Japan is a favourite country to visit for many Thais. On top of its friendly people, flavourful food and good transportation, what we love about this country is being able to enjoy its beautiful natural scenery in cool and comfortable weather. I got to experience all of this during my five-day trip to central Japan one month ago. This time, I went to several places, including Gifu, Nagano, Aichi and Shizuoka prefectures in Chubu, a region located in the heart of Honshu.
My first stop was Takayama, a former castle town in the mountainous Hida region of Gifu. This historic city is known for its well-preserved Edo-period architecture and traditional atmosphere.
I also went to Nagoya, the capital city of Aichi prefecture and also the largest city in central Japan. Like Takayama, it was developed as a castle town during the late 16th century.
Today, it's one of Japan's major industrial and transportation hubs, with Nagoya Castle being its most famous landmark.
My journey wrapped up with a relaxing two-day stay near Lake Hamana, which is hailed as one of Japan's most famous coastal lagoons. It's located in Shizuoka prefecture, widely known as the home of Mount Fuji and the largest producer of green tea in Japan.
