The Museum of Meijimura Located in the south-east of Inuyama City at the foot of Mt. Owari-fuji and facing Irukaike, the museum was opened in 1965 for the purpose of preserving and exhibiting to the public buildings and reference materials of the Meiji era in which Japan made a great leap towards modernization. It occupies an area of 1 million square meters, where almost 70 Meiji-period buildings including schools, government offices, court houses, military facilities, factories, a brewery, churches, a bank, a hotel, a lighthouse, and even a bridge, have been rebuilt and are on show. There are also Meiji streetcars and locomotives still in operation.

		1, Uchiyama, Inuyama City, Aichi Prefecture
		9.30am-5pm (Mar.-Oct.), 9.30am-4pm (Nov.-Feb.)
		Dec.31, Mon. (except holidays) (Dec.-Feb.)
		1600 yen http://www.meijimura.com/
		0568-67-0314 0568-67-0358

Inuyama Castle The three-layered, four stories high keep overlooking the south bank of Kisogawa River is the oldest original keep in Japan. The Kara-hafu (Chinese style gable) and Irimoya-hafu add elegance to the gracious white-walled architecture. The castle is designated as a national treasure.

		65-2, Kitakoken, Inuyama, Inuyama City, Aichi Prefecture
		9am-5pm (Admission until 4.30pm)
		Dec.29-31
		500 yen -
		0568-61-1711 0568-61-5611

Iga An old castle town, Igaueno was the birthplace of Matsuo Basho, Japan's most famous haiku poet during the Edo era (1603-1867), and collections exhibited in the donjon of Ueno's castle, a three-story wooden building, include mention of the poet. The town in general also contains many local places of interest for fans of Basho and haiku. Igaueno is also famous for hosting a village of ninja, a one-time form of professional spy highly trained in the ways of stealth and secrecy. People can see displays and experience the modus operandi of the ninja at the Iga-ninja museum.

		Ueno City, Mie Prefecture
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		- http://iganinja.jp/english/menu.html
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Hida Takayama "Takayama is a town many tourists visit to see the Takayama festival held each spring and fall with many more visiting in the summer to climb the nearby mountains. While the past saw the town somewhat famous as a base for climbing in the Northern Alps areas of Mt. Norikuradake, Mt. Yarigatake and Mt. Hotakadake, these days, Takayama is known more for its unique charm, the beauty each season brings and its abundant nature, traditions and history. It is also a convenient place from which to visit the Gassho-zukuri Village in Shirakawa-go. How to get to Hida Takayama Nagoya Station - Takayama Station (2 hours by JR Line)

		Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture
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		- http://hidatakayama.or.jp/ http://www.hida.jp/
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Ise Shima Excellent sightseeing, beautiful scenery and good seafood. The Ise-Shima region, in Mie Prefecture, has it all with the added bonus that most of the region falls within the boundaries of the Ise-Shima National Park.Historical Japan features too as the nation's leading Shinto shrine, Ise Jingu, is also nearby. Composed principally of the Naiku (Inner Shrine) with its 2000-year history and Geku (Outer Shrine) with a lifespan of over 1500-years, this is a place unequalled in the opportunity to view Japanese spirituality and traditional building styles although the buildings themselves are relatively new - being completely rebuilt every 20 years following Shinto ideology. How to get to Ise Shima Nagoya Station - Toba Station (1.5 hours by JR line or Kintetsu Line) Toba Station - Shima Isobe Station (30 min. by Kintetsu Line)

		Ise City and Shima City, Mie Prefecture
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		- http://www.ise-kanko.jp/ http://www.city.shima.mie.jp/
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