29 Must-Visit Tourist Spots in Nagano: Rich History and Nature Escapes

Nagano’s biggest draw, hands down, is its unbeatable nature.
To enjoy this rich nature, the recommended season to visit is generally from May to September.
High numbe of ski resorts, makes this a fun option to consider during the aeasnon from December to March.

Nagano is easily accessible from the major cities of Tokyo and Nagoya.
It takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes by bullet train from Tokyo to Nagano, and about 3 hours by express train from Nagoya to Nagano, and there are also high-speed buses.

This historical large-scaled temple is about 59,000 square meters (about 5.9 ha) and was founded 1400 years ago. Many Buddhist facilities fill the compound. Some of them are; Daikanjin and Daihongan (they are also independent temples), and guests' quarters. This temple was founded at a specific time before the various subsects of Buddhism came into being. Some of the worshippers were those with power at the time, such as Minamoto no Yoritomo and Tokugawa Ieyasu, as well as the common people. "Following a cow brings you to Zenkoji Temple" is a famous phrase of the legend related to Zenkoji Temple, which means doing or receiving something good by accident or through the invitation of somebody else, and this phrase still has invited 6 million people every year for worship.

Kamikochi offers one of Japan's most spectacular mountain sceneries. Its magnificent landscape is designated as a Special Natural Monuments along with Special Places of Scenic Beauty. Walter Weston, a British Anglican missionary praised Kamikochi in his writing “Mountaineering and Exploration in the Japan Alps” in 1896 which made Kamikochi an internationally well-known mountain area.

Amanoiwato mythology has been passed on here and this shrine with over 2000 years of history has been the training place in mountain worshipping since around AD 850. Hokosha Hall at the bottom of the mountain, Hinomikosha, Chusha, Okusha, and Kuzuryusha Halls consist of Togakushi.
The whole Mt.Togakushi has been sanctified as a holy place, a power spot that attracts visitors. Each shrine, the path to Okusha Hall lined with cedars, and lake Kagami are fascinating to see.

"Venus Line" is a plateau driving course in Nagano Prefecture with a total length of about 76km and an average altitude of 1400m. It is a mountain road that runs through the plateau of Yatsugatake-Chūshin Kōgen Quasi-National Park. It starts from the Akebono Tunnel in Chino city, goes through Tateshina Plateau and Lake Shirakaba, and connects to Utsukushi-ga-hara Plateau via Kirigamine. In 2002, all lines were opened for free, making it easier to enjoy a drive.

Lake Suwa, located in the center of Nagano Prefecture, is the largest lake in Shinshu with a circumference of about 16 km. The lakeside is rich in nature and is well maintained, so you can enjoy strolling or jogging while looking at the beautiful nature. There are also many sightseeing spots in the vicinity, where you can enjoy art at museums, soak in hot springs with a view of Suwa Lake, and many other things.

Jigokudani Monkey Park sits in an extremely cold and rugged valley of the Yokoyu River that runs from the Shiga Kogen Highlands. At 850-meter elevation, the area spends almost a third of each year covered in snow.
The park is home to many steep, craggy cliffs and the wafting steam off the hot springs, earning the name “Jigokudani” (lit. Valley of Hell).
Many wild Japanese monkeys live in this area and can be seen warming up from the winter chill as they dip in special hot springs designated for them in the park.

Matsumoto Castle was built between the years 1593 and 1594.
It is one of the oldest of the still-standing “gojuu-rokkai” (five roofs, six stories) structures in Japan, and it has been registered as a national treasure.
(Gojuu-Rokkai: From the outside, the building appears to have five stories. However, the interior has six stories.)

This is a “small town” with nine buildings connected with wide wooden decks, utilizing a grove of more than 100 Japanese elm trees alongside the clear stream. Based on the concept of “Daily life in Karuizawa”, there are 16 unique stores, restaurants, cafes, as well as the branches of the popular soba noodle restaurant and a bakery in the Kyu-Karuizawa area, and a high-quality Scandinavian style goods store.

The pond is at an altitude of 1500ｍ in the mountain and its name originally came from Shinto ceremony in which dear is gven as an offering.
The pond was originally built as an agricultural irrigation pond in the early time of the Showa era, and cold water from Mt.Yatsugatake is heated by sunshine in the pond and was used for culturing rice. Water in the pond is still used by farmers at the foot of the mountain, Sasahara area, and the people in Sasahara have maintained the area around the pond. Fish can’t survive in the pond because of the strong acidity of the water, and is the reason for the high transparency of the pond.

Shirayama Shrine, located in Kiso-gun Ookuwa Village was established in 1334, during the late Kamakura period. It is part of 2700 Shirayama Shrines located across Ishikawa Prefecture, and the main pavilion being Shirayama Hime Shrine.

These ski slopes were used for speed ski games in the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics. The Northern Alps panorama and the world-famous fine powder snow are great features for this largest ski slope in Japan.

Sugadaira Kogen is known as the "Davos of Japan" for its Swiss-like scenery and climate, and is also known for its high-quality powder snow. The resort is called "Sugadaira Kogen Resort" because of the small and medium-sized slopes scattered at the foot of Mt. Neko, and has 3 areas; Pine Beak, Taro, and Davos, with 60 different courses on 11 slopes.

Nozawa Onsen Village in Nagano has Japan’s largest ski slopes as big as almost 63 Tokyo Domes. It provides the finest powder snow on 44 courses, 40% of which are safe for beginners. There are children’s courses for play equipment, sleds and tubes and they are great for introducing children to snow play. Families can have fun all day.

