Highlights
Nagano City
The capital of Nagano Prefecture, Nagano City evolved as a temple town around striking Zenkoji, one of the county’s most popular temples and an important centre for Buddhism in Japan. It houses the first Buddhist statue to come to Japan, attracting millions of pilgrims and tourists annually. The area around the architectural masterpiece is filled with artisanal shops and traditional eateries, offering an authentic Japanese experience. North of the city centre, discover Togakushi, a forested mountain area, home to impressive shrines and the famed Ninja school and museum.
Yudanaka Onsen
Still maintaining the atmosphere of a traditional Japanese hot spring resort, Yudanaka Onsen dates back centuries. Hot spring onsens remain an important part of the area’s culture, with a wealth of bath houses to choose from. The charming resort is characterised by cobbled streets, authentic ryokans and gourmet eateries serving exceptional Japanese banquets.
Jigokudani Monkey Park
Yudanaka is perhaps most renowned for its proximity to the fantastic Jigokudani Monkey Park, a volcanic area home to Japan’s famous snow monkeys (or Japanese macaques) who bathe in the park's natural hot springs. The park is accessed by a scenic and easy 30-minute stroll from the car park. Please note that even though these social monkeys are accustomed to humans, they are still wild and uncontained. As such, it cannot always be guaranteed that they will be at the hot springs.
Mountain Adventures
Often dubbed the ‘Roof of Japan’, the Nagano region is home to Japan’s Northern and Central Alps (and part of the Southern Alps), attracting skiers, mountaineers and adventurers. Matsumoto is a hillside city cited as the ‘Gateway to the Alps’, overlooked by striking mountains that offer exceptional skiing in a range of resorts. Of course, skiing isn’t the only way to spend a day in the mountains. Other winter activities include snowmobiling, sledding and unwinding in an onsen, while cycling, hiking, river rafting and canoeing across mountain lakes can be enjoyed when snow is scarce.