The city of Nagoya is not only a lively and  fascinating place in its own right, but makes  

an ideal base from where you can explore some of  the most spectacular destinations in central Japan.

With easy access from Chubu Central  Airport in just 30 minutes by train  

it's also the ideal place to start or finish your trip.

So join us as we explore three of  the best side trips from Nagoya.

Rising majestically over the Northern Japanese Alps, Mount Ontake is Japan's

second tallest volcano and considered one of its most sacred mountains.

Located at the foot of the mountain and the  last rest stop on one of its two pilgrim trails

the village of Otaki is a place steeped in  the tradition of shugendo or mountain worship  

where practitioners have come for  centuries to richly purify themselves  

before making the final  challenging climb to the summit.

For visitors interested in learning more  about this area's fascinating traditions  

the perfect place to stay is the Kurumisawa  Ryokan. A family-run guesthouse with a connection  

to shugendo spanning generations.  

Here guests can enjoy beautifully prepared shojin riori 

vegetarian Buddhist cuisine and even take part in waterfall meditation

Located in Gifu prefecture on the  western edge of the japanese alps  

Takayama is an attractive city with a rural  atmosphere, famous since ancient times for  

its carpentry and well-known today for its many  beautifully preserved historic wooden buildings  

Many of these can be seen on an easy  stroll through the city's old town.  

Starting with Takayama Jinya, a former  government office stating from the feudal age  

Continuing along Sannomachi Dori where

shops,

 museums,

and sake breweries can be found  

and ending with the Hachiman Shrine,

home to one of Japan's most spectacular festivals.

Located an hour's drive east of Takayama

The Goshikigahara forest is a vast and beautiful area of wilderness.

A landscape of primeval forest, open wetland lakes rivers and waterfalls  

A paradise for nature lovers and hikers alike,

The forest supports an impressive array of animal and  

plant life, but due to its protected status can  only be entered with a local l guide.

About an hour's drive to the south of Takayama in Gero City,

the town of Hida Osaka is surrounded by deep forests,

known for containing more waterfalls than anywhere  else in Japan.

more than 200 of which are over five meters in height.

Formed around 54 000 years ago 

by lava flows from nearby Mount Ontake,

the area's unique geography and diversity of plant life 

make it an ideal destination for hikers.

visitors can choose from 12 different walking courses

from short scenic strolls to challenging full-day hikes

A sleepy seaport town on the coast  of rural Mie Prefecture,

Kumano City is known for beautiful mountain scenery,  rugged coastal landscapes and its position  

on the ancient pilgrim trail connecting  the Kumano Shrines with the Ise Shrines.  

At the northeastern edge of town,

a set of old stone steps lead into the forest  

marking the start of one section of the ancient  pilgrim trails.  

Known as the Matsumoto pass, the trail is about a kilometer long

and includes some beautiful views of Shichiri Mihama Beach.

In the mountains to the west of the city,

the Maruyama Senmaida is one of the largest and most  

spectacular rice terraces in all of Japan.

with well over a thousand tiny rice paddies of all  

shapes and sizes cut into a steep hillside

each one perfectly angled to get every last bit of sunlight.

Due to its difficult terrain every aspect  of planting and harvesting is still done by hand . 

Located to the south of the city

across from a long stretch of beautiful pebble beach  

is Hananoiwaya,

one of japan's oldest and most unique shrines.

Said to be the burial place of the goddess Izanami

who created the world, the site  is centered on a towering 45 meter rock,

shaped by the ocean wind and revered since prehistoric  times.

A short walk north of the city center stands the Onigajo, or Ogre's Castle.

One of several impressive rock formations dotting the coastline  

originally formed from volcanic ash,

ocean waves gradually eroded its soft rock face  

into a towering and otherworldly structure,

extending for over a kilometer around a small cape.  

Departing from the nearby Matsuzaki Port  

the Tategasaki Sightseeing Boat Tour offers some

breathtaking views of the Mie coast to the north of central Kumano City,  

including a series of spectacular cliff faces 

two of the most famous spots to look out for  

are the Blue Cave and Tategasaki,

a huge rock structure of almost perfectly vertical columns.

This was a guide to just three of the many  destinations that can be easily reached from Nagoya.

We hope this proves useful for planning  your next trip to central Japan.

For more information about Nagoya or to watch another video, 

click the links on the screen now or head over to japan-guide.com

your comprehensive up-to-date travel  guide first hand from japan.

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Happy travels