Aichi

Located east of Kyoto in central Chubu, Aichi has long flourished as an important center of trade and manufacturing in Japan. It generates more revenue from its industrial shipments than any other prefecture. Aichi is also home to the automobile giant Toyota, which is so powerful they named a town after it.

From pottery to textiles to cars and airplanes, it was probably Made in Aichi.

Nagoya and Toyota

Most people go to Aichi for Nagoya. This major city has several excellent museums such as the Nagoya City Science Museum and The Tokugawa Art Museum, as well as popular attractions like Japan Legoland. A day of shopping can be spent in the popular Sakae district and Hisaya Odori Park. While the town’s centerpiece is historic Nagoya Castle, you’ll also find a whole lotta’ pachinko parlors. Nagoya is the birthplace of the adult pastime.

Car fans will enjoy the novelty of Toyota City, formerly Koromo, the all-encompassing stronghold of Toyota. The city has a cosmopolitan feel, with an infrastructure catering to the large number of foreign workers employed by the car company. Many of them are second or third-generation immigrants from Brazil and South America.

The Toyota Kaikan showcases the company’s latest products, and you can take a tour of the Toyota car plant nearby.

Autumn leaves

Toyota City is also home to the Korankei Gorge, one of the best spots for viewing autumn colors in Japan. Around mid to late November, hundreds of maple trees change to vibrant orange and red. The locals add lighting to make the colors pop at night. Toyota even boasts rare winter cherry blossoms where you can see the (usually) spring flowers blooming alongside autumn leaves.

Nearby Inuyama is a popular day trip from Nagoya. The gorgeous Kiso river flows through a picturesque town with one of Japan’s oldest surviving wooden castles. Inuyama is home to Meiji Mura, an open-air architectural museum with more than 60 buildings from the Meiji period on display.

Wondering what to eat? Aichi Prefecture is famous for its historic hatcho miso, a red-colored miso unique to the prefecture that has been produced (though hopefully not fermented) for thousands of years. Try it on chicken wings, pork cutlets, and more.

Plan your trip to Aichi with the links below!