Following our trip to Kansai in late 2024, we've recently made another trip to Japan, specifically on Kansai and Central Japan. For those who would like to benchmark our flight and prices, we flew via Xiamen Airlines from Penang to Xiamen then Osaka... RM1,400 per pax for both return flights. We then rented a car from Kansai Airport and hit the road. The whole journey from Kansai Airport to Nagoya, to Toyama (via Takayama and Shirakawa-Go) then Takaoka, Tsuruga, Lake Biwa and finally Uji and Kobe before flying back from Kansai Airport. The 10-day road trip marked 1,500 KM in total and it was not an easy drive from Nagoya to Toyama. But it was definitely fun to explore Central Japan the way we like.
1) [Gifu-Shirakawa] Shirakawa-Go 白川郷
Entrance Fee: Free Entrance
Business Hours: 8 am to 5 pm. Opens Daily.
Shirakawa-go is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Japan’s most well-known traditional villages, located a few hours’ drive from Nagoya. The journey itself can be quite an experience, with long tunnels and narrow mountain roads, making it not the easiest place to drive to. Parking can also be a challenge — while there are public car parks available, they tend to fill up quickly, especially during peak seasons.
Once inside the village, expect to do a fair bit of walking, so comfortable shoes are a must. That said, the views along the way are beautiful, with well-preserved gassho-zukuri houses and scenic surroundings at every turn. There are a handful of restaurants near the village entrance, and it’s a good idea to settle your meal there before heading in, as dining options within the village are limited to small snacks and light treats. Despite the logistics, Shirakawa-go is well worth the effort if you’re looking to experience a quieter, more traditional side of Japan.
2) [Gifu-Takayama] Takayama's Miyagawa Asaichi Morning Market 飛騨高山宮川朝市
Entrance Fee: Free Entrance
Business Hours: 7 am to 12 pm. Opens Daily. (Business Hours may change depending on season)
Grilled Meringue (JPY 150)
Miyazaki Beef Skewer (JPY 600 each)
Takayama makes a convenient and worthwhile stop if you’re travelling from Nagoya to Shirakawa-go, and the Miyagawa Asaichi Morning Market is a good place to start your visit. Running along the Miyagawa River, the market features a mix of local produce, regional specialties, and handmade souvenirs by local vendors. One of the must-tries here is Hida Beef, another well-regarded Japanese beef known for its bolder, more robust flavour. With its relaxed atmosphere and variety of stalls, it’s a spot worth spending a few hours exploring, especially in the morning before the area gets busier.
3) [Aichi-Toyota] Korankei 香嵐渓
Entrance Fee: Free Entrance
Korankei is a popular nature spot in Aichi, best known for its abundance of autumn leaves that draw visitors during the fall season. The area is pleasant to walk around, with river paths, bridges, and plenty of maple trees lining the valley. During peak season, there are also small stalls along the way selling simple street food and snacks, adding to the overall experience. It’s an easy place to spend a few hours strolling, snacking, and enjoying the scenery at a slower pace.
4) [Aichi-Nagoya] Choujiya Handmade Soba
Business Hours: 11 am to 8:30 pm. Closed on Tuesdays.
Tempura with Handmade Soba (JPY 1,500)
Herring with Handmade Soba (JPY 1,500)
Zaru Soba with Grated Mountain Yam (JPY 1,500)
Hidden in one corner of the Ōsu Shopping Street in Nagoya is Choujiya Handmade Soba. Like what suggested by the name- the place churns out handmade Soba... served with different toppings. Not for everyone but definitely unique to Japan is the Yamaimo (Mountain Yam) paste with raw Egg... served with Cold Soba. Their Soba seems to have better texture than the ordinary ones. Reasonably priced too. Definitely a decent place to enjoy some delicious Soba while resting your shopping feet.
