2025 Nagano Prefecture Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in April)

Want to see towering trees and spectacular snowy scenery? Then you must visit Nagano, a hidden gem near Tokyo. Today, I'll share a detailed two-day Nagano travel guide, covering transportation, accommodation, itinerary, and food. Don't forget to like and save this post if you're planning a trip to Japan! First, let's talk about transportation. We departed from Tokyo and took the JR Shinkansen from Shinjuku Station. It takes about an hour and a half to reach Nagano Station. There are two types of tickets: reserved seats and non-reserved seats. Reserved seats are fixed and cost around CNY 400, while non-reserved seats don't have assigned seating and cost around CNY 300. Regarding accommodation, the city isn't very big. We booked our hotel near Nagano Station, as it's also where you catch the bus to Togakushi Shrine. The area has many restaurants and shopping centers, making it very convenient. Here's our three-day, two-night itinerary. Take notes and follow along! On the first day, we arrived in Nagano from Tokyo and took a good rest to prepare for an early start the next day. For dinner, we chose Matsuya, a popular Japanese fast-food chain, as we didn't want to venture too far from the hotel. It's truly a king of value; a large portion of pork cutlet curry rice costs only JPY 700! On the second day, we headed to Togakushi Shrine. We took the bus from bus stop No. 7 at Nagano Station. I recommend arriving at the station by 8:00 am to queue for the 8:30 bus, as you might not get a seat if you arrive right on time. Here's the train schedule; remember to take a screenshot and save it! After a 40-minute bus ride, we arrived at Togakushi Chusha and then hiked to Togakushi Okusha. We followed the mountain path with the crowd, and the scenery along the way was stunning. Walking through the snow-covered forest was incredibly healing! We even saw snow-capped mountains along the way, so don't forget to take photos! After about 30 minutes of walking, we reached Okusha, where the famous towering tree path is located. It felt like stepping into a forest of giants, straight out of a Japanese drama. You must experience this in winter! After exploring, you can have lunch at the soba restaurant near the entrance of Okusha. Although some people say the food isn't great, I personally enjoyed it. A warm bowl of soba noodles is perfect in such cold weather. I recommend the beef soba; it's delicious! Avoid the grated yam soba; it has a slimy texture and a strange taste. Afterward, you can grab an ice cream cone at the entrance for JPY 750. They have apple and buckwheat flavors; the apple one is very refreshing. Then, hike back to Togakushi Chusha and take the bus back. Get off at the Zenkoji Temple gate, but don't visit the temple yet, as it closes at 4:00 pm. Stroll from the Zenkoji Temple gate to Nagano Station. There are many interesting shops along the way, including a great clothing store called Freaks Store. They even have Arc'teryx and The North Face Purple Label, and many items are on sale, so it's worth checking out. For dinner, we chose a yakiniku restaurant. If you like lamb, you should try it. It's located in a hidden basement, but many celebrities have dined there. They only offer three types of lamb: fresh lamb, marinated lamb, and lamb offal. We ordered two portions of each type of lamb, and they were incredibly fragrant without any gamey taste. The price wasn't too expensive, around JPY 3,000 per person. On the third day, we woke up naturally and took the bus to Zenkoji Temple. The matcha shop on the pedestrian street near the temple gate is delicious and worth a try! What's unique about this temple is that it's the first time I've seen a fashion brand collaborate with a temple. There's a Beams x Zenkoji Temple collaboration shop with many cute items, so be sure to check it out. They also have a wide selection of omamori charms. You can also draw fortunes at Zenkoji Temple for JPY 200. If you get a bad fortune, tie it to the designated spot at the entrance. After visiting the temple, we returned to Tokyo. If you have time, you can also visit nearby Karuizawa. Nagano isn't a large city, so two days are enough to explore and enjoy the food. So, don't forget to visit this hidden gem during your trip to Japan!

