Leisure / Hobbies Spots in Nagano Area

  • Jigokudani Yaen-koen
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    4.5
    2715 Reviews
    Leisure / Hobbies
    Nagano Pref. Shimotakaigunyamanouchimachi Hirao 6845
    This is a park where you can watch bathing monkeys in a hot spring and it is also popular with foreign tourists as a place to see “snow monkeys”. All the monkeys in the park are wild and enter the hot spring in order to be able to endure the cold temperatures of the severe winters which can reach minus 10°C. The park is located in the valley of Yokoyu River which brims with rustic beauty, and is located 30 minutes by foot from the free parking lot at Kanbayashi hot spring.

    We had a great experience at the Snow Monkey Park! We took a taxi from the train station—which took about 15 minutes and cost around 2000 yen. We arrived right when it opened at 08:30 am and were...

  • Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza
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    4.0
    1400 Reviews
    Leisure / Hobbies
    Nagano Pref. Kitasakugunkaruizawamachi Karuizawa
    A gigantic shopping mall and virtual landmark in Karuizawa. With a total of seven parking areas, shoppers visiting by car are encouraged to look up which stores they are most interested in before choosing where to park. In addition to fashion brands, the mall also contains a shop selling Karuizawa sweets and jams, making it the perfect place to pick up a few souvenirs as well. Children can play to their hearts’ content in the spacious outdoor kids park.

    This outlet mall is situated just in front of shinkansen station and very accesible. The mall is very huge with many brand stores selling outlet items. The price is very reasonable for some brands...

  • Nozawa Onsen Snow Resort
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    4.5
    747 Reviews
    Leisure / Hobbies
    Nagano Pref. Shimotakaigunnozawaonsenmura Toyosato 7653
    One of Japan’s foremost ski and snowboarding resorts offering elevation differences reaching 1085 meters. The resort is popular for its wide array of courses enjoyable from beginners to experts. The resort also has a wide and gentle slope for children as well as a kids’ park for young ones to play in the snow making it a great destination for families as well. Another attractive point is the resort’s moving walkway which extends from the hot spring district directly to the slopes.

    This ski resort is unique in that the town itself predates it by 800 or so years. You have the charm of the town with a resort that provides someting for every level of skier in enough quantity to...

  • Daio Wasabi Farm
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    4.0
    766 Reviews
    Leisure / Hobbies
    Nagano Pref. Aduminoshi Hotaka 3640
    This vast wasabi farm in Azumino spans a space equal to 11 Tokyo Domes. Entry is free and the farm is open every day year-round. In addition to wasabi fields and a processing plant, visitors can enjoy the tranquil waterside scenery, including a water mill used in a Kurosawa’s film. The farm’s shop sells unique products found nowhere else such as wasabi soft serve ice cream and wasabi-don rice bowls. If traveling by train, a 10-minute taxi ride from Hotaka Station on the JR Oito Line.

    There are a couple of wasabi farms in the area but this one seems more popular, perhaps as it is the closest to the train station. There are several walks there, as well as a wasabi statue. In the...

  • Shiga Kogen 18 Ski Area
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    4.5
    438 Reviews
    Leisure / Hobbies
    Nagano Shimotakai-gun Yamanouchimachi Shigakogen
    This ski resort is located in Shimotakai County, Nagano Prefecture. The facility name is actually the collective name for several ski slopes of varying sizes and is one of the largest ski resorts in Japan. The area is known for its abundant snowfalls, and during ski season the resort bustles with locals and tourists alike. Each slope has its own unique character and they are all connected via free lifts; there are also shuttle busses. There's something for skiers of all levels here - for example, the resort offers classes for children and beginners, and there's a highly difficult, 30 degree Olympic Course used during the Nagano Olympics. Some of the slopes have lights for nighttime skiing, ensuring that visitors can enjoy a full day of winter sports here.

    Highly recommended for both on & off-piste skiing, although many lifts are slow and none have footrests, so tired legs !

