Introduction to Nagano Prefecture
Located in the Chubu region of Japan, Nagano Prefecture attracts visitors with its spectacular natural scenery, historical sites, and fresh food culture. Because the region is surrounded by mountains, it is a popular summer getaway, and Karuizawa, with its rows of luxury villas, offers a wide variety of dining, shopping, and activities. In addition, there are abundant tourist resources such as the magnificent lake Suwa, Hakuba, famous for its skiing, Nozawa Onsen, Sugadaira, Matarao, and Shiga Kogen, and Togakushi, famous for its soba noodles. I often choose Nagano Prefecture when traveling by motorcycle. Nagano is also popular among Japanese people because it is only a few hours away from the Tokyo metropolitan area.
Geographic location
Nagano Prefecture is surrounded by mountains such as the Central Alps and the Northern Alps, offering beautiful seasonal scenery.
History & culture
Nagano Prefecture has a rich historical heritage, with traditional Buddhist temples and samurai residences remaining as places to visit.
- Zenkoji Temple: The center of Buddhism in Japan, where the Gokaicho is held once a year.
- Matsumoto Castle: Designated as a National Treasure, it is one of the 12 existing castle towers.
- Ueda Castle: A castle associated with Yukimura Sanada.
- Lake Suwa: The oldest lake in Japan, filled with underground water from Mt.
- Kiso Lacquer Ware: A traditional craft with a 400-year history.
- Soba from Shinshu: Nationally famous, aromatic soba.
Tourist attraction
Nagano Prefecture has many tourist attractions to visit.
Matsumoto Castle
Known as the “Black Castle,” this beautiful castle is a national treasure and is located in Matsumoto City. Although the castle was built about 500 years ago, it can be seen in its original state, making it a very valuable experience.
Togakushi Area
The Togakushi area offers a variety of attractions.
Togakushi Shrine: It is a popular power spot. To feel the sacred power, it is said that you will get good luck if you visit five shrines, including Togakushi Shrine, called Gosha Tour. We encourage you to try it.
Togakushi-ryu Ninja: It is also the birthplace of the ninja. The Iga and Koga schools of ninja are well known, but the Togakure-style ninja are said to be ninja who use extremely advanced techniques and respect the importance of defending rather than attacking.
Togakushi Soba: Togakushi soba is one of the three major soba dishes in Japan.
In this way, the Togakushi area offers a variety of attractions such as sightseeing and dining all at once.
Kamikochi Area
Popular among nature lovers, Kamikochi is known as a base for mountain climbing and hiking. Since private cars are restricted for nature conservation, visitors enter the mountain by bus from the bus terminal on the way. On the way to Kamikochi, the Nagawa Watershed Dam and a series of narrow tunnels and scenery are breathtaking.
Karuizawa Area
It is a resort area famous as a summer resort. It is a very popular tourist destination because of its quiet residential areas lined with luxury villas, shopping and dining areas, and areas where visitors can experience and enjoy art. In summer, the town is congested with traffic jams and restaurants are crowded, so spring and fall are recommended times to visit.
Zenkoji Temple
It is one of the oldest and largest wooden buildings in Japan, and is designated as a national treasure because of its very beautiful appearance. Zenkoji Temple also has a very large garden and many cafes and restaurants in the area, making it a great place to stroll. Of course, you can also stay overnight at one of the many hotels nearby and take your time to enjoy the temple.
Suwa Lake
Filled with subterranean water from Mt. Fuji, this is the oldest lake in Japan. As one of the famous lakes in Japan, the area around the lake is lined with many souvenir shops and various restaurants, making it a very area for stopover sightseeing. There is a lot of traffic, so allow a little extra time for travel.
Hakuba Village
Hakuba Village was the site of the 1998 Winter Olympics. It is a mecca for winter sports, with many slopes suitable for skiing, snowboarding, and snow trekking, attracting many skiers and snowboarders from abroad every year. In addition to the slopes, there are many hot springs and après-ski spots.
