Travel / Tourism Spots in Nagano Area

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Nagano
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Category

Travel / Tourism

Kozenji Temple

4.5

156 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nagano Pref. Komaganeshi Akaho 29

Kozenji Temple contains ten halls and is widely revered as the dwelling place of many deities of the South Shinshu region. It was established in 860 by Honjo Shonin and was mainly built to worship Acala, the God of Fire. The temple is undergoing renovations and maintenance until 2020, so some pathways have been changed. Make sure to confirm in advance. It’s about 10 minutes by car from the Komagane Interchange on the Chuo Expressway.

We came to see the weeping sakura but were impressed by this temple. Very tranquil temple with a well-laid out garden backed up to the natural mountain forest. The sakura are of many, many varieties...
Kamikochi Visitor Center

4.0

86 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nagano Pref. Matsumotoshi Adumi Kamikouchi 4468

Located at the entrance to Konashidaira in Azumi-kamikochi, Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture, the visitor center provides information on the animals and wilderness of Kamikochi. The facility teaches about local wildlife through videos, displays, and lectures; you can also find all the information needed to trek or walk through the area, such as which flowers are in season, local plants and animals, weather forecasts, and safety tips. The facility is only open from late April to November 15 when the Kamikochi area is open to visitors.

We had no idea this place was even here, but we were very excited to visit and gather information. The insdie is beautiful with great flora and fauna information of the area. The folks at the desk...
Anrakuji Temple

4.5

176 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nagano Pref. Uedashi Besshonsen 2361

This Soto school Buddhist temple is located in Bessho Onsen in Ueda City. The oldest temple in Nagano Prefecture, it is also famous for its octagonal three-storied pagoda, a National Treasure. The pagoda is said to have been built in the Kamakura period and is the only original octagonal pagoda still standing in Japan. An entrance fee is required to view the pagoda interior. A 14-minute walk from Bessho-Onsen Station.

Anrakuji, with its impressive wooden octagonal pagoda built in the Chinese Sung architectural style during the Kamakura Period (1192-1333). The pagoda is the only example of its kind left in Japan...
Suwa Taisha (Suwa Grand Shrine) Shimosha Harumiya

4.0

107 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nagano Pref. Suwagunshimosuwamachi 193

Suwa Taisha, one of the highest-ranked Ichinomiya shrines of the old Shinano Province, is said to be one of the oldest shrines in Japan and is the main shrine of the various Suwa shrines throughout the country. The granite torii gates at the entrance are said to have been built in 1659, evidence of its long history. The lower shrine holds various ceremonies, including “Senzasai” ceremonies which are said to have an influence on the Years of the Tiger and Monkey as well as biannual “Harumiya” and “Akimiya” ceremonies. It’s about 15 minutes from the Okaya Interchange on the Nagano Expressway.

諏訪大社下社春宮に訪問しました。4つの宮のうちの一つです。秋宮までは徒歩で移動することは可能です。上社までは市も違いますので車での移動が必要になります。社の中は静かな雰囲気の中に格式があるように感じました。
Ganshoin

4.0

137 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nagano Pref. Kamitakaigunobusemachi Karida 604

The Buddha is the principal object of worship here at this Soto sect temple in Obuse Town, Kamitakai County, Nagano Prefecture. Ogino Bingo no Kami Jorin, Lord of Karida Castle, laid the foundation stone in 1472, and the Zen priest Futaku Genkei founded the temple. On the ceiling of the main hall you can see the 21 tatami mat sized painting “The Great Ho-O”, painted by Katsuhika Hokusai. As well as this impressive painting there are many other places of interest such as the mausoleum of Fukushima Masanori, a Japanese daimyo of the late Sengoku period, and the pond with inscription where Kobayashi Issa composed his well-known haiku “Thin little frog, Don’t give in, Issa is here”.

Beautiful Sakura with temple in the background. The taxi ride is about 5-10 min or 30 walk from Obuse train station.
Suwa Lake Geyser Center

3.5

172 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nagano Pref. Suwashi Kogandori 2-208-90

This tourism facility, a 13 minute walk from Kami-Suwa Station, has a geyser which shoots sprays of water high into the air. The geyser, which first burst out of the ground in 1983, originally created spouts almost 50 meters tall, which made it the second tallest geyser in the world at the time. Today, it reaches around five meters tall, shooting out give to six jets every 90 minutes starting at 9:30 a.m. The adjoining building hosts a souvenir shop on the first floor and other facilities. The second floor exhibition space introduces movies and drams which were filmed in Suwa. The third floor Fireworks Museum displays pictures and materials relating to the fireworks shows held over Lake Suwa each year.

