History / Culture / Tour Spots in Nagano Area

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Nagano
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Category

Travel / Tourism

History / Culture / Tour

Zensanji Temple

4.0

51 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nagano Pref. Uedashi Maeyama 300

Zensanji Temple is said to have been initially opened in 812 as a sacred place where the monk Kukai is said to have honed his Homa ritual. The three-story “incomplete complete tower,” whose exact date of construction is not clear but is said to have been the beginning of the Muromachi period, is quite famous. You must try the temple’s famous homemade walnut bean cakes available in the temple kitchen reception room every year from the vernal equinox until around the end of November. It’s about a 30-minute drive from the Ueda Sugadaira Interchange on the Joshin-Etsu Expressway.

結構きつい階段を上がります。でも頑張った甲斐のある建物が目の前に現れてホッとします。花の無い時期でしたが建物自体が美しいので十分楽しめました。
Tateshina Teddy Bear Museum

4.0

34 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Nagano Pref. Kitasakuguntateshinamachi Ashitahatsukano 1522

"This museum is on the Daimon Highway in Ashidahatsukano, Tateshina Town, Kitasaku County. It has 11,000 teddy bears from Japan and abroad on view, with enormous dioramas and special manufacturer collections. Their ""Teddy Bear Plaza"" shop is the largest of its kind in Japan. You can visit it without entering the museum."

宿泊していたホテルの向かい側にあるので、チェックアウト前に見学しました。館内は可愛いテディベアがいっぱい。ウエディングや世界の街角などのセットにいろいろなスタイルをしたテディベアがお出迎えしてくれます。多種多様なシーンを見て楽しめるのが最高です。お土産コーナーも充実。どのテディベアを選ぼうか迷うくらい。小さいお子様連れのファミリーにはオススメのスポットです。
Joraku-ji Temple

4.0

50 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nagano Pref. Uedashi Besshonsen 2347

The head temple of the nearby Kitamuki-kannon Temple, this Buddhist temple was built as one of the three “raku-ji” temples (the Choraku-ji Temple, Anraku-ji Temple, and Joraku-ji Temple) in 825. During the Kamakura period, the temple flourished as a center of Tendai Buddhism. The temple’s principal object of worship, the “Wisdom of Observation Amitabha,” is considered an extremely rare example of its type found anywhere in the country. The Hon-do (main hall) has a rounded thatched roof; behind it stands a two-tier pagoda that is registered as an Important Cultural Property and which is the spot where the Buddhist statue enshrined in the Kitamuki-kannon Temple in the back is said to have appeared. The Joraku-ji Temple Art Museum on the grounds exhibits rare and valuable temple treasures such as the Tokugawa Ieyasu Nikka Nenbutsu prayer scroll; a figure of Avalokitesvara; and the Miuraya-zu painting, a National Art Treasure. Closest station: Bessho-Onsen Station.

天台宗のお寺になります。一目見て茅葺の屋根が興味深く感じました。現在の建物は18世紀前半というのだから、随分と大切にされてきたのでしょうね。境内の奥には重要文化財の多宝塔も有ります。
Takai Kozan Memorial Hall

4.0

52 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nagano Pref. Kamitakaigunobusemachi Obuse 805-1

This museum commemorates Takai Kozan, a first-rate person of culture and pupil of Katsushika Hokusai who was Obuse Town's wealthiest merchant. The museum, which displays a large number of exhibits including works of calligraphy and art by Kozan, retains the vestiges of the era in which he lived. Yuzenro, the two-story wooden building that served as Takai Kozan's study and salon, is located on the grounds of the museum and open to visitors. It is located a short walk from the gallery, which features a large collection of works by Hokusai.

Kozan Takai was the patron of Hokusai largely responsible for Hokusai spending his last years in Obuse. At the other end of Chestnut Lane to the Hokusai museum in the delightful town of Obuse, it...
Karuizawa Picturebook Museum (Forest of Muse)

4.0

48 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Nagano Pref. Kitasakugunkaruizawamachi Nagakura 182

"This museum is in Nagakura, Karuizawa Town. They display items related to picture books, including Peter Rabbit. The First Exhibition Hall showcases the research of honorary adviser Mr. Shinichi Yoshida, a researcher of British and American children's literature, and has a permanent display called ""Peter Rabbit's Secret Room."" Planned exhibits occupy the Second Exhibition Hall. They also have a picture book library with primarily Western works where you can browse 1,800 volumes. There is also a museum shop and a conference room where various events are held."

