Anna Kraskovska
Welcome travel fans! I’ve been traveling around the world for 20 years and most of my trips were to Asia. I think I have been crazy about Japan since I was a child and I will be happy to share this passion with you…
Nagano City is the capital of Nagano prefecture, called a temple town and the most convenient point to explore lots of amazing destinations in Central Japan. And we collected the best sights, wildlife sanctuaries and hidden “gems” not only in Nagano city, but in Nagano prefecture.
Surrounded by mountains, Nagano Prefecture is a home for 2 million people. It is a magic land of beautiful nature, historical heritage, sacred temples and delicious food. It is also known as a prefecture where people enjoy long healthy life experiences.
What we propose
Marco Rossi
Jena Hovor
Let us create your perfect itinerary!
Contact us now and we'll begin creating your one-of-a-kind itinerary, tailored specifically to your preferences and needs.
Our expert travel planners will craft a unique, custom route that includes all the must-see sights and hidden gems, divided by day and with a clear route from A to Z.
We'll save you time by doing all the research and planning for you.
Our experts have insider knowledge of unique and off-the-beaten-path destinations that aren't typically found in guidebooks.
Your itinerary will be fully customized to your interests, preferences, and travel style.
We'll provide you with all the essential details, such as transportation options, recommended accommodations, and restaurant reservations.
You'll have access to ongoing support from our team throughout your entire trip, ensuring a stress-free and unforgettable experience.
The cost of our service is only $190
Contact us now to start planning your dream trip and get all the details and answers to your questions.
نقدّم الخدمات لزبائننا باللغة العربية والإنجليزية
Since 2015, our site has been offering expert travel itinerary planning services that result in a comprehensive, user-friendly PDF guidebook personalized to each client’s unique needs and preferences, featuring daily summaries, attraction recommendations, dining suggestions, maps, a curated database of tested accommodations worldwide, as well as detailed guidance on car rental options and ongoing support via phone and Whatsapp.
Our personalized routes from A to Z include many unique and little-known places, along with detailed information such as parking addresses, tips, and exact directions, making the trip more exciting and enjoyable while saving travelers time during preparation and on their journey.
Sections:
Tourist Attractions
Matsumoto-jō Castle
4-1 Marunouchi, Matsumoto
from 8:30 to 4:30 pm
Suwa Taisha Upper Main Shrine (Kamisha Honmiya)
Japan, 〒392-0015 Nagano
open 24 hours
Snow Monkey Park
6845 Hirao, Yamanochi, Shimotakai District
from 9 am to 4 pm
Zenkōji Temple
491 Naganomotoyoshichō
Attractions For Kids
Kids’ Ninja Village
3193 Togakushi
from 9 am to 5 pm
Chausuyama Zoo
570-1 Shinonoiutabi
from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm
Togakushi Ninja Museum
3688-12 Togakushi
Museums
Nagano Prefectural Art Museum
1 Chome-4-4 Hakoshimizu
from 9 am to 5 pm. Closed on W
Uchimura Kanzo Memorial Stone Church
Hoshino, Karuizawa, Kitasaku
free access
Hokusai Museum
Obuse, Kamitakai District, Nagano
3688-12 Togakushi, Nagano
01
Nagano overview
Purpose: visiting top sights & some hidden “gems”
1-2 days
02
Nagano in Zoom
Purpose: visiting top sights & hidden “gems”, and rejuvenation
3-4 days
03
Let’s go a little further from the basic itinerary to off the beaten path…
Upper Togakushi Shrine & Forest
3690 Togakushi
Shibu Onsen Town
Hirao, Yamanochi, Shimotakai
24 hours
Senjōjiki Cirque
1 Akaho, Komagane
Summer: from 8 am to 5 pm Winter: from 9 am to 4 pm
Kagami ike pond
Togakushi
Daio Wasabi Farm
3640 Hotaka, Azumino
Rent a car
To cover the most interesting sights of Nagano and be mobile I recommend renting a car. Most of the “gems” are located a bit far from each other and car will be essential to discovering this amazing land.
Explore & Discover
Don’t limit yourself with Snow Monkey Park and Matsumoto Castle only. Nagano is much much more than these 2 great top sights.
Choose for family trip
This prefecture is a perfect destination if you have kids and want them to discover the true Japan and the beauty of our planet, but not just typical amusement parks and attractions like DisneyLand.
Okina-do ($$ - moderate)
2 Chome-4-10 Central, Matsumoto, Nagano 390-0811, Japan 〒390-0811 長野県松本市中央2丁目4−10
Really nice Japanese Western style restaurant with a good atmosphere, great music, friendly staff and delicious food.
