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Home , Kiso River, Mie Prefecture

Issue 27, Winter 2013 is a Publication of The Aichi Prefectural Government San Francisco Office

Central on the Shoryudo Walking the Kumano Kodo Path Castle the City Symbol Our first stop is in Prefecture in the tail of the Dragon. Mie is accessible by ferries, buses and trains leaving many times per hour from . The Kumano Kodo Path has been used for over a millennium by everyone from emperors to paupers. Even today walking the ancient path is a fantastic way to experience the unique cultural landscape of Kumano's spiritual countryside. Traveling up the dragon’s body our The Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage was next stop is of course Aichi Prefecture registered as UNESCO World Heritage in and its iconic castle. Called the center July 2004. It forms part of the Sacred piece of Nagoya City, Nagoya Castle and The Shoryudo (lit: Stretching Dragon Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii its surrounding buildings and gardens are Road) begins in then Mountain Range. the most popular tourist destination in winds through Aichi and Central Japan http://www.tb-kumano.jp/en/kumano-kodo/ Central Japan. New exhibits are routinely and ends in the Northern prefecture of added to the museum at Nagoya Castle Ishikawa. Nagoya City is a natural Ise Jingu, The Most Sacred Shrine so even if you have visited before there starting point on the Shoryudo, and there will be something new to see. Inside the are a large number of Aichi based tour castle priceless historical relics and companies serving this area. pieces of art are on display. You can also This region has its own unique charm and tour the castle gardens. No matter what intrigue. There are natural wonders season the gardens are always blooming. including hot springs, beautiful forest, and February and March is the flowering the majestic Japan Alps as well as season for hundreds of Japanese Plum cultural and historical monuments, trees. It is an excellent way to relax and samurai castles, legendary locations and take in the beauty of the castle and of course festivals. As you travel along Remaining in Mie Prefecture, this surrounding area. the Shoryudo there will also be plenty of ancient shrine is sometimes referred to as The two golden Kinshachi that sit atop the local delicacies to eat! "Ise Jingu," however its true name is main keep are also a major part of In this special issue let’s take a trip along simply Jingu. It is a fitting name because Nagoya Castle. In Japanese “kin” means the dragon, winding our way through the in Japanese the word jingu means shrine Gold and the Shachi is a mythological best places in Central Japan. and Jingu is the single most important animal. Traditionally they were a symbol http://go-centraljapan.jp/en/special/shoryudo/index.html of the feudal lord’s authority but after the shrine in all of Japan. The main shrine is dedicated to the Reconstruction era they came to Centrair International Airport god called Omikami, symbolize Nagoya’s emergence as a Japan is famous for its quick and who is the ancestral god of the Imperial major part of the Japanese economy. convenient high-speed rail system. What Family. The shrine also has a strong http://www.aichi-kanko.jp/j-heartland/etc/kankou_i.html many people don’t realize is that air travel connection to the Shinto gods of Tokoname the Pottery City within Japan can be comparable in agriculture, especially the Japanese diet comfort and speed. The service you staple of rice. This connect is so receive at the airport and on flights is top important that every October the Emperor notch and can be an enjoyable makes a pilgrimage to harvest rice and experience in itself. offer his harvest at Jingu. Centrair is the largest international and Although Jingu was founded about 1500 domestic gateway in Central Japan. This years ago, the main shrine is rebuild modern airport in Aichi is only 30 minutes every 20 years. The next rebuild will from Nagoya Station by train, or 40 begin in Autumn 2013 and there will be minutes by car. It is also possible to take many ceremonies and festivals a high-speed boat from Centrair directly accompanying the rebuild. This city was built on the pottery to our first destination on the Shoryudo. http://www.isejingu.or.jp/shosai/english/index.htm http://www.centrair.jp/en/ industry and some parts of it are literally built from pottery. The kilns in this ancient

town have been turning out ceramics for Villages of Straw Houses spectacular mountain vistas in Japan. over 900 years. Today there is still a lively The route climbs to 10,000 feet, and is industry where you can visit the commonly referred to as the "roof of numerous workshops in the area. Japan." In the winter the areas are closed Tokoname City has created a “Pottery off by immense snowfall, but usually are Path” take visitors can follow to a number remain open from April to November. of different pottery shops and museums. Perhaps the most spectacular feature of If you are interested in making purchases Tateyama Alpine Route is the towering the shops can expertly warp your pottery Snow Wall where sometimes snow can as well as ship internationally. The city reach depths over 50 feet. also English speaking tour guides that Those who love the majesty and grand The best way to access these help you have a more immersed beauty of nature should include Tateyama amazing mountain towns is to start in experience! in your travel plans. http://www.city.tokoname.aichi.jp/fl_html/english/sights Aichi. At Nagoya Station take a train to http://www.alpen-route.com/english/ eeing/information.html Takayama city, this ride is an especially

scenic route through northern Aichi into Kenroku-en Garden Ukai Fishing on the the heart of Japan. The Inuyama region of Aichi is famous Shirakawago and Gokayama are for its majestic mountains and flowing secluded mountain villages on the border rivers. The Kiso River’s headwaters are in between and Toyama Prefectures. the northern mountains and it flows Besides the surrounding beauty they are through Inuyama on its way to the sea. most famous for maintaining over a Every night in the summer months the hundred traditional straw roofed centuries old tradition of Ukai, or farmhouses, some of which are more , is performed. There than 250 years old. The importance of the are three fishing masters who adeptly use villages was recognized internationally Our last stop along the Shoryudo cormorants to bring in small trout called when they were declared a UNESCO takes us to the and Ayu. Maneuvering their boats as well as World Heritage Site in 1995. the . Kenroku-en Garden is wrangling up the birds is an extremely What makes these farmhouses even usually regarded as one of the three most difficult task but these masters make it more amazing is that some have been beautiful gardens in Japan, and was look effortless. Viewing boats float along converted into Japanese style inns. designated as a special national scenic with the Ukai boats and spectators can Spend a night for a truly unique spot by the Japanese Government. When relax with food and drinks while they experience. visiting Kenroku-en it is easy to http://travel.kankou-gifu.jp/en/see-and-do/2/ watch the watch the masters’ work. understand why it is held is such high http://ml.inuyama.gr.jp/en/must-see-sight-en/2051 Tateyama Alpine Route esteem. The vast grounds have hundreds of painstakingly manicured trees, serene Famous Aichi Blowfish Dinner Traveling further north along the ponds, tea ceremony houses, and dragon, the train line from Nagoya Station something pleasing to the eye at every to Takayama Station also continues to turn. Toyama City. There are also daily flights A unique feature of garden is the between Centrair Airport and Toyama preparations taken for the winter season. Airport. Then from Toyama locals trains Thousands of ropes are used to support connect to the Tateyama Alpine Route. the delicate trees from the heavy snow. This is just another example of the care taken to preserve Kenroku-en Garden. Before any traveler leaves Aichi they http://www.pref.ishikawa.jp/siro-niwa/kenrokuen/e/inde have to try at least one of the local dishes. x.html There are savory noodles dishes and Aichi Prefectural Government sweet confectionaries, but if you feel like c/o JETRO San Francisco walking on the wild side you can try the 575 Market Street, Suite 2400 blowfish dinner. It is a feast of all Aichi Phone: 415-392-1333 ext. 252 has to offer with a hint of danger. If you Facebook: www.facebook.com/TourAichi are feeling adventurous try this once in a Email: [email protected] lifetime meal. This scenic passage over the Japanese Kenji Sato http://www.aichi-kanko.jp/j-heartland/etc/gourme_i.html Alps is offers some of the most Sean Lampe