2020年10月9日から2021年1月11日まで軽井沢絵本の森美術館でやっている『グリム童話の裏話』を旅行ついでに行ってみました。こじんまりした展示ではありましたが、なかなか興味深い内容で、グリム童話に潜むもの、兄弟・家族観、キリスト教、過激な表現、社会・道徳・世相、ジェンダー等に分けて展示してありました。ちなみに10時〜16時（10/9-12は9時半から17時らしいが時期により時間が違う可能性あ...
Iida City Museum

4.0

29 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Nagano Pref. Idashi Outemachi 2-655-7

This art museum located in the Iida Castle ruins collects and exhibits many pieces by Hishida Shunso, a painter who was born in Iida City. The museum holds periodic lectures on the arts, nature and folklore of the city and also permanent and special exhibits. The museum also has a planetarium where they offer programs with contents that change every season.

美術館としては飯田出身の画家菱田春草の作品、博物館としては伊那谷の文化を示す展示物やなぜか恐竜模型がフィーチャーされています。飯田長姫高校の跡地利用ということでそこそこ広大、敷地内に「柳田邦男館」「日夏耿之介記念館」などの付帯施設が充実しています。
Mizuno Museum

4.0

29 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Nagano Pref. Naganoshi Wakasato 6-2-20

"An art museum standing on Prefectural Route 372 in Wakasato, Nagano City. Specializing in Nihonga Japanese paintings, the core of the museum's collection consists of pieces assembled by businessman Masayuki Mizuno over many years. The museum houses many pieces by master modern Nihonga painters such as Yokoyama Taikan. Designed to be a facility where visitors can take their time and fully experience the beauty of Nihonga paintings, the museum is stylishly designed inside and out. A 2,300 square meter, fully fledged Japanese garden stands in front of the museum and is planted with the Kiso Goboku, ""Five Trees of the Kiso Valley"" -hinoki cypress, hiba, umbrella pine, Japanese arborvitae, and sawara cypress. "

生誕１３５年記念「川端龍子」展が目的で初めて訪れた。作品は５つのテーマに沿って１００点ほどが２．３階に展示されアトリエまで復元されていた。龍子の作品を纏めて観られたのは龍子記念館だったが今回も展示の殆どが記念館所蔵のものだった。「会場芸術」と称して制作された大作には「草の実」の優作があったが「鳴戸」や「筏流し」の名品はなかった。ただ敗戦直後に描かれた「爆弾散華」や２曲二双の「南飛図」、また青龍展の...
Matsumoto Mingei-kan (Matsumoto Folkcraft Museum)

4.0

44 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Nagano Pref. Matsumotoshi Satoyamabe 1313-1

Matsumoto Mingei-kan is a folk craft museum located about 15 minutes by car from the center of Matsumoto City. Taro Maruyama, the owner of a folk craft shop, founded the museum in 1962. The museum houses a collection of about 6,000 artifacts of the Mingei movement from the Taisho period (1912–1926) which introduces the idea of “beauty of necessaries” in daily necessities used for handwork in everyday life. In 1983 the building was donated to Matsumoto City and now it is an integral part of the Matsumoto City Museum.

Im a huge fan of Japanese folk art (mingei), and Ive been to my share of folkcraft museums in Japan. This one had some really interesting objects but I could only look and wonder what they were. I...
Old High School Memorial Museum

4.0

44 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nagano Pref. Matsumotoshi Agata 3-1-1

This memorial hall is located in Agata no Mori Park in Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture. It contains collections and exhibitions on the country’s high schools under the old education system, including Kyusei Matsumoto High School, the predecessor to present-day Shinshu University. The shop offers books written by Morio Kita, a graduate of Matsumoto High School, and other related goods. The park grounds also feature one of Matsumoto High School’s old school buildings built in the Taisho period, which is registered as an Important Cultural Property.

For older travellers this is a good way to spend a bit of time on your vacation. Wouldn’t recommend it to the younger people visiting the area don’t think it would interest you. Gardens in the park...
Ueda City Museum

3.5

49 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Nagano Pref. Uedashi Ninomaru 3-3 (in Ueda Castle Ruins Park)

This is a museum that stands at the ruins of Ninomaru in Ueda castle ruins. Inside the museum visitors can see Oda Nobunaga’s leather armor and Someya Yaki pottery designated as national important cultural properties, as well as drawings of Shinano Province from the Shoho era (1644–), designated as prefectural treasures. Archives showing the history of the Ueda region since the Middle Ages, material on nature, folk material and so on are collected and displayed.

