefully preserved houses, built during the Edo Period (1603-1867) were relocated from their original locations to the museum in 1971. Visit in the morning when the indoor fireplaces are lit everyday giving the houses even more of an authentic glow.

How to get to Takayama

From Nagoya take the JR Hida limited express train departs hourly taking 150 minutes. The trip is included in the Japan Rail Pass or 6000 yen as a single ticket . Local trains
If travelling from Tokyo to Nagoya to connect to Takayama be sure to take the Hikari train as opposed to Nozomi trains which are not covered.

3. Nagoya

Nagoya city is largest city in the Chubu region and the 4th most populous area in Japan making it a metropolis to explore along with it being home to extensive heritage places of interest.
One of the must tries when visiting Nagoya is the Misonikomi dish, noodles in a Miso Broth. Some say that the origin of Nagoya's miso-nikomi noodle is the hoto noodle dish of the Yamanashi Prefecture, dating back from the warring states period where warlords brought back the hoto noodles, used as battle food. The clear based soup is created from a stock of dried bonito, shiitake mushroom and kombo kelp and seasoned with thick soy sauce and sweet sake. What makes this dish truly special is the use of haccho-miso, a salty red paste made only from beans without using koji rice malt. Another distinction is the serving style: one serving is boiled in a small earthen pot and is served piping-hot often with the addition of chicken, egg, green onion, shiitake mushrooms or mochi rice cakes. There are many restaurants in Nagoya that specialise in the Misonikomi, see some recommendations.

How to get to Nagoya

Direct flights from Singapore to Nagoya take 6 hours 45 minutes and depart daily with Singapore airlines. From Tokyo the journey on the JR Tokaido Shinkansen is 100 minutes and 50 minutes from Osaka. Once in the city the easiest way to get around is via the Meguru loop bus for tourists, taking you to many of the city's most popular visitor attractions.

See more cities in Japan

Sapporo
Tokyo
Osaka
Okinawa