Takayama and Kanazawa are two of the highlights of a trip around Central Japan, but what’s the best way to get between them – train or bus? Our guide can help you decide.
Central Japan
Tips and tricks for cities in Central Japan. These include Nagoya, Nagano, Toyama, Kanazawa, Takayama, Shirakawa-go. Find itineraries, accommodation advice and transport tips.
Tokyo to Takayama by Train: Should You Travel via Nagoya or Toyama?
Takayama is one of Japan’s most beautiful mountain towns, but it’s not on a direct Shinkansen route – getting there requires a change, but which of the two main routes is best for you to choose?
10 Things You Must Eat in Nagoya
Not sure what to eat in Nagoya? Go beyond the obvious – from miso katsu on a skewer to alpaca crepes and cream-filled frog puffs, here are 10 must-try dishes, with exactly where to find them.
Essential Things You Need to Know Before You Visit Ghibli Park
Ghibli Park is the world of Hayao Miyazaki come to life. It’s beautiful, but confusing, so there are a few things you need to know before your visit to ensure you have the best day. I wish I’d known some of them.
How to Spend Two Days in Kanazawa
Two days is the perfect amount of time to see all the main sights in Kanazawa – and a few you might not have heard of before. But how should you organise your days to fit it all in? Our two-day Kanazawa itinerary can help.
8 Hands-On Experiences in Nagano
If you want to spend some of your time in Nagano making things or exploring the local food (or sake) scene in a more hands-on way, what are your options? Here are eight experiences to try…
10 Fabulous Day Trips from Nagano
Just 80 minutes from Tokyo by the fast Shinkansen, Nagano City is a great place to base yourself for a few days. It puts you in reach of some of Japan’s most beautiful nature, some very pretty smaller towns, amazing artworks, cool castles and even a troop of cheeky monkeys who like a dip in hot water. Here’s how to visit them all for the day from Nagano.
8 Things To Know Before Visiting Nagano
No matter how long you spend planning your trip, there are always some things you don’t realise until you arrive. Here’s what I wish I’d known before I visited Nagano, plus a few other essential tips, that will hopefully make your stay go more smoothly.