5) [Aichi- Nagoya] Ōsu Shotengai and Osu Kannon Temple
Entrance Fee: Free Entrance
Ōsu Kannon Temple
Ōsu Kannon is one of Nagoya’s most well-known Buddhist temples, offering a calm and contemplative contrast to the lively surroundings. Just steps away, Ōsu Shopping Street stretches across a network of covered arcades filled with independent shops, food stalls, vintage stores, and casual eateries. The area blends old and new seamlessly — traditional culture sits comfortably alongside modern pop trends, making it an easy place to wander without a fixed plan. Whether you’re stopping by for a quiet moment at the temple or exploring the bustling streets for snacks and souvenirs, Ōsu remains a vibrant snapshot of everyday Nagoya life.
6) [Aichi-Nagoya] Gochiso Dining at Nagoya Noritake Garden (AEON Mall)
Address: (1st Floor) 3 Chome-1-17 Noritakeshinmachi, Nishi Ward, Nagoya, Aichi 451-0051, Japan.
Business Hours: 10 am to 9 pm. Opens Daily.
Grilled Chicken and Wagyu Beef Hitsumabushi (JPY 2,629)
Grilled Wagyu Beef Gozen (JPY 2,409)
Tonkatsu Gozen (JPY 1,969)
If you are driving and wondering what to eat in Nagoya, head to AEON Mall. You will find plenty of options, including retails like Uniqlo, Muji etc. We stumbled upon this restaurant- Gochiso Dining at AEON Mall Noritake Garden. It specializes in serving Japanese Set Meals, one of their specialities is the Japanese Wagyu Beef. We've had a few of the Set Meals and thought they were decent. Though not mind-blowing, they can be a decent option considering the location and parking availability. Free Parking in AEON Mall if you must know.
7) Shinminato Kittokito Fisherman's Wharf
Entrance Fee: Free Entrance
Business Hours: 9 am to 5 pm. Opens Daily.
Seasonal Sashimi Set (JPY 3,025)
Umiya Gozen (JPY 3,630)
Grilled Unagi Gozen (JPY 2,662)
Crab lovers should not miss this place- the Shinminato Kittokito Fisherman's Wharf in Toyama. The place is not as exciting as other fish market in different locations but visitors travel far to there for one goal- to savor the seasonal Red Crab (also known as Koshi's Red Crab). The Toyama Red Crab is seasonal and only available in September to March with Jan to March being the best season (when the water is cold). You can find plenty of local delicacies and specialties (for souvenirs) in the Fisherman's Wharf, and a few restaurants offering the Red Crab. We had ours in the largest restaurant right next to the car park- Umiya (free parking by the way). While you can order the whole Red Crab (we ordered ours at JPY 5,000), you can also order the Set Meals which comes with different sides. Ingredients were fresh and they were very generous with the serving portion. Recommend trying this place if you happened to be here.
8) [Toyama] Toyama Kansui Park (Prettiest Starbucks)
Entrance Fee: Free Entrance
Business Hours: 8 am to 10:30 pm. Opens Daily. (Kansui Park's Starbucks)
Crowned as the prettiest Starbucks in Japan- Toyama's Kansui Park is definitely worthy of your time. The park itself is super spacious and clean; the Starbucks sits at one corner of the Kansui Park. If you take a photo from the observatory tower (free and no entrance fee), you can even picture the snowy mountain as background. Well the food and drink offerings in Starbucks is pretty much standardized across the whole Japan but it is the view that counts. You can pick up your order and enjoy at the corridor. Soak in the sun and enjoy the autumn breeze is definitely something you would want to do during a leisure trip. If the season is right, you can also do the boat ride along the canal. Too bad it was closed during our visit. Free parking is available at Kansui Park.
9) [Toyama] Nishicho Taiki Futakuchi-ten 西町大喜
Business Hours: 11 am to 8 pm. Closed on Wednesdays.