  • Hakuba 47 Winter Sports Park
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    4.5
    340 Reviews
    Leisure / Hobbies
    Nagano Pref. Kitadumigunhakubamura Kamishiro 24196-47
    This ski resort in the Hakuba area is known for a regular amount of snowfall of superb quality. Consisting of eight routes, half pipes, and a kids slope. It connects with Hakuba Goryu at the summit, and you can come and go between them with the same lift pass. The Route 3 course in front of the gondola station at the summit is an action-packed run where moguls have been left the entire way. Hakuba 47’s hallmark Route 1 run also comes highly recommended. It’s the first slope groomed in the morning, and you can enjoy great scenery while skiing down towards the village of Hakuba.

    Really enjoyed Hakuba47 as a ski resort to learn in. At the time we went in March there was more snow here than on the other resorts. Good lift access to quite a variety of runs. The Hakuba47 Ski...

  • shiromaiwadakeyurien & Montain view
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    4.0
    244 Reviews
    Leisure / Hobbies
    Nagano Kita-azumi Hakubamura Hokujo 12056
    A mountain resort where you can enjoy activities as varied as winter sports, trekking, and mountain biking among magnificent scenery. In the winter, it's a white wonderland with skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, and more. It has 26 runs with a diversity of natural terrain, the most in the Hakuba area. Its HAKUBA MOUNTAIN HARBOR opened in 2018 and has a superb view of the Shirouma Sanzan peaks. The outdoor terrace hosts THE CITY BAKERY, a veteran shop with branches around the country. It's open during the winter, too.

    Beautiful spot where you can enjoy great views. Activities And festivities happening during the four seasons. Cafeteria and café available Hiking course too with the Nezuko forest.

  • Komoro Castle Remains Kaikoen
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    4.0
    235 Reviews
    Leisure / Hobbies
    Nagano Pref. Komoroshi Tei 311
    This park on the site of Komoro Castle in Komoro City, Nagano Prefecture has been selected as one of Japan’s 100 famous castles and 100 famous cherry blossom spots. Komoro Castle is an unusual structure built below the elevation of the castle town, and has also been called Anashiro Castle (“hole castle”). The park is dotted with facilities including the Important Cultural Property San-no-Mon gate, the Toson Memorial Hall, the Koyama Keizo Art Museum, a zoo and a children’s play area. It is appreciated by both tourists and locals looking for a place to refresh and relax. In spring there are 400 cherry blossom trees in bloom, and in autumn it is famous as a great place to see the changing leaves.

    A little-too-early for cherry blossom season, the park is particularly sparse and drab with no focal point to draw attention other than some bright and happy cartoon posters of a smiling lion...

  • Hakuba Ski Jumping Stadium
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    4.0
    255 Reviews
    Leisure / Hobbies
    Nagano Pref. Kitadumigunhakubamura Hokujou
    A ski jump competition facility located in Hakuba Village, Kitaazumi County, Nagano Prefecture where the Japanese team took the gold during the Nagano Winter Olympics in 1998. Ski jumping can be performed here year-round, and the facility is considered one of the top three tourist attractions of the Shinshu region. A lift and elevator running between the normal and large hills can be used to reach the starting areas, and from here visitors can view the jump area from the same perspective as professional jumpers do.

    Definitely a nice spot to see what the athletes endure during that thrilling sport. The height is IMPRESSIVE. Also from the top you can enjoy beautiful scenery. In the tower, theres many memoribilia...

  • Hakuba Cortina Ski Resort
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    4.0
    138 Reviews
    Leisure / Hobbies
    Nagano Pref. Kitadumigunotarimura Chikuniotsu 12860-1
    Located in Chikuniotsu Otari Village this ski resort features 100% natural soft snow and is very popular among overseas tourists. There are 16 courses in total to choose from featuring everything from beginner courses to an advanced course with an altitude of 1400 meters that offer an amazing view. There is also a play area for children as well as a daycare center and ski lessons to provide for all your needs. As there is a hotel right in front of the slopes you can relax in the hot springs after your ski adventure.

    Had a great day on the slopes of Cortina enjoying the perfect weather and variable terrain. Looks like a fun place for tree skiing - if that’s your thing !

