Chubu

Shirakawa-go (白川郷), located in the northern part of Gifu Prefecture, is famous for its unique Gassho-style (Gassho-zukuri 合掌造り) houses. In 1995, the Gassho-style settlements of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama (五箇山) were inscribed on the World Heritage List.

Mount Fuji has long been regarded as a symbol of the Japanese nation. At the northern foot of Mount Fuji in Yamanashi Prefecture, there are five lakes formed by eruptions of the mountain, namely Lake Yamanaka, Lake Kawaguchi, Lake Saiko, Lake Shojiko and Lake Motosu, collectively known as the Fuji Five Lakes.

Fujiyoshida City is located at the foot of Mount Fuji and is close to the Fuji Five Lakes. Fujiyoshida has been deeply influenced by the beliefs of Mount Fuji, and countless worshippers have climbed to the top of the mountain from the Yoshida Trail. The city's Kanadorii Gate, the Togawa Oshi House as Pilgrim's Inn and shrines are the true epitome of Mount Fuji's faith and history.

Fujinomiya City in Shizuoka Prefecture is a historical town at the foot of Mount Fuji, adjacent to Yamanashi Prefecture with Mount Fuji in the middle. Everything in the city seems to be related to Mount Fuji, and the citizens are proud of the Fujisan Hongu Sengen Taisha Shrine, which is the main shrine of over a thousand Asama Shrines in Japan.

Gokayama is located in the southwestern part of Toyama Prefecture, its unique Gassho-style (Gassho-zukuri 合掌造り) houses among 40 villages are well-known in the world. In 1995, the traditional Japanese Gassho-style villages were inscribed in the World Heritage List, including Suganuma Gassho-style Village and Ainokura Gassho-style Village in Gokayama.