: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : If you don't ski at Hakuba Iwatake Ski Resort, there is also a viewing platform with a great view, where you can see the beautiful snow-capped mountains🏔️ Friends who like shopping must go to the outlet in Karuizawa‼ ️ 🚇Transportation Hong Kong - Narita Airport Airport Railway - Tokyo Station - Hokuriku Shinkansen to Nagano Station 📷Photography Jigokudani Monkey Park - You can see the spectacle of monkeys bathing in hot springs and the beautiful mountain scenery Hakuba Iwatake Ski Resort Observation Deck The road to Togakushi Shrine is surrounded by forests and centuries-old trees, and you can take pictures of the spectacular forest scenery Karuizawa Old Ginza Street, there are some very beautiful churches there, which are also places you must check in 🍜Special Food Must-eat horse meat sashimi in Nagano Prefecture! Soba noodles and Sanbaikeyaki One day I visited a restaurant and they had whale meat which I didn’t expect‼ ️ Nagano mantou Made from buckwheat, it is a local favourite. The fillings range from Japanese vegetables to sweet red bean fillings, suitable for different preferences😆 The traditional method in the past was to grill it in a charcoal oven. The local pork chop is also very delicious. Although it is not a fat part, it is very refreshing and juicy. Even if you have to run 10 kilometers more, you have to eat it🤣🤣 🏠Accommodation recommendation There are many different hot spring hotels in the area And many of them have good ratings online One day I visited Shibu Onsen in Yudanaka and stayed at Yamazakiya Ryokan A privately-run hot spring hotel with a lot of human touch, very good service, and authentic Japanese flavor, it is definitely worth recommending 💡Notes: The bus ticket to Jigokudani (snow monkey park ticket) can be purchased at the exit of Nagano Station, which is very convenient. Luggage can be stored at the coffee shop next to Nagano Station or the bus stop to Jigokudani, so there is no need to worry about luggage storage! If you are going to Nagano Prefecture for a few days, it is also recommended to buy a pass, which allows unlimited rides on designated transportation in the area within a few days. It is cheaper and you can visit more places. For example, on the last day back to the airport, you can go to Karuizawa first and then return to the airport. It is only about HK$50 to take a taxi from the exit of Karuizawa Station to Karuizawa Old Ginza Street, which can save time waiting for the bus. It is absolutely recommended‼ ️ Traveling alone, including air tickets, accommodation, skiing, shopping, etc., the total cost is about HK$12,000 #TokyoTravel #Nagano #JigokudaniYamonKoen #Shibu Onsen

Kamikochi is located in the upper reaches of the Azusa River in the western part of Nagano Prefecture. It is surrounded by the Hotaka Mountain Range, Mount Yake, and the Jonen Mountain Range. It is a small basin at an altitude of about 1500 meters and belongs to the Chubu Sangaku National Park. It became known to many mountaineering enthusiasts around the world through the introduction of the 19th-century British missionary and mountaineer Walter Weston.

Nagano is famous for its soba noodles, but Togakushi’s soba is the most famous delicacy. I accidentally parked in the parking lot of Sobachu Uzura in the alley, walked along the path back to the intersection and queued up at Sobachu Uzura. It is only open until 4 o'clock and requires on-site registration and queueing. Local agricultural products are also sold at the entrance of the store, and of course, there is also their own buckwheat noodles. What is special is that you can clearly see the master chef making buckwheat noodles by hand through the glass window at the entrance! It's really magical. Start with a small dough and slowly knead it, flatten it, and knead it again until it becomes a super large, thin, and flat dough, and finally it is cut into buckwheat noodles. After waiting for about 30 minutes, we found a seat inside and were taken directly to the second floor to dine. The waiter was very kind and asked us where we were from. The interior of the restaurant is very traditional, very Japanese style. You need to take off your shoes and sit cross-legged, but it is very comfortable and relaxed. The employees are also very enthusiastic and polite. We looked at the menu and ordered using translation software. The food was served very quickly and the whole table was filled with delicious food in a short while. Our brother has always praised soba noodles as being super delicious! 😋After we finished eating, we went downstairs to pay the bill and met the master who was kneading the dough. He was very old and had a back brace on his waist. It should be the occupational injury caused by kneading buckwheat noodles by hand for many years. However, he greeted us warmly and kindly. He asked us where we were from in English, and was very happy that we came and wished us a pleasant journey. It was really a super warm greeting. Shinshu Togakushiyama Gomon-mae Soba Garden Uzura House 〒381-4101 Nagano Prefecture Nagano City Togakushi 3229 #Japan #self-driving #Nagano #Hakuba #Togakushi #Togakushi Shrine Okusha #Togakushi Shrine Nakasha #Handmade soba noodles #Soba noodles #Hydrangea