A mountain resort with a spectacular view where visitors can enjoy the fresh greenery in spring, the fresh green of the plateau in summer, and the three-tiered autumn leaves of the Northern Alps in fall. The snow resort, which opens in winter, offers a 360° panoramic view of a fantastic silvery-white world and a variety of courses on natural terrain stretching from east to west, and north to south. The "Iwatake Back Bowl", one of the largest powder areas in the area, offers the feeling of skiing in the Alps, and there are also long courses that can be enjoyed by beginner skiers as well.

This beloved restaurant in front of Togakushi Shrine’s Chusha Hall often has customers standing in line. They get buckwheat from local growers, grind it in the middle of winter when it is matured and flavorful, and preserve it in a freezer at -4°F. The savory flour is brought out on-demand and made into fresh soba noodles by skilled chefs. Customers commend the fresh taste and chewy texture.

Set in the Obuse, the birthplace of chestnut treats in Japan, this long-standing confectionery has been selling chestnut-based goodies ever since the Meiji Period. Just like its start over a century ago, this shop continues to serve up traditional chestnut goodness made with pure chestnut paste, with treats like Kuri-kanoko, chestnut yokan, rakugan and more. Each treat is made without any additives, just chestnuts and sugar for a smooth chestnut paste that keeps in all the delicious flavor.

2015 at Kyu-Karuizawa Rotary as the second shop in Karuizawa following Harunire Terrace. The shop is popular especially among vacationers staying nearby, who come to enjoy the freshly baked bread in the morning as it opens.

Millions love to visit this must-to-see shopping street in Karuizawa each year. Souvenir stores with local specialties and gourmet shops serving take-out meals and sweets cluster here. Not only the main street, but also the alleys have fun stores. Take time to explore them and find your treasure.

It is one of Japan’s largest resort-style shopping malls, located just outside the south exit of JR Karuizawa Station. There are 10 areas on the premises in a rich natural setting, having about 240 stores offering a wide range of products, including famous brands, interior goods, general goods, and outdoor products. It is an attractive place where you can get high-quality items from top brands at outlet prices.

Karuizawa became popular as a villa or resort location for foreigners living in Japan in the 19th century. It is now a popular sightseeing location that hearkens back to those times, and it is home to bountiful nature and a quiet and refined atmosphere. Karuizawa Music Box Museum is located on Old Karuizawa Ginza Street, a main street filled with restaurants and shops. You’re sure to find a wide variety of beautiful music boxes around!

A traditional hot spring town with a history of 1400 years. Many shrines and temples scattered throughout the area, it has long been known as the “Kamakura of Shinshu” and loved by many people. It also appears in “Makura No Soshi (The Pillow Book, a famous essay written in the old times), as a “Hot spring for beauty”. Women in those times used to go to Bessho Onsen before getting married to condition their skin for their wedding. Five outdoor and foot baths are located, enjoy bathing while walking around the city.

Shibu Onsen Resort in Yudanaka is made up of nine hot springs along Yokoyu and Yomase Rivers in Yamanouchi-machi, Shimotakai-gun in Nagano. Shibu Onsen is one of the nine, opened about 1,300 years ago, and has been used as a therapeutic bath.

Matsumoto is a hot spring resort in Matsumoto City, Shinshu, located roughly in the center of Nagano Prefecture. It is a hot spring that bubbles up on the eastern mountain side of Mt. Norikuradake, a famous scenic spot in Japan. Deep forests and the Yukawa Valley, a hot spring resort with abundant natural beauty, surround it.

This extended stay resort hotel offers views of Mt. Asama from 1,000 meters in the air. It sits on an expansive estate of over 200,000 square meters where you’ll find the hotel, villa, gardens, hot springs chalets and more. The hotel interior Is decorated with a classic European aesthetic, using wood carving for a charming look and feel.

The wooden 4-story Saigetsuro standing at the center and the grand room are still used since the beginning in 1936. Shrine carpenters created the sublime architecture, yet there are playful designs all over the building, making you feel like you are back in the Showa Period.

It opened in 1933 as Japan's first full-fledged mountain resort hotel. The red triangular roof and log cabin style exterior have not changed since then, and beyond the door, you can see the warmth of the wood around the mantelpiece, the symbol of the hotel. With a full range of restaurants and other facilities, you can enjoy an elegant stay in the embrace of nature.

Yawataya Isogoro has its main store in Daimoncho, the home of Zenkoji Temple, an ancient temple in Nagano City, Nagano Prefecture. It is a spice specialty store with a long history of 280 years, and sells a variety of Shichimi and Ichimi flavors, including “Shichimi togarashi”, a signature product since its establishment.

These Nagano Prefecture dried jelly candies have been made for over 100 years. Made with full ripened domestic fruit juice, these jelly candies are made with agar-agar, granulated sugar, mizuame and an all-around oblong coating for a rich, long-lasting flavor when dried. It comes in 6 flavors including apricot, plum, peach, grape, sambokan (sour orange) and apple and made with a blend of mizuame and agar-agar for a taste and rich jam-like feel that’s reminiscent of traditional candies from Niigata. It’s made delicately by hand for many years by professionals who pride themselves in a authentic flavor with no added colors or fragrances.

MARUYAMA COFFEE is a specialty coffee shop with its main store in Karuizawa. The high-quality coffee beans are purchased directly from overseas by Kentaro Maruyama, the company's representative, who goes to the production areas as a buyer.