2 day trip to Aichi, Japan

Aichi Prefecture is located in the Chubu Region of Central Japan with Nagoya, its biggest and best known city. Nagoya is Japan’s fourth largest city and the capital and economic hub of Aichi Prefecture. It is also a gateway for travel in Central Japan and a great base for exploring the nearby area. Below are the best destinations to visit in 2 days.

Nagoya Castle

Nagoya Castle is a Japanese castle located in Nagoya City. The castle was originally constructed in early 17th century and served as one of the most important castles in Japan ruled by the Tokugawa clan during Edo Period. The most part of the castle was destroyed during World War II bombing by the U.S. Army Air Forces, it has been reconstructed in 1959 and now serves as a popular tourist site in Nagoya City. The castle is a top viewing spot for cherry blossoms, and also it is illuminated at night from the sunset to 23:00 pm.

Nagashima Spa Land

Nagshima Spa Land is a big amusement park featuring a number of rides fitted for everyone, from thrilling rides to extreme ones. It boasts a huge roller coaster, Steel Dragon 2000, which spreads through the entire park. Nagshima Spa Land also houses hot springs and a water park with several pools and water slides. After enjoying all the rides, visitors can unwind and shop at Mitsui Outlet Park Jazz Dream Nagashima, a mall that has over 200 shops and restaurants.

Tower Park

Tower Park in Ichinomiya City near Nagoya is a beautiful public park with the tallest arch-style tower in Asia at 138 meters tall. The tower offers spectacular panoramic views of the nearby area, Kiso Valley and peaks of the Japan Alps. The park is free to enter and has a lot of interesting things for the whole family. Highlights include a rose garden with 4,000 perpetual roses, seasonal flowers such as cosmos, tulips, hyacinths and poppies, and some of the best cherry blossoms in Aichi Prefecture. A great time to visit is in December for the winter illuminations, when the park is decorated with around 500,000 lights creating a spectacular scene to enjoy the festive season in Japan.

Toyokawa Inari

Toyokawa Inari or its real name is Myogonji Temple is a Sodo sect Buddhist Temple located in Toyokawa City in eastern Aichi Prefecture (about 70 km from Nagoya City), which is dedicated to the god of fertility, rice and agriculture, industry and worldly success as well as the foxes. The unique sight of countless stone statues of foxes can be seen at the temple site.

Korankei Valley

Korankei Valley, located in Nagoya is best known for its autumn colors, being the best autumn leaf viewing spot in the area. The valley goes along Mount Iimori, which is home to Kojakuji Temple. The head priest of the temple planted maple trees in the valley more than 400 years ago. Visitors today can see the beautiful trees that are now fully grown. The highlight of the valley is Taigetsukyo, a vermillion bridge that looks amazing next to the colored trees.

Atsuta Jingu Shrine

Atsuta Jingu Shrine is the second highest rank shrine of Japan, founded in the 8th century. It occupies a big area with huge woods in the metropolitan atmosphere of Nagoya, and there are always many people coming for all kinds of prayers. The woods are full of sacred and reverent feelings, and makes you feel something divine inside yourself, too.

See more: What to do in Nagoya for first-time travelers

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Let's go to Japan in this November

Have you ever thought of traveling to Japan in November? It's truly a great time to enjoy gorgeous autumn leaves at many locations as well as enjoy an onsen bath in upcoming winter. Here are the best places you should visit in Japan this November.

Obara, Aichi

If you are lucky enough to be in Japan's Chubu region during this blooming period, Achi Prefecture is a destination you should not miss. Located just a few hours away from Tokyo, this prefecture is home to one of Japan's most fascinating autumn event - the Obara Shikizakura Festival. The flowers begin to blossom at the end of October and are at their peak from mid-November through early December. The peak period varies somewhat from year to year. The small five-petaled blossoms are thought to indicate a cross between the mamezakura and edohigan species of cherry trees.

Gunma, Kanto

Known as the best place to enjoy onsen in Japan, Kusatsu onsen resort is very famous as one of the three major onsens in Japan. The unique bathing method of Jikanyu (timed bathing) and Yumomi (water beating) are customs that have been appeared since the Edo period. Moreover, the atmosphere of the resort is attractive with the Yubakate (hot water fields, a wooden facility for thermal moderation of the water) located at the center. This onsen resort is truly a representative of Japan.

Otaru, Hokkaido

This winter wonderland in Hokkaido is a port town that lures visitors with its beautiful architecture and long, picturesque canal that’s famously lined with Victorian-style gas lamps and stone buildings that once housed herring merchants but today serves as the home of shops and eateries. The Otaru canal, which is also opened for short cruises, happens to be the main venue for the Otaru Snow Light Path Festival, an event where local places for floating candles inside the canal, distributing some 15,000 snow candles and lanterns to light up the narrow pathways. The entire town has an unusual look to it, somewhat more Russian than Japanese, more industrial than bucolic, but still incredibly delightful, especially in its winter glory.

See more: Hakone, a peaceful place in Japan

Kawaguchi, Yamanashi

Lake Kawaguchi, or Kawaguchiko is the most popular tourist destination among Fuji 5 lakes. In this place, there is a festival called Fujikawaguchiko Autumn Leaves held annually near the lake and featuring beautiful gorgeous autumn leaves and special events. Do not miss the chance to capture the best view of Kawaguchiko, autumn leaves, and Mt Fuji in this November.

Kyoto, Kansai

Visit Toufukuji in Kyoto this mid-November is perfect. The Toufukuji temple is a Buddhist temple which is also considered as one of the Kyoto Gozan (or “five great Zen temples of Kyoto”). The current garden in the area was designed by Mirei Shigemori back in the 1930s and has since been flocked by tourists during the autumn season. It has become a tradition for people to look at the beautiful autumn colors of the maple tree leaves from the Tsuuten-kyou bridge.

Source Internet