Zenkoji Temple, located in Nagano Prefecture, Japan, is a must-visit place for tourists. The temple has a history of 1,400 years and houses the oldest Buddha statue. Despite this, Zenko-ji Temple does not belong to any sect, which means that anyone can come to worship. In addition to the ancient Buddha statues, there are also a series of Buddha statues in the temple for believers to pray for health and good luck. There are many in-house accommodations near the temple, where believers can stay and rest. They can participate in the temple's sutra copying, meditation, yoga and tea ceremony experiences. They can also attend morning classes and chanting with the monks at sunrise to cleanse their souls and get away from the hustle and bustle. In addition, there is a wishing wall in the temple which is covered with prayer boards from believers. There are various prayer boards on it, filled with everyone's wishes. In any case, it is a kind of spiritual comfort to the believers. In fact, Zenko-ji Temple is located in the city center, with very convenient transportation. It only takes 30 minutes to walk from Nagano Station. There are various delicious foods and unique small shops along the way. Practice eating while walking. The most distinctive one is the Shichimi powder specialty store, which is filled with Shichimi powder of different flavors, and allows customers to personally choose a unique Shichimi powder made with different ingredients. There is also ice cream covered with shichimi powder for you to try. Along the way, you will also see some restaurants, shops, and cafes with historical traces of different ages and styles. When you are tired of walking, sit down to rest, sip the hot roasted coffee and savor the historical sentiment. Address: 491 Motozen-cho, Nagano City, Nagano Prefecture Admission fee: Free inside the temple Main hall, circumambulation of the ordination platform, sutra hall, Zenkoji Museum Adult pass 500 yen Opening hours 06:00 - 19:30 #Nagano #Zenkoji Temple #Japanese Attractions

1st stop at Choen-ji Temple. A little temple erected in a rural village at the foot of the Yatsugatake. Choen-ji turns into a piece of art in early November. A dazzling autumn foliage corridor ushered us to the main hall, a golden path of Ginko leaves below our feet and the sky ablaze with red Momiji above our heads. 2nd stop. We had our lunch at Shirakaba Resort Ikenotaira FamilyLand. An amusement park in the highlands. Ikenotaira Familyland features many fun attractions, a large hot spring facility, a museum, and an enviable natural environment. We barely had time so we didn't try all the rides 🥺 We went to see the Peter Rabbit by cable car. Last stop. Mishakaike Pond is a scenic spot in Nagano Prefecture which is known for reflecting the seasonal natural scenery like a mirror. Depending on the time of the day it is said to look completely different. It is located deep inside the mountains of Nagano. #celebratewithtrip

Come to Hokuriku, Japan and stay in a super mysterious hotel Tudor architecture has a fairytale feel The European-style building with red roof is surrounded by mountains and there is a super large ski resort behind it. The overall feeling is not only fairytale, but also a castle hotel with European style. The room features a Western style with a Japanese tatami style. The sum of the two together is really unique. The only thing is that the toilet is a bit small. However, the hotel's large public bath is very large and the spa water column is really good. The buffet dinner is delicious, rich and varied. The hot spring pool is great. It is a hotel worth staying in. The open-air hot spring also offers a direct view of the ski resort. #accommodation in japan #nagano #hakuba onsen