Shinano restaurant (Hotel Metropolitan), $$$ - moderate to expensive
Minamiishidocho-1346, Nagano, 380-0824, Japan 〒380-0824 長野県長野市南石堂町1346
Good choice for dinner. Try "Nagano Food Exploration Lunch" or “Shinshu Premium Beef Teppanyaki” to get the best food experience.
Korean BBQ Namsan ($$ - moderate)
Japan, 〒380-0921 Nagano, Kurita, 1009−2 センターウィング
One of the best Korean BBQ restaurants with private rooms, very delicious food, awesome service, and also a kids-friendly atmosphere.
Yayoiza ($$ - moderate)
503 Nagano, 380-0841, Japan 〒380-0841 長野県長野市長野503
An awesome place with incredible taste of food and very cozy ambience. Truly authentic.
Aeon Mall Matsumoto
4 Chome-9-51 Central, Matsumoto, Nagano 390-8560, Japan 〒390-8560 長野県松本市中央4丁目9−51
It is a huge mall for all your shopping needs located 10-15 min walk from the castle and Matsumoto art gallery and 25 minutes walk from the station.
Aeon Town Nagano Miwa
9 Chome-43番24号 Miwa, Nagano, 380-0803, Japan 〒380-0803 長野県長野市三輪9丁目43番24号
It is a shopping center with a wide choice of stores, shops, and restaurants. Convenient and affordable shopping.
K’s Town Wakasato
3 Chome-22-1 Wakasato, Nagano, 380-0928, Japan 〒380-0928 長野県長野市若里3丁目22−1
Electronics, drug store, grocery store, arcade, fashion stores, coffee shop, dollar store, it's all here with covered parking.
MIDORI Nagano
1 Chome-22-6 Minamichitose, Nagano, 380-0823, Japan 〒380-0823 長野県長野市南千歳1丁目22−6
Great stop to get nice products from Nagano with lots of stores and restaurants.
Gondo Shopping Street
Nagano, 380-0833, Japan 〒380-0833 長野県長野市
It’s an old style shopping street with a mix of ordinary shops that sell daily necessities, izakayas, and snacks.
Zenkoji Omotesando
Nagano, 381-0841, Japan 〒381-0841 長野県長野市長野
This road connects Nagano Station and Zenkoji Temple and is full of small charming shops selling souvenirs and food. It’s a kind of temple market.
Nawate Shopping Street
Japan, 〒390-0874 Nagano, Matsumoto, Ote, 3 Chome−4−3 松本M―1 〒390-0874 長野県松本市大手3丁目4−3 松本M―1
If you happen to visit Matsumoto Castle, don’t miss this beautiful street with many lovely souvenirs (a bit overpriced, to be honest) to take nice pictures and have fun.
Nakamachi Dori
Central, Matsumoto, Nagano 390-0811, Japan
Beautiful shopping street with carefully restored Edo era warehouses that have been converted into shops, cafes, restaurants, and galleries. About a 10-15 minute walk from Matsumoto Station.
Kakujo Gyorui Nagano
932-3 Higashiwada, Nagano, 381-0038, Japan 〒381-0038 長野県長野市東和田932-3
When it comes to delicious and cheap sashimi, fresh fish or meat, and side dishes in Nagano City, this is the place. You will find even fried fish and ready-made tempura.
Marche Kokubu
80 Kokubu, Ueda, Nagano 386-0016, Japan 〒386-0016 長野県上田市国分80
Local farmer’s market where you can find cheap matsutake mushrooms (seasonal) and many other seasonal fresh fruits and vegetables.
Seisen Ichiba JC Nagano Chuo
Japan, 〒380-0935 Nagano, Nakagosho, 1 Chome−8−292-1 生鮮市場JC長野中央店
It’s a small indoor market with a very nice choice of fresh farmer’s fruits and vegetables, fresh meat and fish.
Farmers' market in Obuse
Ojima, Obuse, Kamitakai District, Nagano 381-0203, Japan 〒381-0203 長野県上高井郡小布施町大島
Small farmer’s market with plenty of local seasonal fruits and vegetables.
Fortunately there are no dangerous areas in Nagano. Where to stay is up to you. I would choose the area close to Zenkoji Omotesando or Nakamise street area which connect Nagano Station and Zenkoji Temple and are full of small charming shops selling souvenirs and have some very nice authentic restaurants, cafes, and bars. There are some really nice traditional ryokans over there, like Jizokan Matsuya Ryokan
Kokuya Ryokan Shibu Onsen
Exceptional experience. Definitely worth staying.
