Aichi

Look no further than Aichi Prefecture as the perfect example of Japan’s perfectly balanced fusion of old and new.

One one hand, the prefecture is abundant with history; the first shogun of Japan, Minamoto Yoritomo, and the “Big 3” warlords of Japanese history - Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu - were all born in Aichi. Furthermore, Aichi has by far more temples (roughly 4,650) than any other Japanese prefecture. On the other hand, Aichi is also the industrial capital of Japan, being the home to many major companies, most notably Toyota.

Popular tourist destinations include the prefectural capital of Nagoya and its castle, the Toyota Automobile Museum, and the unique Meiji Mura, while a Legoland is scheduled to open in 2017. Don’t forget to try their miso-flavored dishes, Aichi’s local delicacy!