上田で最も人気のある真田氏に関しては別館でじっくり展示されており、本館は仙石氏および松平氏の上田城城主、および近代史がメインです。上田城の櫓とセットで500円は安いですね。今年も上田の祇園祭がコロナにより中止となり、代わりに祇園祭とは何かを本館で解説していました。上田わっしょいは開催、京都の祇園祭も開催、でも上田の祇園祭は中止。解せません。
Karuizawa New Art Museum

3.5

28 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Nagano Pref. Kitasakugunkaruizawamachi Karuizawa 1151-5

Artworks from the postwar period of Japan to the present day are exhibited here. The art museum was created with the intention to publicize outstanding artworks both domestically and internationally. Exhibitions display works not only from Japanese contemporary artists but from overseas artists too. The museum has invented itself to appeal to the expectations of art fans from all over the world. The museum houses a restaurant, café and shop where you can get some KaNAM original goods which can only be purchased here.

After missionary Alexander Croft Shaw’s building a chapel in Karuizawa, this town has been a sought-after fairyland for wedding. My wife and I visited the Museum on a sunny morning. Turns out there...
Harmo Museum

4.0

22 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Nagano Suwa-gun Shimosuwamachi 10616-540

15-minutes from the Chuo Expressway. This art museum, standing amidst the lush natural beauty on the bank of Lake Suwa, was opened on April 26, 1990 by industrial robot manufacturer Harmo's founder Tomio Hama and director Takako Seki. The museum's standing exhibition consists of works of Naive art which express a free sensitivity from a pure perspective, including nine rare pieces by Henri Rousseau. The museum has gained worldwide recognition for its distinctive concept. The museum also has a cafe where you can take a relaxing break and, on clear days, see all the way to Mt. Fuji.

ＨＰに年中無休とあり、念のため電話確認したうえで訪問しました。２Ｆ展示室は３つに分かれています。（一つは靴を脱いで入ります）アンリ・ルソーが目的でしたが他の作者さんたちの作品との出会いを楽しむことも出来ました。実は、１Ｆにも展示室があります。正面玄関入ってすぐにダリ、左奥の部屋で期間限定の展示、それとショップ＆喫茶コーナーから望む諏訪湖。正月期間でありながら対応いただいているスタッフの方々に感謝で...
Wakihonjin Okuya

4.5

39 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nagano Pref. Kisogunnagisomachi Aduma 2190

This is one of the facilities of the Nagiso Town Museum located 10 minutes away by bus or taxi from JR Nagiso Station in Nagano Prefecture. This building was built in 1877 using plenty of hinoki (Japanese cypress) wood that had been forbidden to use., and served as an inn and warehouse throughout the generations. It is also where Yufusan, Shimazaki Toson’s first love, came to live after her marriage. It became a nationally-designated Important Cultural Property in 2001. The museum is composed together with Tsumago-juku Honjin and a historical museum, and you can tour them both with a common ticket.

This historic musuem gave us a peek into how the locals live during the Edo period. The Honjin and Waki-honjin were luxurious buildings constructed along the post towns of the Nakasendo highway for...
Prince & Skyline Museum

4.5

17 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Nagano Pref. Okayashi Uchiyama 4769-14 In Toriihee Yamabiko Park

This Nissan Skyline museum is in Toriidaira Yamabiko Park in Okaya City, Nagano Prefecture. It has exhibits on the automobile maker's Skyline model, including various parts. Events like talk shows are held several times a year, and lots of car fans visit since the museum's considered sacred ground for the Skyline. It is open from mid-April to mid-November and closes for the winter.

This little museum is packed with a remarkable collection of pertinent historical vehicles. From the Winning Calsonic Skyline GTR to early Prince vehicles, even a factory cutaway of the R32 skyline...
Utsukushi-ga-Hara Open-Air Museum

Leisure / Hobbies

Nagano Pref. Uedashi Takeshikamihoniri 2085-70

An outdoor sculpture museum located on the Utsukushigahara Highlands in Ueda City, Nagano Prefecture which displays some 350 modern art sculptures on a meadow 2,000 meters above sea level. Dotted with pieces by such famed domestic and international artists as César Baldaccini, Alexander Liberman, Izumi Ando, and Masuo Ikeda, the museum’s meadow is truly a stunning sight. The museum is also surrounded by magnificent mountains, and lovely mountain plants bloom from spring to fall. The museum is open from late April to mid-November.
Iida City Kawamoto Kihachiro Puppet Museum

4.0

25 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Nagano Pref. Idashi Honmachi 1-2

"This art museum located in Iida City, Nagano Prefecture exhibits works by the puppet artist Kihachiro Kawamoto. There are over 200 puppets on display that were donated by Mr. Kawamoto, mostly of which were used in the NHK puppet theater series ""Sangokushi"" (Annals of the Three Kingdoms) and ""Heike Monogatari"" (The Tale of Heike). Each of the exhibits are replaced after a set period of time."

