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

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

Photo taken on: 5/5/2023 Store name: Tateshina Lakeside Apron Mark Address: 4035 Tateshina Lakeside, Chino City, Nagano Prefecture, 391-0301 This is a stylish cafe and restaurant in Tateshina BASE that just opened in April. The staff were very polite. #gourmet #couplestrip #gourmet

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

📍Dome-shaped building inside Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza ⏰11:00-22:00 ⭐️ Even before entering the store, there are wonderful images of glamping tents and food on display, making it a photogenic spot...📸 Eight tent seats are set up inside the store, both indoors and outdoors, and the rest are pergola seats, table seats, and in the center there are seats with a view of the wood stove✨ ##Photogenic spot#Recommended for dates#Exotic atmosphere

📍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

Located by the pond at Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza, Pota Pasta serves delicious homemade pasta. The chewy homemade pasta and a variety of sauces will delight the taste buds of anyone who comes. Takeout is also available. #Nagano #Karuizawa

This is Taiyo to Midori no Kitchen, a food court located inside Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza. There are a variety of Japanese, Western and Chinese restaurants, so you can find almost anything you want to eat. There are large windows facing the courtyard, so it's very bright inside. It seems like a good place to come first when you're hungry. #Nagano #Karuizawa #FoodCourt

As I was walking around Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza, I found a kids' park with a variety of play equipment. The plaza is popular with parents and children, so it's great that there are things like this that children can enjoy. #Nagano #Karuizawa

Karuizawa Station is one of the stations in Nagano Prefecture. It is a station on both the Shinkansen and the Shinano Railway. If you are traveling from Tokyo by Shinkansen, the first station you will arrive at in Nagano is Karuizawa. The surrounding area is home to famous villas and the Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza, making it a very popular destination. #Nagano #Karuizawa

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

This is the exterior of A Fenestella, a famous pizza restaurant in Karuizawa. A Fenestella is famous for its delicious and diverse pizzas, but the exterior is very calm and blends in with the town of Karuizawa. There is a large parking lot nearby as well as a parking lot in front of the restaurant, so don't worry if the parking lot in front of the restaurant is full. #Nagano #Karuizawa

One of the features of Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza is that you can bring your pets with you. I often saw people shopping with their dogs. The plaza also had a wide range of facilities, including a dog run for dogs and a terrace where you can eat while watching over them. #Nagano #Karuizawa #DogRun

There are many different kinds of food in Karuizawa, but when it comes to pizza, A Fenestella is famous. It's a little far from the station, so you'll need a car or some other form of transportation, but there's a parking lot so it's not a problem. The exterior has a calm atmosphere, and inside you can enjoy very delicious pizza. #Nagano #Pizza #Karuizawa

Cafe Comme Ca is a cafe run by Comme Ca, known for fashion brands such as Comme Ca Ism. It is also located inside Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza, and is crowded with many people from the afternoon onwards. It is also easily accessible as it is close to the station. #Nagano #Cafe #AfternoonTea

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

Just outside the Shinkansen ticket gate at Karuizawa Station, there was a lovely Christmas decoration centered around a Christmas tree. The wooden reindeer was very well made, and although it was small, it was also illuminated. #illumination #christmas #karuizawastation

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

I went to a curry restaurant called "Yamagoya" in Nagano City, Nagano Prefecture. They have a wide variety of curries, and their natto curry is especially famous. I only had natto so I had a student curry with a cutlet on top 🍛 It was very filling and delicious 😋 They sell curry bread on Sundays, so I'd like to try it next time ♪ #Nagano #GourmetTrip

I went to "Nihonmatsu" in Nagano City, Nagano Prefecture. This restaurant serves handmade soba noodles during the day and operates as an izakaya at night♪ I ordered horse sashimi, salt-grilled river fish, and maitake mushroom tempura, all of which went perfectly with sake🍶😋 To finish off, I had the restaurant's specialty, handmade soba noodles✨ If you're ever in Nagano, be sure to visit^_^ #gourmettrip #nagano

This is a fairly spacious mountain lodge at the foot of Mt. Tateshina. There are various routes to climb Mt. Tateshina, but since this lodge is on a particularly popular route, it gets very crowded on weekends. From here to the summit, it's a straight climb that includes rugged rocks, so be prepared. #Mountain climbing #Summer mountain #Mt. Tateshina #Nagano Prefecture