Welcome to Explore Central Japan, a travel guide dedicated to helping visitors discover the best of Nagoya and the surrounding Chubu region.
We believe Nagoya is one of Japan’s most underrated destinations. While many travelers rush through on their way between Tokyo and Kyoto, this city offers a rich mix of samurai history, world-class food culture, and easy access to charming day-trip destinations like Inuyama, Gifu, and Ise.
Our goal is simple: to give you practical, honest, and up-to-date information so you can plan a smooth and memorable trip. From detailed guides on major attractions to insider tips on local food and transportation, we cover everything a first-time visitor (and returning traveler) needs to know.
This site is independently run, and all recommendations are based on genuine research and local knowledge. Some links on this site are affiliate links, meaning we may earn a small commission if you make a booking through them, at no extra cost to you. This helps support the site and allows us to keep creating free, detailed content. You can read more in our Privacy Policy.
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Hi, I’m the person behind Explore Central Japan. I was born in Mie Prefecture and have lived in Nagoya for many years since, so I’ve spent my entire life in the Chubu (Tokai) region. I live here with my wife and our child, and on our days off, we’re almost always out exploring somewhere together as a family. My personal favorite spot in Nagoya is Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens, we end up there more often than anywhere else.
Japan has no shortage of well-known destinations, Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka, Hokkaido, Okinawa, and travelers naturally gravitate toward them. But the Chubu region has just as much to offer, and it’s still largely overlooked by visitors from abroad. That’s exactly why I started this blog: to share what makes this region special and help more people discover it, through this site and through social media.
I also happen to love traveling abroad myself, and I’ve run into more than my fair share of confusion, wrong turns, and “I wish someone had just told me this beforehand” moments along the way. That experience is a big part of why I write these guides the way I do. My goal is simple: to help visitors coming to this region get around smoothly and enjoy their trip to the fullest, with the kind of practical, honest information I wish I’d had on my own trips overseas.
Family time is what we live for.
Thank you for visiting, and we hope Explore Central Japan helps make your trip to Nagoya unforgettable.