Main Hakuba Village Slopes
Lake Shirakaba Resort
This lake resort is located on the way to the Venus Line. From spring to fall, visitors can enjoy museums, horseback riding, swimming pools, hot springs, and rides, or enjoy seasonal flowers and grasses by boating or hiking. In winter, the entire area is covered with snow, allowing visitors to enjoy skiing and snowboarding. There is also a hotel, so families can play all day long.
Food culture
Nagano Prefecture’s culinary culture is colored by fresh mountain produce and local specialties.
Soba from Shinshu
Shinshu soba is the general name for soba in Nagano Prefecture. Each region in Nagano Prefecture has its own production method and special buckwheat noodles that are made with great care and attention. Togakushi soba, Tomikura soba, Sukagawa soba, Azumino soba, etc., are just a few examples of the local soba you can enjoy in Nagano Prefecture. I love soba, so I always eat soba when I travel to Nagano Prefecture. I especially recommend the cold soba with tempura.
Shinsyu Apple
Nagano Prefecture is one of the leading apple-growing areas in Japan, and apple picking can be enjoyed. You can enjoy eating apples carefully grown by farmers, such as apple juice and apple jam, prepared in the most delicious way.
Shinshu Wagyu
Shinshu beef is one of Japan’s leading beef brands and can be enjoyed at local restaurants. Shinshu Wagyu beef, raised on a diet of apples, is characterized by its tender meat and rich flavor. We recommend lean steaks and A5-rank shabu-shabu. Since there is not much of this beef in circulation, please try this rare beef in Nagano Prefecture, which cannot be tasted in Tokyo.
Pickled nozawana
A traditional pickle of Nagano Prefecture, this specialty is often found in souvenir shops. It is often served as a set with rice and miso soup at restaurants in Nagano Prefecture.
Sanzoku Yaki
It is a kind of “fried chicken” in which chicken thighs are marinated in garlic-flavored sauce and deep-fried in oil. It is not spicy, but has a healthy Japanese flavor with Japanese seasonings.
Shinshu Wine
Shinshu wine is made from the highest quality grapes from Nagano Prefecture and has become an internationally renowned wine region, having won gold medals in the past.
In particular, the focus is on Merlot, but in recent years, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay have also been produced, taking advantage of the cool climate, making this a special region where the best combination of Shinshu wagyu beef and Shinshu wines can be enjoyed.
Activities
Many activities can be enjoyed in Nagano Prefecture.
Skiing and Snowboarding
Because of its mountainous terrain, Nagano Prefecture is a popular winter skiing and snowboarding destination. The area is so vast that you could not visit all of them even if you stayed for a week. Starting with Hakuba, which has hosted the Winter Olympics in the past and is internationally known, there are many large ski resorts such as Matarao, Sugadaira, Shiga Kogen, and Nozawa Onsen ski resorts. Please note that there are many ski resorts scattered throughout Nagano Prefecture, and not all are connected to one another.
Mountaineering/Trekking
Nagano Prefecture is an ideal location for mountain enthusiasts, with its expansive Alps and numerous 3,000-meter-high peaks. Okuhotaka and Yarigatake are particularly popular. For tourists as well as climbers, simply strolling around the natural areas of Kamikochi is enjoyable enough. Even in summer, it is cold in the mornings and evenings, so warm clothing is essential.
Tour of a hot spring
Nagano Prefecture is dotted with hot spring resorts where you can enjoy beautiful skin and open-air baths. There are too many to list them all, so we will only pick up the best places for sightseeing.
Recommended hot spring resorts in Nagano Prefecture
Winery tours
Nagano Prefecture has recently gained a lot of attention among Japanese wines, and you can drink top-quality wines at wineries.
Recommended Wineries in Nagano Prefecture
- St. Cousair
- Sun Sun Winery
- GOICHI WINE
- Yamabe Winery
- Azumino Winery
- VILLA D’EST GARDENFARM AND WINERY
* If the website is in Japanese, please use Google Translate to view it.
