Aichi愛知県

A flourishing base for industry, which features many areas of natural beauty. Nagoya is one of the five largest cities in Japan.

Aichi is situated at the center of Japan and is roughly divided into a mountainous, hilly area and a plain. The Sakai-gawa River that flows into the Kinuura Bay also divides Aichi into two contrasting districts, the conservative, frugal Owari and the somber, sturdy Mikawa.

Aichi has been a pivotal point for traffic between western and eastern Japan, and has flourished as a base for industry since for centuries. The major industries include ceramics in Seto and Tokoname, automobile manufacturing in Toyota, and the woolen textile industry in Ichinomiya.

Nagoya is the center of the government, economy, and culture of Aichi. The city has Nagoya Castle, noted for the golden orcas on top of the roof, and Atsuta Shrine. A national treasure, Inuyama Castle, stands in neighboring Inuyama City.

Aichi has many areas of beauty, such as Mikawa Bay Quasi-National Park, Hida-Kiso River Quasi-National Park, Mt. Horaiji Prefectural Park, Atsumi-hanto Peninsula Prefectural Park, the Koran Valley, the Kuragari Valley, and the Miya-onsen Hot Spring. The people living here celebrate the Hadaka-matsuri Festival, or naked festival, a peculiar festival more than 1,200 years old in Owari-Konomiya in Inazawa, and the Hana-matsuri Festival, or flower festival, in Oku-Mikawa region. Both are held in the winter.