以前は間欠泉からお湯が吹き出しているのが見れた気がしますが、久しぶりに訪問しましたが今では吹き上がらないようです。ちょろちょろと湧き出ている感じです。
Tsumago-juku

Travel / Tourism

Nagano Pref. Kisogunnagisomachi Aduma 2159-2

One of the Nakasendo (old route from Tokyo to Kyoto) post towns which still retains the appearance of a post town from the Edo period. Tsumago-juku is known as the first post town in Japan to preserve its old town atmosphere and it has been designated as an important architectural preservation site and a regional conservation area. The town is full of places to see such as Koi-iwa (Carp rock), one of the three famous rocks, the Waki-Honjin Okuya (a National Important Cultural Property), Nagiso Museum of History with displays on the history of Nagiso Town and the Kisoji Road, and the preservation of Tsumago-juku.
Suwa Grand Shrine Kamisha Maemiya

4.0

94 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nagano Pref. Chinoshi Miyagawa 2030

One of the shrine buildings on the grounds of Suwa Grand Shrine standing along National Route 152 in Miyagawa, Chino City. Suwa Grand Shrine is the head shrine of all Suwa Shrines in the country. The area where this shrine building is located is believed to be the location where the god worshipped by these shrines, Suwa Daimyojin, first took up residence, and as such can be considered the origin point of the Suwa faith.

御柱で有名な諏訪大社上社には、本宮の他にこの前宮がある。地元では「まえみや」といわず「めぇ-みや」と訛る。小さいが、長い階段を上った先に、品のいい小さな社が鎮座する。上社に行くなら、こっちもぜひ参って。
Roadside Station Fuketsu-no-Sato

3.5

120 Reviews

Transportation

Nagano Pref. Matsumotoshi Adumi 3528-1

A roadside station situated along the old Nomugi Kaido highway in Azumi, Matsumoto City. The station has a shop selling Nagano specialty products such as inekokina pickles, said to be the progenitor species of coleseed. There's also a farm-fresh shop and restaurant serving noodle dishes and set meals. In addition, visitors can tour the Fuketsu wind cave, a natural refrigerator used since ancient times to store food; and take a Miyama-ori weaving class.

松本I.Cより国道１５８号線を上高地方面に、車で約３０分の場所にある道の駅です。上高地、槍穂高、白骨温泉、乗鞍高原など、アルプス山岳郷の玄関口にあたるところにあります。しばらくぶりに行ったら、野菜売り場が外になり、建物内はレストランとお土産品などが売られてました。 8月なのにすでにリンゴが売られていました。松本産でした。スイカはもうシーズンが過ぎたためか、安くなってました。
Ogizawa Station

Travel / Tourism

Nagano Pref. Omachishi Taira 2117

A station on the Kanden Tunnel Trolleybus line run by Kansai Electric Power Company, it serves as the entrance to the Nagano Prefecture-side of the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route. Inside the three-story station building, there is a ticket office on the first floor, a restaurant on the second, and the platform and observation deck on the third. In 2019, it will cease being a station with the pending elimination of the trolleybus.
Matsumoto City Museum of Art

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...
Togakushi Folk Museum / Togakushi Ninja Museum / Ninja Trick Mansion

4.5

85 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nagano Pref. Naganoshi Togakushi 3688-12

This is a facility in the Togakushi ninja village in Togakushi, Nagano City, Nagano Prefecture, separated into three buildings: the Togakushi Folk Museum, the Togakushi Ninja Museum, and the Ninja Trick Mansion. The Togakushi Folk Museum, restored from an Edo period rice tax granary building, displays 2,000 items relating to everyday items that support local customs. The Togakushi Ninja Museum has around 500 items including ninja tools and various ninja documents by which one can learn about Togakushi ninja arts. The Ninja Trick Mansion is full of activities that even adults can enjoy like children. With a shuriken (throwing star) dojo and coffee house, it is a spot that adults and children can play around for a whole day.

Maybe not worth a trip on its own unless youre really into ninjas, but if youre visiting Togakushi Shrine this is definitely worth a side trip.
Roadside Station Kiso-Fukushima

4.0

64 Reviews

Transportation

Nagano Pref. Kisogunkisomachi Fukushima 4061-1

A roadside station standing on the Nakasendo Highway in Fukushima, Kiso Town, Kiso County. The station sells local specialty products such as produce, processed foods, liquors, and crafts. The station's restaurant serves soba noodles and set meals made with local ingredients like Shinshu salmon and Shinshu Ogon Shamo chicken.

長野県木曽町、国道１９号線沿いにある大型道の駅。お土産、特産品が充実、レストランも完備、平日ランチ時の訪問でしたが駐車場・施設内も結構な混雑で昼食は諦めトイレ休憩。
Roadside Station Raiden Kurumi no Sato

4.0

76 Reviews

Transportation

Nagano Pref. Toumishi Shigeno Otsu 4524-1

A roadside station standing along Prefectural Route 79 in Shigenootsu, Tomi City. The station sells confections and processed foods made with Nagano chestnuts, a local specialty product, as well as local agricultural products. The station's restaurant serves dishes made with local Hoe pork, while the cafe offers chestnut soft serve ice cream. The area was also the hometown of the famous Edo period sumo wrestler Raiden Tameemon, and a statue of the man stands on the station's grounds.