📍Right next to the south exit of Karuizawa Station ⏰ 10:00-19:00 ⭐️A resort-style shopping mall, one of the largest in Japan, with a wide variety of stores, including famous brand outlets, interior goods, miscellaneous goods, and outdoor goods, in a vast, naturally rich location✨ #shoppingmall#snowscape

A stroll through Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza. The grounds are spacious and relaxing! The weather was nice, so we enjoyed our walk. 😘 The cafes and restaurants were stylish. There were lots of great places to enjoy shopping and gourmet food!!! #photogenicspots

Starbucks can be found all over Japan, but there is one here in Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza. It is a little outside the central area, but it is quieter and less noisy. It seems like it would be nice to go for a walk with a cup of coffee bought here. #Nagano #Karuizawa

There is a large pond inside Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza. The shopping plaza is built around the pond. The pond is surrounded by grass, and depending on the season, you can relax there. There is also a restaurant by the pond where you can have a meal. #Nagano #Karuizawa

In the winter season, various illuminations are set up in Karuizawa Shopping Plaza, but in front of the pond, there was a Christmas tree-like thing like this. There was also a bell set up, which made me think that there would be a lot of people visiting at night. #Nagano #Karuizawa

If you're going shopping in Karuizawa, this is the place to go! Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza✨ A huge shopping facility spread across a vast area, right outside the south exit of Karuizawa Station on the Shinkansen line! You can purchase products from a variety of shops, including luxury brands, at outlet prices🙆‍♀️ How to get there: Karuizawa, Karuizawa-machi, Kitasaku-gun, Nagano Prefecture (Just a short walk from Karuizawa Station) #Nagano #Karuizawa #Outlet

There are several event spaces in Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza. This is one of them, located relatively close to the center. Since Christmas is coming up, a Christmas tree was decorated, and around it were shops selling local beer and other delicious local foods. #Nagano #Cafe

Nagano is a valley city in the heart of Japan, or the Chubu Region, surrounded by nature, forests, and many tourist attractions, whether natural or historical. This time, the admin had the opportunity to return to Nagano for the second time during the (almost) slightly changing leaves season. With the cool weather of around 14 degrees and some rain, the trip was a bit lonely. Some places to go may require renting a car or traveling outside the city. But where are the places? Let's take a look. #True foreign city #Waiting for the day to travel #True Japan

We are Pichiya (@travelife_couple), a couple who live for travel and get the best deals. ⁡ This time, we're featuring must-see spots in Nagano Prefecture☺️ ⁡ We travel 365 days a year, and we've compiled a list of places we're glad to have visited and recommended places from our followers✨ ⁡ Nagano is also Yuki's hometown, so there are memories in each place😌 ⁡ When I look for tourist spots again, I see many attractive spots that I saw as a normal sight when I was little! ⁡ Environments surrounded by nature are definitely places I want to visit even if I have to go a little further. ⁡ Personally, I would like to recommend various local spots, but I'm always going to Minami-Shinjuku, so I thought about it impartially🤣 By the way, when I go back to my hometown, I always eat Meijitei's sauce katsudon. If you're ever in the area, please do! ! ⁡ ⁡ ⁡ 【𝕚𝕟𝕗𝕠𝕣𝕞𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟𓏗𓏗】 ❶ Jigokudani Monkey Park 📍6845 Heijo, Yamanouchi-cho, Shimotakai-gun, Nagano Prefecture ⁡ ❷Harunire Terrace 📍2148 Nagakura, Karuizawa-cho, Kitasaku-gun, Nagano Prefecture ⁡ ❸ Azumido Azumino Inter Store 📍1115 Toyoshina Minamihotaka, Azumino City, Nagano Prefecture ⁡ ❹ Matsumoto Castle 📍4-1 Marunouchi, Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture ⁡ ❺ Venus Line 📍Kitayama, Chino City, Nagano Prefecture ❻ Narai-juku 📍Narai, Shiojiri City, Nagano Prefecture ⁡ ❼Starry sky in Achi Village 📍Furusato, Achi Village, Shimoina District, Nagano Prefecture ⁡ ⁡ [Other recommendations] Thank you so much♥ Sorry I couldn't include them all🙏 ⁡ ・Tateishi Park ・SORA terrace ・Zenkoji Temple ・Hakuba Mountain Harbor (top image) ・Meitei ・Senjojiki Cirque ・Takato Castle Site Park ・Takabocchi Park ・Kanten Papa ・Togakushi Shrine ・Obasute ・Daioh Wasabi Farm ⁡ #Amazing nature#Summer trip#Breathtaking views#Gourmet trip#Trip with kids

