Home to more than 2.3 million people, Nagoya is the core city for economy and industry in the Chubu region. The culture and history of Nagoya also attracts many visitors from Japan and overseas, who come both to see sights such as Nagoya Castle and to dine on Nagoya Meshi, the city’s distinctively delicious local food. Chiune spent 10years of his childhood in Nagoya. There is a Sempo Sugihara Museum at his alma mater as well as Chiune Sugihara’s Walk of Humanitarianism. It is a perfect place as you take on the Chiune’s remembrance journey filled with this humanity and courage.

The Hill of Humanity Park was built to honor the humanitarian spirit and deeds of Chiune Sugihara. You can enjoy spending a peaceful time with the music sounding from the iconic memorial “Symbol Monument” and a splendid view of Yaotsu town from the top of the hill where an another memorial “Visas for Life Monument” stands. The Chiune Sugihara Memorial Hall, located in The Hill of Humanity Park, exhibits his life in chronological order. It also has a room called “Decision Room” replicated the appearance of the office of the Japanese Consulate in Lithuania at the time when Sugihara issued visas to rescue the Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi persecution. Experience Chiune’s love for humanity and imagine his strong desire to be achieved.

Surrounded by the mountains of Gifu Prefecture, positioned roughly in the center of Japan, but it has a rustic charm even Kyoto can’t watch. It is a friendly city with beautiful seasonal scenery and has a long and rich history. Old Town, developed as a merchant town built around the former castle town of the Edo period, is still prosperous today. In spring and autumn, the city hosts the famous “Takayama Festival”, one of the three most beautiful festivals in Japan. Gorgeous parade floats pass by spectators and remind them of the classic landscapes of long ago. Hida Takayama is listed as a three star must-visit tourist site in Michelin’s “Michelin Voyager Pratique Japon” and “Michelin Guide Vert Japon”.

Shirakawa-go (Shirakawa Village) is a place where traditional rural living is still thriving.
Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Shirakawa-go is where you can see one of the most traditional and unique areas in Japan. Shirakawa-go was registered as a world cultural site in 1995 because it is “an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in human history.” The main attraction is the Gassho-style houses, and some of the major buildings are open to public as historic house museum, and you can see how local people have been living since the old days.

Kanazawa took its place in Nippon history when it became the capital city of the Kaga Province, the biggest in Japan during the 16th century. Around the Maeda clan’s imposing castle, soon stood majestic samurai houses, rich warehouses, craftsmen’s ateliers and numerous temples. During the Edo period (1603-1868), the city saw the development of a particularly refined culture. It was so thriving that it became Japan’s fourth town after Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto.
Time went by, sparing Kanazawa from natural disasters and wars. That is why Kanazawa appears today as an amazing conservatory for ancient Japanese traditions and artistic refinement. The intact old market, geisha districts, samurai or craftsmen quarters make it one of Japan’s most enjoyable historic centres, without forgetting its most exquisite culinary traditions. Registered in UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network in the field of Crafts and Folk Arts, Kanazawa has also known how to anchor itself in our time with remarkable architectural realisations such as its station or the 21 Century Museum of Contemporary Art.

Located in Fukui Prefecture, Tsuruga is surrounded by mountains, untouched greenery and the deep blue sea.
A taste of Tsuruga’s long history can be experienced through long -preserved traditions, old temples and shrines that portray important episodes in Japan’s past as well as the port which provided means for outside contacts between Japan and its neighbors for hundreds of years.