Nagano
長野
Nagano
Located in the heart of Honshu [the largest of the four main islands of Japan], Nagano is a mountainous prefecture, composed roughly of 80% mountains with some of them towering around 3.000 meters. Nagano is an iconic place for skiing, snowboarding, and other winter sports, and has hosted the 1998 Winter Olympics. The region is known for beautiful sceneries. Kamikochi, as a prominent example, is surrounded by some famous mountains and bountiful nature and is beneficial for outdoor sports like skiing and hiking.
The cold climate also benefits soba [buckwheat noodles] production, and the local "Togakushi" soba is considered one of the 3 most famous sobas of Japan, along with Wanko soba of Iwate Prefecture and Izumo soba of Shimane Prefecture. The taste of "Shinshu soba" is especially enhanced with natural water. Among numerous local authentic dishes, "Oyaki" is a signature food of Nagano. It is made with buckwheat flour and water, kneaded and stretched out flat, with ingredients such as azuki beans and vegetables wrapped inside, then steamed. Level of consumption of "Nozawana" [a pickled vegetable, which is also often used as a filling for oyaki] within prefecture is also high.
"Yudanada Onsen", home to the hot spring-loving Japanese monkeys, is another place of interest to witness firsthand. Enjoy taking a stroll down the nostalgic streets of a hot sprint resort while engaging with local activities.
Thanks to its location in the middle of the Chubu region, as well as well-developed highway and extensive railroad networks (including the Hokuriku Shinkansen Line), travelling to Nagano prefecture from Tokyo and Aichi can be made within short time. Moreover, Shinshu Matsumoto Airport in Nagano connects this prefecture with Osaka, Kobe, Fukuoka and Sapporo.
Getting there and around
Located in the middle of the Chubu area, there is well-developed highway network and extensive railroad network, including the Hokuriku Shinkansen Line, traveling to Nagano Prefecture is made in a short time from Tokyo and Aichi. Shinshu Matsumoto Airport in Nagano connects Osaka, Kobe, Fukuoka, and Sapporo Airports by air.
Places of Interest
Nagano
Nagano City is the prefectural capital located in the northern part of Nagano Prefecture and has flourished as the gate town of Zenkoji Temple. With the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen bullet train line, the city can be reached from ......
Matsumoto
Located practically in the center of Nagano Prefecture, Matsumoto City has long served as a bustling trading post due to being where the former thoroughfares between the ancient capital of Kyoto and Edo (modern-day Tokyo) ......
Nagoya Travel Guide