In fact, it is a bed and breakfast, overall feel good, standing well, did not expect small rooms, have hot spring bath, the owner of the couple maintained, the owner is a good person, very friendly, due to language communication problems, do not tire of trouble, even private car to see the monkey bathing hot spring #OverseasTravel #I miss #affordable hotels

In Onsenkyo of Omachi, Hakuba has a ski resort in winter and an Alps climbing route in summer. Inside Onsenkyo you can find TOMAMU Hoshino Resort. Not only picturesque Alps but also rural experience of pit furnace is here for you. The house in the shape of ptarmigan looks very distinctive.

Narai-juku is the longest Shukuba. It is the most important protection zone of traditional building group in Japan. Many travelers would stay overnight in Narai, so it is also hailed as "Narai of a Thousand Houses". Here people are simple and honest. Walking down the road, I would feel relaxed. If you are interested in traditional architecture, Narai-juku would be a nice choice.

Kamikochi is located on a great RuralJapan route between Matsumoto and Takayama City. If you are looking to get away from the big city and explore the road less traveled, Kamikochi and its surrounding areas have much to offer. #wintergetaway #wintergetaway

Tsumago-juku ia a very small town located in the Nagiso region, which preserve a lot of architecture from the edo period of Japan.

When it comes to Japan, it’s always Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and Hokkaido. It’s time to show some love for Nagano. Approximately 4 hrs by bus, 1.5 hrs by Shinkansen. Best time to go is during winter, late December to early March. Nagano is best known for its winter activities(Snowboarding, Skiing, Sledding, etc.). #naganoadventure #wintertimefood #happynewyear #happynewyear

One of the most beautiful places i have been to. It’s not really on the main path for most foreigners visiting Japan, but its definitely worth visiting! These are my favorite pictures from my entire two week Japan trip.

Nagano Hell Valley Monkey Hot Springs Day Tour Winter Go to Nagano Prefecture, encounter heavy snow, this time is the best time to see monkey hot springs. Outside the long gun and short gun, the hot spring pool, the monkeys are relaxing in the hot springs. The monkeys in the wild park of Hell Valley are so calm. tips: 1. Recommend monkey pass, you can buy tickets in Changye and change to Tangtianzhong, including round-trip transportation, monkey hot spring tickets. 2. Monkey Hot Spring is in the park. It takes about 30 minutes to walk. The mountain roads are all dirt roads. When the snow is thick, you can touch the ankles. It is recommended to wear comfortable sports shoes. 3. If there is no suitable shoes, there are snowshoes in the souvenir shop at the entrance of the park, 800 yen 4. There is plenty of time to spend hot springs in the hot springs outside the park, Japan is a bare soup, There is no need to wear a swimsuit, men and women are separated, and they need to enter the hot spring pool after bathing. The hot springs in Hell Valley are very nice and the scenery is beautiful.

#cherryblossom25 The plum and cherry blossoms at Daio Wasabi Farm in Nagano. The wasabi is blooming too! The flowers of wasabi are sold at the farm's shop. Not sure what you can do with the flower but it surely would be something that you won't encounter every day. So, if you're in Nagano or planning to head there the next couple of days, check the farm out! Warmer days and the plum blossoms are blooming! The fragrance of plum blossoms makes you feel the coming of spring 🌸 The wasabi flowers are also blooming white in the wasabi fields. You can also enjoy flower viewing while strolling! Wasabi flowers are also available in limited quantities at the store. Enjoy the taste of spring!