Zenkoji Temple and Kitamukai Kannon Tour
Zenkoji Temple, one of the most popular tourist attractions in Nagano Prefecture, is one of the most well-known in Japan and is crowded with tourists on holidays. On the other hand, the shrine called “Kitamukai Kannon” in the Bessho Onsen spa resort was built diagonally opposite Zenkoji Temple. The main hall of Kitamukai Kannon faces north, a rarity in Japan, and it is said that visiting both Zenkoji Temple and Kitamukai Kannon will bring good fortune, so I visited both. In fact, something very good happened to me, so please visit the temple. This tour is not well known even among Japanese people, so I highly recommend it to anyone who reads this article.
Rafting
You can enjoy rafting down rapids such as the Tenryu River and the Saigawa River.
Tenryu River: Gentle courses for families, half-day tours with BBQ lunch, and long courses with a total length of 13 km are popular. There are many sightseeing spots around the Tenryu River, such as “Moto Zenkoji Temple,” “Shozensan Hot Spring,” “Myokoto Park,” and “Iida Municipal Zoo,” which can be enjoyed in the area after rafting is over.
Saigawa River: The current is calm and popular with families and women’s groups. You can relax and enjoy the scenery in the clear water. Rafting spots on the Saigawa River are around Azumino City, where there are hot springs, “Happo Pond”, “Hakuba Goryu Alpine Botanical Garden” and other sightseeing spots.
Seasonal Recommendations
Nagano Prefecture is a place where beautiful scenery and events can be enjoyed in each of the four seasons.
Spring
- Cherry Blossoms: Cherry blossoms are in full bloom throughout the prefecture, including Matsumoto Castle and Kamikochi.
- New Greenery: You can enjoy the beautiful scenery of fresh greenery such as Yatsugatake and Tateshina Kogen. Anyway, the scenery is beautiful and will be a lifetime memory.
Summer
- Summer resort tourism: You can enjoy summer in cool summer resorts such as Karuizawa and Tateshina Kogen.
- Mountaineering: Mountain climbing season is coming, including Mt.
Autumn
- Autumn Foliage: There are many places famous for their autumn foliage, such as Kamikochi and Utsukushi-ga-hara Kogen.
- Harvest: You can enjoy picking seasonal fruits such as apples and grapes.
Winter
- Winter Sports: Ski resorts such as Hakuba and Shiga Kogen will open.
- Onsen: You can warm yourself in hot springs such as Lake Suwa and Yudanaka Shibu Onsen.
Local Culture
The culture of Nagano Prefecture is deeply connected to its history and natural environment.
Festival
Ojinwatari at Suwa Lake: The appearance of the ice road, or ojinwatari, that forms on Suwa Lake is a mysterious sight. In recent years, it no longer appears due to the warm winter.
Matsumoto Bonbon Festival: This is a summer festival where gorgeous floats are paraded around.
Traditional crafts
Kiso Lacquerware: Beautiful lacquerware with a 400-year history.
Transportation
Nagano Prefecture is accessible from Tokyo by various means of transportation, including the Shinkansen bullet train, trains, and highway buses.
Airplane
There are no direct flights from Haneda or Narita Airports to Matsumoto Airport, so please consider taking the Shinkansen bullet train or express bus.
Shinkansen
The Hokuriku Shinkansen is available from Tokyo Station. It takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes. To reach Matsumoto Station, transfer to a local train from Nagano Station.
Railway
It takes approximately 2 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours from Tokyo Station to Matsumoto Station.
Express Bus
Express buses to Nagano run from Tokyo, Shinjuku, and Ikebukuro stations. It takes about 5 hours depending on where you get off. It is an inexpensive way to travel.
Lastly
Nagano Prefecture is a favorite destination for many travelers for its natural beauty, history, and delicious food. We invite you to visit Nagano and enjoy the charms of the four seasons.