아이치

Look no further than Aichi Prefecture (愛知県, Aichi-ken) 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, the unique Meiji Mura, and Legoland Japan. Don’t forget to try their miso-flavored dishes, Aichi’s local delicacy!