Central Honshū

Shop

Get even more with a Lonely Planet guide.

Japan

$29.99

Shop Book

500px Photo ID: 84426259 - Northern Japanese Alps (Kita Alps) ranging from Toyama, Nagano, and Gifu prefecture. The peak on the left is Mt.Otensho (2921m). I took this photo in mid-August while trekking to Mt.Tsubakuro (2839m) in Nagano prefecture.

Nuttapoom Amornpashara / 500px

LONELY PLANET’S RECOMMENDED eSIM

Stay connected in Central Honshū

with

Saily is an affordable eSIM service that helps you stay connected and secure, anywhere in the world.

Get your eSIM

Overview

Central Honshū (本州中部; Honshū Chūbu) is Japan's heartland, stretching out between the sprawling metropolises of Greater Tokyo and Kansai. The awesome Japan Alps rise sharply near the border of Gifu and Nagano Prefectures before rolling north to the dramatic Sea of Japan coast.

Attractions

Must-see attractions

Kenroku-en

Kanazawa

This Edo-period garden draws its name (kenroku means 'combined six') from a renowned Sung-dynasty garden in China that dictated six attributes for…

Inuyama-jō

Central Honshū

A National Treasure, Japan's oldest standing castle is said to have originated as a fort in 1440. The current donjon (main keep), built atop a 40m rise…

Zenkō-ji

Nagano Region

Founded in the 7th century, National Treasure Zenkō-ji is home to the revered statue Ikkō-Sanzon, said to be the first Buddhist image to arrive in Japan …

Meiji-mura

Central Honshū

Due to war, earthquakes and development, few Meiji-era buildings have survived here. In 1965 this open-air museum was created to preserve this unique…

Matsumoto-jō

Matsumoto

Must-see Matsumoto-jō is Japan's oldest wooden castle and one of four castles designated National Treasures – the others are Hikone, Himeji and Inuyama…

Togakushi-jinja

Nagano Region

Comprising three sub-shrines, Togakushi-Hōkōsha, Togakushi-Chūsha and Togakushi-Okusha, each a few kilometres apart, Togakushi-jinja honours the 1911m…

Gyokusen Inmaru Garden

Kanazawa

Adjacent to the Kanazawa Castle Park, this feudal pleasure garden was first constructed in 1634 but abandoned in the Meiji era. Its five-year…

Atsuta-jingū

Nagoya

Although the current buildings were completed in 1966, Atsuta-jingū has been a shrine for over 1900 years and is one of the most sacred Shintō shrines in…

View more attractions