This time, we will introduce a stylish coffee shop in Nagano called "Coffee Bigaku Abe" ☕✨ Please check it out😊 ——————— Recommended spot: "Coffee Bigaku Abe" A quiet and authentic coffee shop in the center of Nagano. Enjoy home-roasted coffee and carefully selected sweets, it's the perfect place to relax ✨ ✅ Authentic home-roasted coffee ☕✨ The coffee is carefully brewed with carefully selected beans, and has a rich aroma and deep flavor. It's a must-have for coffee lovers! ✅ A retro and calm space 🏡🌿 The interior of the store has a calm atmosphere, making it a space where you can spend time slowly. It's comfortable enough to make you want to stay for a long time. ✅ Carefully selected handmade sweets 🍰✨ You can also enjoy sweets that go perfectly with coffee. The cheesecake is especially popular and is perfect for after-meal moments! ✅ Walking distance from Nagano Station🚶♂️ It's within walking distance from Nagano Station, so it's easy to stop by between sightseeing or while taking a walk. Enjoy a luxurious coffee time at "Coffee Bigaku Abe"☕✨ You can enjoy a relaxing time in a calm atmosphere! ——————— We would be happy if you could like or follow us🙇✨ We will deliver the latest cafe information! #Nagano #NaganoCafe #NaganoTrip #CafeHop #DomesticTrip #Tour #Tourism #Trip

If you want to have a relaxing morning surrounded by greenery, this is the place to go! 《Bakery & Restaurant Sawamura Kyu-Karuizawa》 A shop with the theme of "delicious bread and food that can only be found in Sawamura" that uses carefully selected seasonal ingredients and is expressed through the ingenuity and skills of the craftsmen! ︎ A large two-story building with a restaurant attached◎The weather was nice so we had our meal on the terrace✨ They also have stores in Tokyo and Nagoya, but the food you eat in the great outdoors of Karuizawa has a different taste🌟Please go and check it out! 🥪Store name: Bakery & Restaurant Sawamura Kyu-Karuizawa 📍Location: 12-18 Karuizawa, Karuizawa-machi, Kitasaku-gun, Nagano Prefecture 🕰️Business hours: Bakery▶︎07:00 - 21:00 Restaurant▶︎07:00 - 22:00 (L.O.21:00) *Please check the official website in advance as hours may change depending on the season. 🚘Access: Car▶︎About 14km from Usui Karuizawa IC Train▶︎20 minutes walk from Karuizawa Station #Morning #KaruizawaTrip #Gourmet #GourmetTrip #0YenTripFebruary2025

We would like to introduce you to Auberge de Primavera Rotisserie Pyrenees, a restaurant located in a detached house that opened in Roppongi, Karuizawa in April 2004. The food, which uses plenty of fresh vegetables and meat from Nagano, is hearty and makes the most of the deliciousness of the ingredients! Rather than a formal space, it is a warm and peaceful space with a fireplace that is reminiscent of Karuizawa♪ Firewood is burning in the large dining kitchen, and you can see the meat being grilled in a spectacular manner🔥 🪵Spot name: Auberge de Primavera Rotisserie Pyrenees 📍Location: 1181-8 Karuizawa, Karuizawa-machi, Kitasaku-gun, Nagano Prefecture 🕰️Opening hours: LUNCH▶︎12:00-15:00 (last orders 14:30) DINNER▶︎17:00-21:50 (last orders 21:30) 🚘Access: Train▶︎About 15 minutes walk from Karuizawa-machi Station Car▶︎About 30 minutes from Usui-Karuizawa I.C. on the Joshinetsu Expressway #Domestic travel #Karuizawa #Gourmet #Gourmet trip #Karuizawa trip #0 Yen Travel February 2025