見事な人形ばかりで、衣装もすばらしかったです。訪問者は自分ひとりでした。子供の頃見ていた番組が川本先生のお作と知り、感慨深かったです。三国志がクローズアップされていましたが、自分は三国志を見たことがなかったのでその点残念でした。平家物語のお人形もすばらしかったので、映像も見てみたかったです。最後に15分間の作品を見せていただきましたが、私が出ようとした途端に職員の方がすぐにアルコールを持って席を消...
Oshika Median Tectonic Line Museum

4.5

16 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Nagano Shimoina-gun Oshikamura Okawara 988

This museum has exhibits on the Median Tectonic Line. It's the largest fault line in Japan running along the western half of the Japanese archipelago from Kanto to Kyushu. It's almost directly below Mt. Akaishi and the main peaks of the southern Alps near Shizuoka's prefectural border. Though it runs overland for 1,000 kilometers, this is one of the rare portions where you can observe a fault outcrop and other unique geological features. The curator will take the time to explain in detail everything from the creation of the Japanese islands to the geology of earthquakes.

地学・地理学の，地形・地質・岩石などに興味がある人のための博物館。かなり力の入った展示だが，大量の展示品と，大量の解説に，辟易する。パンフレットも，ぎゅうぎゅうに，つめて書いてある。ガイドによる解説がない場合，基礎知識がないと，あるいは知的好奇心がないと，居続けるのは，きつい。実際，ほぼ同時に入館した２組は，さっさと出て行った。予約しておけば，解説に人気のある，前館長が説明してくれる...
Ikenami Shotaro Sanada Taiheiki-kan (Memorial Museum)

4.0

36 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nagano Pref. Uedashi Chuou 3-7-3

Opened in 1998, this museum displays materials related to Naoki Award-winning author Shotaro Ikenami and his prize-winning work “Sanada Taiheiki.” On the second floor, you find not only materials on Mr. Ikenami and his works, but also a detailed explanation of the characters and settings found in “Sanada Taiheiki.” There is also a corner where you can experience the world of “Kusanomono,” a theater, and a gallery; It is a facility that adults and kids can enjoy. The nearest station is Ueda Station.

過去に真田太平記を読みましたが、今でも棚から真田太平記を手に取るほど大好きな長編小説です。ここでは、小説に沿って映像や資料などを展示しています。館内は撮影禁止で残念ですが、思い出に残る場所でした。
Obuse Museum / Nakajima Chinami Kan

4.0

36 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Nagano Pref. Kamitakaigunobusemachi Obuse 595

The Obuse Museum / Nakajima Chinami Kan opened in 1992, and they store and display collections by modern Japanese painter Chinami Nakajima in the “Nakajima Chinami Kan” building, as well as traditional “matsuri yatai (festival stalls),” Obuse cultural artifacts. The trees in the area display the beauty of the four seasons, and the “Hanasaku Burari Art Museum” certainly lives up to its name. It’s about 12 minutes on foot from Obuse Station on the Nagano Line and about five minutes from the Obuse Smart Interchange on the Joshin-Etsu Expressway.

今年こちらは開館30周年[開館；平成4年(1992)10月22日]でこちらでは 9月23日-12月６日迄《中島千波の世界展千波の昔と今（東京藝術大学在学中の作品から現在の作品を展示）》が開催されています。 [中島千波館][第一展示室][第二展示室][キャラリー]に展示されている作品は写真撮影禁止なので写真で紹介出来ませんが屏風《樹霊淡墨櫻》のような作品は絵に関して素人である私のよ...
Tanaka Honke Museum

4.0

32 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Nagano Prefecture Suzaka-shi Kurincho 476

This is a museum in Kokumachi Town, Suzaka City, Nagano Prefecture, using the house of the Tanaka merchant family who amassed great wealth in the Edo period through grain, rapeseed oil, tobacco, cotton and brewing. In the 10,000 square meter plot around the stone storehouse are the former main building, reception hall and bathing room, and the strolling garden with central pond is beautiful in all seasons. In the stone storehouse exhibition room is a permanent exhibit of the daily goods used by the Tanaka family from the middle of the Edo period into the Showa period, and there are special exhibitions held five times a year.

The Edo-Style 5 course meal was the most incredible blend of flavors and exquisite taste my husband and I ever experienced! We traveled to Suzaka after our trip to Nagano and got to experience the...

Nagano

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

Travel / Tourism History / Culture / Tour

Reference/Local/Exhibition/Literature Museum Shrine Castle / Ruins of Castle Historical Monument Temple Church Ruin / Grave / Ancient Tomb Memorial Hall Cultural Property Event Hall / Public Hall Art Museum Museum / Science Museum Other Historic Site/Building

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.