お土産とりんごなど地産の野菜や果物が買いたくて立ち寄りました。お土産も箱菓子以外にも、袋入りのドライフルーツや焼き菓子、ジャム、味噌、お酒など種類も多く楽しめます。袋入りのりんごも安く購入でき、またお野菜も豊富でつい色々買ってしまいました。
Motozenkoji Temple

4.0

92 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nagano Pref. Idashi Zakouji 2638

This temple is in Zakoji, Iida City. It is said to have been established in Yoshimitsu Honda’s hometown when he encountered Amida Buddha on his way to the capital in the 10th year of Empress Suiko’s reign (602). Afterwards, the Amida Buddha was transferred to Nagano City, where it is currently, and became established as Zenkoji Temple, which was named after Yoshimitsu. Visiting only Zenkoji Temple or Motozenkoji Temple is considered “unbalanced worship,” so many worshipers visit both.

元善光寺のことを知るとすぐに行きたくなり、飯田線の旅に出ました。駅から近いので、体力に自信がない方でもお参りに行けると思います。お戒壇めぐりもしました。時間がなかったので、有料のところは行かなかったのですが、次回はゆっくりしたいです。おみくじを引きました。常に心がけていることが書いてあり、このまま変わらなくていんだと勇気をくれました。平日だとおまんじゅう屋さん休みのようなので購入出来なかったのが...
Matsumoto Timepiece Museum

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...
Sanada-jinja Shrine

4.0

104 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nagano Pref. Uedashi Ninomaru Ueda castle ruins park

Sanada-jinja Shrine has the lords of Ueda Castle—Sanada, Sengoku, and Matsudaira—as its primary enshrined deities. After the Meiji Restoration, it was reclaimed by the government, sold to a private owner, and built on remains of Ueda Castle. You can see the large Sanada well and a big helmet decorated with a Cervus horn said to have been worn by Yukimura Sanada himself. It’s a 15-minute walk from JR Ueda Station, or about 15 minutes from the Ueda Sugadaira Interchange on the Nagano Expressway.

This is inside the Ueda Castle and features a number of buildings. It seems to get a bit of use with quite a few requests left for action by the gods. There is a good view out from the castle walls...
Matsushiro Zozan Chikago

4.0

97 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nagano Pref. Naganoshi Matsushiromachi Nishijou 479-11

Near the end of World War II, this underground vault was secretly built as the final base for the decisive battle on the mainland. It was dug under three locations: Mt. Maizuru, Mt. Minakami, and Mt. Zozan, like a square on a checkerboard. Extensions brought the total length to about 10 kilometers. From the start of the Heisei period, a sightseeing course in the zone managed by Nagano City about 500 meters large was created to display the war site.

・無料にて利用させていただきました。受付は必要となります。 ※訪問時、この場所には駐車場はありませんので、無料で利用できる近くの「松代代官町駐車場...
Shiraito Falls

Travel / Tourism

Karuizawa-cho, Kitasaku-gun, Nagano Prefecture

The result of underground water welling out of bare rock, Shiraito Falls has a thin stream of water almost like a strand of silk with beautiful lines of water and white spray falling down. The refreshing sight is one of Karuizawa’s representative sightseeing spots. In the winter, icicles are artificially created using water gushing forth from the waterfall, producing a fantastical atmosphere.
Sanada Treasure Museum

4.0

93 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Nagano Pref. Naganoshi Matsushiromachi Matsushiro 4-1

The Sanada Treasure Museum opened in 1966 to display the various battle articles and furniture handed over by the 12th-generation head of the Sanada household, Koji Sanada. Among the exhibited items are the “Aoe war sword,” considered an Important Cultural Property, the “Nobori Hashigo armor used by Masayuki Sanada, documents from Takeda Shingen, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Ishida Mitsunari, and Tokugawa Ieyasu, and more for a collection of about 50,000 articles total. Exhibitions are rotated four times a year, and there are workshops and other experiences as well. It’s about 10 minutes from the Nagano Interchange on the Joshin-Etsu Expressway.

We followed the advice from other posters. We took the #30 Bus from the JR Nagano Station busstop #3. About 30 min and 650 Yen later we arrived at the transit center and walked about two blocks to...

Nagano

Around Nagano City Kita-Shinano Eastern Shinshu Hakuba / Azumino Kisoji Around Suwa Southern Shinshu

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Nagano Areas

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.