Hotel Metropolitan Nagano
A great stay. Clean, comfortable, close to Nagano station, delicious dinners at Shinano restaurant.
Jizokan Matsuya Ryokan
Amazing location with Zenkō-ji temple right on your doorstep. The Ryokan has a very traditional feel with super friendly owners and comfortable Japanese-style rooms.
For a couple (4-star)
Family of 4 (4-star)
* Superior Queen room with 1 large bed
** Traditional Japanese room with 2 futons, tatami area, good quality & service
*** Good meal course in a restaurant
**** Mini/Compact class, 5 seats
***** 2 Double rooms with 2 large beds
****** Traditional Japanese room with 4 futons, tatami area, good quality & service
******* Toyota, Standart class, 5 seats
08:30
Breakfast at Ryokan
11:30
Togakushi-Jinja
12:30
13:30
Lunch at Okusha-mae Naosuke
14:30
Togakushi Ninja Museum & Ninja Trick Mansion
16:00
Zenkōji Temple complex
17:30
Zenkoji Nakamise Street & Zenkoji Omotesando
18:30
Dinner at 鳥蔵別邸 東屋 (Kaiseki restaurant)
Overnight in Nagano city
Breakfast at Ryokan/ Hotel
11:00
13:00
Check-in at Kokuya Ryokan (Shibu Onsen)
Lunch at Chokkun Izakaya
Onsen experience & relaxation
20:00
Dinner at Gonki
08:00
12:00
Matsumoto Castle & Park
Lunch at Okina-do
15:00
Suwa Taisha Upper Main Shrine
Suwa Taisha Shimosha Akimiya
Dinner at Korean BBQ Namsan
A few of them are as follows:
WC near Zenkoji Temple
WC near Matsumoto Castle
WC near Snow Monkey Park (Jigokudani)
1 Chome-1-15 Kaichi, Matsumoto, Nagano 390-0876, Japan 〒390-0876 長野県松本市開智1丁目1−15
2 Chome-3 Hakoshimizu, Nagano, 380-0801, Japan 〒380-0801 長野県長野市箱清水2丁目3
Hirao, Yamanochi, Shimotakai District, Nagano 381-0401, Japan 〒381-0401 長野県下高井郡山ノ内町平穏
City areas closed for vehicles
Don’t bother about this point. There are plenty of parking lots where you can leave your car even very close to the most popular tourist areas like Zenkoji Temple or Matsumoto Castle.
Ogawanoshodaimonten
Japan, 〒380-0841 Nagano, 53 小川の庄大門店 〒380-0841 長野県長野市長野53 小川の庄大門店
Learn how to make oyaki sitting close to the fire watching the oyaki being grilled over the charcoal, having a cup of soba tea. Absolutely unique experience.
Nagano Farm Stay
Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 104-0061
Stay at a traditional, centuries-old Japanese farmhouse in Nagano, cook traditional recipes with locals and learn about the frozen cuisine of Yamaura Village from local producers and village grannies! Truly unique experience.
Tamamura Honten
1163 Hirao, Yamanochi, Shimotakai District, Nagano 381-0401, Japan 〒381-0401 長野県下高井郡山ノ内町平穏1163
Outside of Yamanouchi’s Shibu Onsen hot spring area is Tamamura Honten, a sake brewery which has been in operation since 1805. The sake produced here with the area’s clean water, clear air, and cool climate has been loved by locals for centuries. Don’t miss the opportunity to taste exquisite sake.
Farm stay in south Nagano
Centrip Japan
In Toyooka Village is a unique inn called Farmer's Guest House Higashi. Only one guest per day can stay at this inn. The building is an old farmhouse over 100 years old, and the owner, Mr. Mibu, a hunter, provides the best meat, mainly venison and arranges custom plans for the best countryside experience for each guest, according to the customer's desires and the season. Unforgettable experience!
When is the best time to come to Nagano?
Nagano will be amazing even in winter, especially if you are going to visit snow monkeys and have a relax in one of the mountains onsens. Then I would choose winter time. Spring and Autumn are also perfect, but probably a bit more crowded. Your choice.
How many days to spend in Nagano?
The majority of the people usually limit themselves with Snow Monkey Park and Matsumoto Castle, skipping onsen stay, natural sights and sacred temples. I would recommend spending at least 3 full days in Nagano prefecture to cover top & hidden sights as well.
What to try in Nagano?
04
Do I need a car in Nagano?
100% yes. You will cover all the sights easily and fast.
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Savannah Price
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