The , Central region, or is a large and diverse region in the middle of Honshà «, Japan's main island. In a wide, classical definition, it encompasses nine prefectures (ken): Aichi, Fukui, Gifu, Ishikawa, Nagano, Niigata, Shizuoka, Toyama, and Yamanashi.
It is located directly between the Kantà  region and the Kansai region and includes the major city of Nagoya as well as Pacific Ocean and Sea of Japan coastlines, extensive mountain resorts, and Mount Fuji.
The region is the widest part of Honshà « and the central part is characterized by high, rugged mountains. The Japanese Alps divide the country into the Pacific side, sunny in winter, and the Sea of Japan side, snowy in winter.
Although Mie is part of Kinki/Kansai/Western Japan in traditional geographical regional divisions, Northern Mie is part of the metropolitan area around Nagoya, and Mie is in many practical contexts considered to be part of Tà Âkai/Chà «bu/Central Japan. Including Mie, Chà «bu had a population of 23,010,276 as of 1 June 2019.
In the MLIT of the central government, the jurisdiction of the Chà «bu regional development bureau (ä¸Âé¨å°æ¹æ´åÂÂå±Â, Chà «bu-chihà  seibi-kyoku; <small></small>) extends to five prefectures: Gifu, Shizuoka, Aichi, Mie and the Southern part of Nagano.
In the National Police Agency, the Chà «bu Regional Police Bureau (ä¸Âé¨管åºè¦å¯Âå±Â, Chà «bu kanku keisatsu-kyoku; <small></small>) is responsible for six prefectural police forces: Toyama, Ishikawa, Fukui, Gifu, Aichi and Mie.
In local government, the Chà «bu area governors' association (ä¸Âé¨åÂÂçÂ¥äºÂä¼Â, Chà «buken chijikai) unites the governors of Toyama, Ishikawa, Fukui, Nagano, Gifu, Shizuoka, Aichi, Mie and Shiga and the mayor of Nagoya City in Aichi.
Located in the center of the Japanese archipelago. It refers to the area between the Kanto, Tohoku and Kansai regions. It began to be used in the late Meiji era as a tentative name for unclassified areas. In a broad sense, it often refers to the eight regional divisions and similar ranges. In a narrow sense it may refer to a range similar to the TÃ Âkai region.
The terrain is mainly rugged and mountainous except for the Nà Âbi Plain and coastal areas. The steep Japanese Alps rise in the central area. It is located between Tokyo and Osaka, which are the eastâÂÂwest centers of the Japanese economy and culture. Thus the Chubu region has various differences between the eastern side and the western side.
The Chà «bu region covers a large and geographically diverse area of Honshà « which leads to it generally being divided into three distinct subregions: Tà Âkai, Kà Âshin'etsu, and Hokuriku. There is also another subregion occasionally referred to in business circles called Chà «kyà Â.
The TÃ Âkai region, mostly bordering the Pacific Ocean, is a narrow corridor interrupted in places by mountains that descend into the sea.
Since the Tokugawa period (1600âÂÂ1867), this corridor has been critical in linking Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. One of old Japan's most important ancient roadways, the Tà Âkaidà Â, ran through it connecting Tokyo (at that time called Edo) and Kyoto, the old imperial capital. In the twentieth century, it became the route for new super-express highways and high-speed railroad lines (shinkansen). The area consists of Aichi, Mie, Shizuoka, and southern Gifu prefectures.
A number of small alluvial plains are found in the corridor section. A mild climate, favorable location relatively close to the great metropolitan complexes, and availability of fast transportation have made this area a center for truck-gardening and out-of-season vegetables. Upland areas of rolling hills are extensively given over to the growing of mandarin oranges and tea. Nagoya, which faces Ise Bay, is a center for heavy industry, including iron and steel and machinery manufacturing. The corridor also has a number of small but important industrial centers. The western part of TÃ Âkai includes the NÃ Âbi Plain, where rice was being grown by the seventh century.
The three Tà Âkai prefectures centered on Nagoya (Aichi, Gifu, and Mie) have particularly strong economic ties, and the parts of these prefectures that are closest to the city comprise the Chà «kyà  Metropolitan Area. This area boasts the third strongest economy in Japan and this influence can sometimes extend into the more remote parts of these prefectures that are farther away from Nagoya. Thus, these three prefectures are sometimes called the "Chà «kyà  region" in a business sense. This name does not see widespread usage throughout Japan; however, as the economy in the area strengthens, this name may become more well-known country-wide.
Kà Âshin'etsu is an area of complex and high rugged mountainsâÂÂoften called the "roof of Japan"âÂÂthat include the Japanese Alps. The population is chiefly concentrated in six elevated basins connected by narrow valleys. It was long a main silk-producing area, although output declined after World War II. Much of the labor formerly required in silk production was absorbed by the district's diversified manufacturing industry, which included precision instruments, machinery, textiles, food processing, and other light manufacturing. Kà Âshin'etsu means Yamanashi, Nagano, and Niigata prefectures; Niigata is also included to the Hokuriku region. Yamanashi, Nagano and northern Gifu Prefecture are sometimes referred to as Chà «à Â-kà Âchi or Tà Âsan region.
The Hokuriku region lies on the Sea of Japan coastline, northwest of the massive mountains that comprise KÃ Âshin'etsu. Hokuriku includes the four prefectures of Ishikawa, Fukui, most of Niigata and Toyama,
The district has very heavy snowfall (sometimes enough to block major roads) and strong winds in winter, and its turbulent rivers are the source of abundant hydroelectric power. Niigata Prefecture is the site of domestic gas and oil production as well. Industrial development is extensive, especially in the cities in Niigata and Toyama; Fukui and Ishikawa prefectures also have large manufacturing industries.
Historically, Hokuriku's development is owed to markets in the Kansai region, however recently the urban areas at the heart of the Kantà  region and Tà Âkai region are having a heavy an influence as well. Hokuriku has port facilities which are mainly to facilitate trade with Russia, Korea and China. Transportation between Niigata and Toyama used to be geographically limited and so Niigata has seen especially strong influence from the Kantà  region, because of this Niigata Prefecture is often classified as being part of the Kà Âshin'etsu region with Nagano and Yamanashi Prefectures.
The region's largest airport is Chubu Centrair International Airport which provides most domestic and international destinations, it is located south of Nagoya. There are also smaller airports across the region including Niigata Airport, Komatsu Airport, and Mt. Fuji Shizuoka Airport.
The three most dense areas of Chà «bu region are Chà «kyà  metropolitan area (greater Nagoya), Niigata-Toyama area at Hokuriku subregion, and Nagano at the mountains (Chà «à Â-kà Âchi).
Per Japanese census data, and, Chà «bu region has had positive population growth.