Nagano is part of the Chubu region of Japan, just on the other side of Gunma prefecture. It's a fairly easy trip to make, and if you are coming from Tokyo, you could technically make it a day trip. However, if you have the time to do so, it's a great place to spend a few days and explore. If you're going in the winter (December through February), there is a multitude of winter festivals and events to choose from. Nagano is a popular destination for skiers and snowboarders in Japan. For information on the array winter events you can attend, please visit this link. There are also quite a few "post towns", which are old (usually Edo period) towns that were common stops for people traveling along popular routes between big cities, however many of these are fairly far from Nagano Station.
Jigokudani Yaen Koen (Snow Monkey Park)
A well-known attraction in Nagano is the hot spring loving monkeys that live up in the snowy mountains. They've become a popular tourist attraction, and the town around their location is a great place to spend some time. The park is near an onsen district and a ski resort, so you could actually spend a few days in the area.
Cost: Adults 800 yen / Child 400 yen Hours: Summer: 8:30 - 17:00 / Winter: 9:00 -16:00
Access: 45 min. bus from Nagano Station, followed by a 30 min. walk. For more information, please visit this web page.
Zenkoji
Zenkoji is a hub for people who follow Buddhism, as it houses the first ever statue of Buddha to arrive in Japan. However, this statue is not shown to the public, but if you're lucky enough, you can attend a festival held every 6 years that allows attendees to see a replica of the statue that is kept hidden. This temple was built in the 7th century and has been the center of some amazing history.
Access: 10 min. by bus from Nagano Station
For more information, click here.
Matsushiro Samurai School
This samurai school was built in 1853 and served as a learning place for children and samurai which taught an array of subjects. After samurai were disbanded, it continued to be used as an elementary school. It is the only school of its type in Japan that is still standing as it was originally built, and has been designated a National Historical Site.
Cost: 200 yen / Elementary & HS Students: 80 yen Hours: 9:00 - 16:30 Access: 30 min. by bus from Nagano station, followed by a 5 min. walk Click here for more detailed information.
Nozawa Onsen
There are so many onsen to choose from when traveling to Nagano, but one of the oldest and most popular is Nozawa Onsen. It has 30 natural springs and 13 public baths. There is a multitude of Japanese-style accommodations and shops, meaning it's the perfect place to spend a few days and just relax.
Access: 25 min. by bus from Iiyama station (11 min. shinkansen from Nagano Station), or 75 min. bus from Nagano Station (only on weekends and holidays)
For more information, please visit this page.
There is so much to do in Nagano, but these are just a few highlights. For more information and more stuff to do, please visit Go! Nagano, Nagano Prefecture's official tourism site, which is where I was able to gather this info and these pictures from. Enjoy your trip!
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