Toyama Black Ramen (JPY 950) + Raw Egg (JPY 100)
Toyama's Black Ramen is probably one of the must-eat local delicacies as listed on most tourism websites but there are some reviews advising tourists to approach with caution. Having tasted the authentic one- yes, avoid if possible. The broth is basically 90% Shoyu which makes it unbelievably salty. It is so salty that personally I believe it is not for human consumption. Back in those days, the Toyama Black Ramen was invented for laborer and they would usually enjoy with Rice... the saltiness was to recover back their loss of energy and sodium in the body. Fast-forward today, the saltiness remains unchanged and would post a threat to modern human beings. We had ours at Nishicho Taiki Futakuchi-Ten, a branch from the original shop that invented this dish.
10) [Himi] Himi Fishing Port 2F Fish Market Restaurant 氷見魚市場
Business Hours: 6:30 am to 3 pm. Opens Daily.
Buri Don Teishoku (JPY 3,000)
Buri Sashimi Teishoku (JPY 2,800)
Buri Kama-yaki Teishoku (JPY 2,400)
Fish Donabe Soup (included in the set)
Himi Fishing Port (氷見漁港), located in Toyama Prefecture along the Sea of Japan, is best known for landing some of the country’s freshest seafood, especially its prized Himi-kanburi (Winter Yellowtail), which is highly regarded across Japan. There is only one restaurant in the Himi Fish Market where you can savor some of the freshest catch. The restaurant is located on the 2nd floor (upper floor) of the fish market. Long queues are often observed especially when the Winter Yellowtail is in season. Gourmands from all around Japan travel there just to savor some of the best Yellowtail. We recommend going there before 10 am or you will likely join the queue of half an hour or more. The menu focuses on the Yellowtail on our visit but we were glad that we tried the in-season delicacy. The Yellowtail has a firm texture with great flavors. There are plenty of choices available- be it raw or cooked. The best way to enjoy the Yellowtail is definitely Sashimi. Make sure you top up a bit to make it a set, the Fish Donabe Soup is something that you should not miss (cooked using leftover parts from the fish and has some fish paste)! Parking is available right outside the fish market.
11) [Toyama-Takaoka] Takaoka Great Buddha 高岡大仏
Great Buddha Castella (JPY 390 for 4 pcs)
Conveniently located in the heart of Takaoka city, the Great Buddha is one of the must visit tourist spots in Takaoka. According to some of the official websites, the Takaoka Great Buddha is one of Japan’s three great Buddha statues and a beloved landmark in Toyama Prefecture. Cast in bronze in 1933, it is admired for its serene expression and refined craftsmanship, often considered one of the most beautiful Buddha statues in Japan. After your visit, head over to the cafe right across the street. You can grab these cute little Great Buddha Castella for less than JPY 400. If you are driving- free parking is available right in front and behind the temple.
12) [Toyama-Tonami] Uma Una うま鰻
Business Hours: 11 am to 4 pm, 5 pm to 8 pm. Opens Daily.
Unagi Hitsumabushi (JPY 5,280)
Unaju (JPY 3,080)
Grilled Unagi with Salt (JPY 1,430)
Uma Una is probably one of the few restaurants that specializes in serving Unagi. They do serve their grilled Unagi in Hitsumabushi, a popular way of enjoying grilled Unagi in Nagoya (and nearby regions). For slightly over JPY5,000, we were pleasantly surprised by the generous serving portion... fit for 2 small eaters. We could taste the freshness of the Eel and the meat was fork-tender. Little effort was necessary to break through the flesh. The other condiments were spot on and complemented the dish well. We've also had the grilled Unagi with Salt which was slightly lighter on the palate. A very contenting dish to enjoy indeed. A restaurant worth checking out if you happened to be in Tonami. Ample free parking available right in front of the restaurant.
13) [Toyama-Takaoka] Takaoka Otogi-No-Mori Park
Takaoka is the hometown to Doraemon's author- Fujiko F Fujio. It is easy to spot Doraemon everywhere in Takaoka. One of the best places to take a photo with Doraemon and friends would be the Takaoka Otogi-No-Mori Park, a short 10 minute drive from central Takaoka town. There is no entrance fee and it is a public park. The park is less busy in the afternoon and you can spend a bit of time taking photos with the gang. Apart from Doraemon and friends, the park is also a lovely, comfortable place to walk around and enjoy the autumn breeze.