  • Chihiro Art Museum Azumino
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    4.5
    182 Reviews
    Leisure / Hobbies
    Nagano Pref. Kitadumigunmatsukawamura Nishihara 3358-24
    This art museum located inside of the Azumino Chihiro Park in the Matsukawa Village district of Kita-Azumi County, Nagano Prefecture collects and displays works by picture book artists from around the world including Chihiro Iwasaki. In addition to displays about Chihiro’s representative works, related items, and career, the museum also introduces the history of picture books and a collection of original pictures from picture books around the world. The museum is complete with facilities sure to delight children such as a reading room where they can read their choice from approximately 3,000 picture books as well as a play area for small children. There is also a picture book café where visitors can relax while gazing out at Japan’s Northern Alps (Hida Mountains).

    The grounds here are lovely, in a perfect park setting, completely wonderful for children to play and explore with their families. Chihiro loved children, as evident in her art and exemplified in...

  • Hiroshi Senju Museum Karuizawa
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    4.5
    168 Reviews
    Leisure / Hobbies
    Nagano Pref. Kitasakugunkaruizawamachi Nagakura 815
    Located in Karuizawa Town, Kitasaku County, Nagano Prefecture, this private art museum exhibits the works it owns created by artist Hiroshi Senju, a modern Japanese painter who is active around the world. The building was designed by architect Ryue Nishizawa and has large glass windows that give it a bright and spacious atmosphere. It also has a beautiful garden with various trees and plants, and is a creative space that achieves harmony with nature. The museum holds exhibitions that introduce Senju’s works as well as special exhibitions according to different themes. There are also a bakery café and shop, and guests can relax and enjoy art and nature.

    A unique approach to defining a building, well worth the visit. Unfortunately the art, while well-executed, is not cohesive and sometimes derivative. I tried to imagine the experience of the building...

  • Evergreen Outdoor Center
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    4.5
    224 Reviews
    Life / Living / Hospital
    Nagano Pref. Kitadumigunhakubamura Hokujou 4377
    This outdoor tour company is in Hokujo, Hakuba Village. In winter you can take back country and snowshoeing tours, and they have an English language ski school. In the green season you can enjoy the mountains, lakes, and rivers around Hakuba with activities like canoeing and hiking. They also host international school programs, summer camps, team building workshops, and more.

    Even though it is not our usual practice to write reviews, our extremely unpleasant encounter compelled me to write the most extensive review I have ever written. We had a bad experience on the...

  • Sugadaira Kogen Snow Resort
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    4.0
    83 Reviews
    Leisure / Hobbies
    Nagano Ueda-shi Sugadairakogen 1223-146
    A winter resort with 19 lifts and 60 runs. It is divided into three areas: Davos Area, Taro Area, and Pine Beak Area. They all make use of a base layer of artificial snow, which means you can ski there until the end of March. You can also ride their popular Snowcat up Mt. Neko, where you'll see snowbound trees around the summit. Ski the four kilometers back downhill from the top, or if you can't ski, just take the Snowcat back down.

    I visited with Ocean Ski Club and learned to ski here. Its a great place for people of varying levels of ability and appears to be kid-friendly and safe. Id definitely recommend.

  • Matsumoto Alps Park
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    4.5
    135 Reviews
    Leisure / Hobbies
    Nagano Pref. Matsumotoshi Arigasaki 2455-11
    A park located in Arigasaki, Matsumoto City. The park has a zoo and hosts the Matsumotoshi Yama to Natural Museum, which offers a sweeping view of the Hida Mountains (Northern Alps). There's also a 630 meter long coaster slide and variety of other playground equipment. From adults to children, the whole family can enjoy an entire day here.

    If you cant catch bus, taxi will cost ard 1700yen from Matsumoto station. Just take note that the only bus leave this park at 10:25am and 2:25pm. Or else you need to walk down. It is abt 4km to...

  • Suwa City Kohan Park (Lakeside Park)
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    4.0
    178 Reviews
    Leisure / Hobbies
    Nagano Pref. Suwashi Kogandori
    Suwa City Kohan Park was built in 1953 when the Lake Suwa was dredged to form the shoreline. It features a footbath, a lake geyser center, a pleasure boat boarding point, an outdoor stage, and more for year-round enjoyment. A fireworks display is held over Lake Suwa every year on August 15, and the first Saturday in September is a national competition for showing off new fireworks. It’s about a 15-minute drive from the Suwa Interchange.