14) [Ishikawa-Kanazawa] Omicho Market Kanazawa 金澤近江町市場
Business Hours: 9 am to 5 pm. Opens Daily.
Kaisen Don (JPY 990)
Teishoku (JPY1,980)
No trip to Kanazawa is complete without a visit to Omicho Market... in the city centre of Kanazawa. You can literally find everything there, from seasonal fresh produces to dried local specialities. It is common for visitors to look for some of the freshest catch and seafood supplies. While you can grab your loot and enjoy it by the road like any other markets in Japan, we've decided to go for a proper restaurant instead. We had our lunch in Ichinokura, a popular restaurant on the upper floor. None of the order disappoint but we did not find anything spectacular either. It is probably better to check out stall by stall and look for something interesting to eat (like street food). Another must-have in Kanazawa will be the gold leaf Soft Serve. Kanazawa produces a lot of gold leaves and the edible gold leaves added a luxury touch to almost anything! Be prepared to pay a premium though, anything that has an edible gold leaf would not be cheap! There's a multi-storey car park right next to Omicho so don't worry if you are driving.
Gold Leaf Soft Serve (JPY 1,380)
Kanazawa Pudding (JPY 600)
15) [Ishikawa-Kanazawa] Higashi-Chaya District 東山ひがし茶屋街
Business Hours: 10 am to 6 pm. Opens Daily. (For Maccha House Higashi Chaya Branch)
Warabi Mochi Set (JPY 1,000) with Hot Sencha (JPY 850)
Matcha Tiramisu (JPY 900)
Hot Matcha Latte (JPY 800)
Kanazawa's Higashi Chaya is known as the historic entertainment district and it is arguably the most popular Geisha (commonly known as Geiko in Kanazawa) district. The whole district retains the beauty of the old Japanese house with Edo vibe. It is definitely worth spending some time to explore the area. There are also some Geiko shows available but they often run out of tickets (you will need to compete with those tour agencies to grab a seat). We did not manage to get any tickets so we took the leisure time to enjoy some Japanese Matcha treats. We had ours at Maccha House, right smack in the Higashi Chaya district. No parking space in the district so expect to walk a bit from the main street (like 5-8 minute walk).
16) [Fukui-Tsuruga] Tsuruga Red Brick Warehouse 敦賀
Not exactly a must-visit attraction but if you have the time, by all means check out Tsuruga's Red Brick Warehouse. There is a museum in the warehouse as well as a couple of restaurants. The restaurants seem to be very busy on our visit with regular patrons waiting in line. Free parking is available right next to the warehouse. Otherwise, nothing much to do here.
17) [Fukui-Tsuruga] Nihonkai Sakana-Machi Tsuruga
Business Hours: 10 am to 6 pm. Opens Daily.
Grilled Saba Fish Set (JPY2,200/ large)
Mini Uni Don (JPY1,000)
Heshiko Ochazuke (JPY 800)
The Nihonkai Sakana-Machi is my favorite spot in Tsuruga. It is a spot worth going all out to visit. It is like a Fish Market with plenty of restaurants and vendors housed in a one-storey complex. You can basically find all the seafood supplies there- be it fresh or dried goods. There are also quite a handful of region-specific seafood available. Grilled Saba is one of the must-haves in Nihonkai Sakana-Machi where you get find fresh, fat Mackerel (Saba) being grilled over coal fire and lightly seasoned. For sharing- go for the large ones; otherwise, consider small to medium as it might be overly filling for one to finish it entirely. If the season is right (and the pocket is deep), check out the Echizen Crabs too. Ample free parking is available at Nihonkai Sakana-Machi.
18) [Shiga-Nagahama] Kurokabe Square Shiga
Business Hours: 10 am to 5 pm. Opens Daily.