    If you filled up at a tasty restaurant in Suwa, the park is a nice place to take a walk and enjoy the view. Best for a stroll, and theres a little onsen stream where you can dip your feet.

  • Alps Azumino National Government Park
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    4.0
    115 Reviews
    Leisure / Hobbies
    Nagano Pref. Aduminoshi Horiganekarasugawa 33-4
    This national park in Azumino stretches over the foothills of the Northern Alps. It is divided into two areas with the theme being the realization of fruitful free time activities in nature and culture. There are five areas in the Omachi and Matsukawa districts, preserving the excellent natural environment for the Alps mountain landscape. In the Horigane and Hotaka districts there are two areas, where the preservation and restoration of rural scenery in Azumino is carried out. All areas of the national park are designed with a diverse array of recreational activities in mind.

    Very nice and large park a few kilometers from downtown Matsumoto. Beautiful views of the surrounding mountains from the hilltops. Excellent and large playground for kids, perfect spot for the kid to...

  • Matsumoto City Museum of Art
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    3.5
    122 Reviews
    Leisure / Hobbies
    Nagano Pref. Matsumotoshi Marunouchi 4-1
    This is a municipal museum on the grounds of Matsumoto Castle in Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture, exhibiting items related to the history and folk customs of the area. It introduces the history of the castle and the castle town from their origin to the modern day. There are also materials which convey information and allow visitors to learn about local lifestyles and customs including raised cloth pictures, star festival dolls, travelers’ guardian deity and an aging ceremony. One important highlight is the Edo period waterworks discovered during an archaeological dig.

    The Matsumoto City Museum covers three floors of a building adjacent to the castle grounds. It is different from many city museums in that it includes some early history of the city and area. It is...

  • Tangram Ski Circus
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    3.5
    84 Reviews
    Leisure / Hobbies
    Nagano Kamiminochi-gun Shinanomachi Furumi 3575-8
    About 20 minutes from Shinanomachi Interchange on the Joshinetsu Expressway. A ski resort in northern Nagano Prefecture with a hotel immediately accessible from the slopes. Located on the north-northwest flank of Mt. Madarao, you can get a panoramic view of the Five Peaks of Northern Nagano and Lake Nojiri from the slopes with their high-quality natural snow. Their popular Tree Run Course has incredible powder and there's a thrilling ungroomed run where you must avoid trees and other natural features. There are also ample indoor activities like bouldering and swimming in their indoor pool.

    Snowpark for little ones, magic carpet free for beginners, all material for rental is good, even a swimming pool and nice Onsen are there. Good place for family skiing holidays.

  • Matsumoto Timepiece Museum
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    4.0
    130 Reviews
    Leisure / Hobbies
    Nagano Pref. Matsumotoshi Chuou 1-21-15
    This museum displays a wide range of timepieces centering on a collection donated by antique timepiece researcher Chikazo Honda. The museum has a policy of displaying each timepiece in its collection (which contains more than 1,000 items) in working condition whenever possible. The museum also exhibits a number of phonographs, which have a deep connection to the history of timepieces. The museum is notable for the massive pendulum clock, one of Japan's largest, which is built into the front of the building. The museum is a 10-minute walk from JR Matsumoto Station.

    If you are curious about technology or history this is a fascinating museum. Who knew the Egyptians invented the hourglass as an advance over water to tell time. There were candles for predetermined...

Nagano Areas

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Nagano prefecture is an exciting mix of mountains, hot spring monkeys, and preserved Edo history. At the heart of the Japanese Alps, Nagano is one of the country’s most popular destinations, whether in winter for its snow sports and the much-loved Jigokudani Monkey Park or in the warmer months for discovering the undulating hills on foot. For fantastic Edo architecture, head to the Kiso Valley for a 60-kilometer stretch of quaint wooden buildings that marked the Nakasendo route 200 years ago.

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