Ikinari- Sweet Potato and Red Bean Paste Dango (JPY 300)
We chose to stay in Lake Biwa (Grand Mercure Lake Biwa) while on our way back from Toyama area so we took the opportunity to visit the historical shopping district of Lake Biwa. The old townscape existed since the Edo era and there are quite some interesting spots to explore (like the Glass Museum). You can find many region-specific treats here such as the Lake Biwa Shrimp Cracker or sweet treats. If you happen to bump into this treat- Ikinari, do check it out. It is basically Steamed Japanese Sweet Potato with Japanese Red Bean Paste wrapped in Mochi skin... sweet with a savory touch and chewy bite.
19) [Kyoto-Uji] Itoh Kyuemon Uji Main Store
Matcha Curry Udon with Rice and Parfait (JPY1,890)
Nishin Soba with Rice and Parfait Set (JPY1,890)
Yuba Soba with Rice and Parfait Set (JPY1,790)
Parfait
Matcha Cappuccino (JPY 890/ hot)
Uji of Kyoto is known for its high-quality Matcha and the town is known as the Matcha Capital. It is impossible to leave Uji without trying some of the best Matcha offerings in Uji. One of the best places to savor some quality Matcha would be Itoh Kyuemon. While some may argue that Nakamura Tokichi serves better Matcha treats. Itoh Kyuemon Honten along the main street has ample parking space and best of all- free of charge. If you are driving, it makes more sense to visit Itoh Kyuemon. That aside- expect big crowd and a brief wait during peak hours. English menu is available and the servers speak simple English. The restaurant has limited seating but the menu spans across both mains and desserts... sweet or savory. We had some mains for lunch, none of them disappoint. Though some of them may look less visually appealing, the flavor-combo worked. To be frank, we thought they were quite decent. Skip the rice if you have to- pretty bland and did not register any flavor (though we were told there were tea leaves in the rice). The Soba and Udon were great. Some tips for those who are grabbing some souvenirs back- only check out after you have finished your meal in the restaurant. Vouchers will be given to diners for the purchase of their Matcha products.
20) [Kyoto-Uji] Uji Old Town
Address: Uji, Japan.
If you are still wondering whether to include Uji in your Kansai trip, perhaps the photos will help you to make a decision. Though the town is extremely touristy, the view is breath-takingly beautiful. If the timing is right- you get to see the stunning autumn colors as well as the breeze. The whole package makes the place even nicer. The whole town is full of Matcha delicacies and treats, be it savory or sweet. You can even find some exotic stuff like Matcha Wine as well. Uji is just less than 40 minutes away from Kyoto by car.
21) [Kobe] Kobe Goemon Sannomiya
Business Hours: 5 am to 12 am. Closed on Mondays.
Signature Kobe Beef Set (JPY 5,950/ serves 3 pax)
Kobe Beef Tongue Sashimi (JPY 1,200)
Wagyu Bibimbap (JPY 680)
One would be spoilt for choices when it comes to Kobe Beef in central Kobe town. But if your budget is not very high, do consider Goemon Sannomiya. It is conveniently located in the heart of Kobe and the shopping district is home to many restaurants. This particular restaurant sits in one corner of a small, narrow alley (parking is available across the restaurant but comes at a steep rate). This place is suitable for those who want to experience and savor Kobe Beef for the very first time. Do not expect expensive cuts here, more like an affordable place to try out the novelty experience. We recommend going for the signature Beef Set (barbecue) and top up with some staples like Rice/ Noodles.
22) [Kobe] Kobe Meriken Park
The Kobe Meriken Park is a must visit for first time visitors to Kobe, mainly due to the signage "BE KOBE". It is a popular tourist spot to take photos. From the park, visitors can also take a picture with the Kobe tower as well as the port. There is a Starbucks for those who are looking for a convenient spot to rest the feet. Free Parking up to 30 minutes is available but it is usually full. If you have the time, queue and wait patiently, cars come and go. It took more than half an hour during our visit (and it was a Sunday morning) but we did manage to secure a place to park. Quite a nice place to chill and enjoy the breeze.
Have Fun Exploring Central Japan and Kansai Area!
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