Once an important Edo Period (1603-1868) trading town, Obuse is a small historic town accessible using the Nagano Dentetsu (Nagaden) train line. Now known for its chestnut confectionaries, sake and miso breweries, Obuse is most famous as home to the Hokusai Museum. Dedicated to the life and work of Japan’s most renowned artists, Katsushika Hokusai, the small museum regularly rotates its large collection in an effort the breadth and significance of his lifetimes work. Having spent some of his final years in Obuse under the patronage of a wealthy local merchant called Takai Kozan, Hokusai’s last great masterpiece adorns the ceiling of Ganshoin Temple, while the Takai Kozan Museum retains Hokusai’s work studio.

— Where is Obuse?

— How to Get to Obuse

— 15 Things to Do Around Obuse & Where to Stay

— Tours and Charters to Obuse

Located near the midpoint of the line between Nagano Station and Yudanaka Station, Obuse has enough to keep you entertained for a morning or afternoon. Along with the museum, it is home to many chestnut confectionaries, cafes and restaurants, along with miso and sake breweries. As such, Obuse is a great destination with the Jigokudani Monkey Park or activities in Nagano City.

Read on for more information about the wonderful town of Obuse!

WHERE IS OBUSE?

Obuse lies around 18KM / 30-minutes to the north-east of Nagano City. Running from Nagano Station to Yudanaka Station, the Nagano Dentetsu Line includes a stop at Obuse Station. Most limited express and local services stop at Obuse, making it easy to get to. Obuse Station is small and easy to navigate, located 10 to 15-minutes walk from the main are of town. The town is also small with enough to see and enjoy for a morning or afternoon but is unlikely to entertain you for an entire day, making it an ideal destination to combine with a visit to the Jigokudani Monkey Park, Yudanaka and Shibu Onsen and Nagano City – destinations that can all be accessed using the Nagano Dentetsu Line.

HOW TO GET TO OBUSE

Obuse is easily accessible from Nagano Station or the Snow Monkey Park/Shiga Kogen, making it a great place to stop on the way to one of those destinations or as a day trip. Of course, there are plenty of reasons to come to Obuse from even further away, in which case some longer train rides may be required! Read our ‘How to Get to Obuse‘ page for a more detailed break down of your transport options from a number of locations around Japan.

15 THINGS TO DO AROUND OBUSE & WHERE TO STAY

Obuse has enough activities and sites available to easily keep you busy for at least half a day. Of course, if you want to go slow you could even spend a whole day without running out of things to do. For a detailed list of what there is to do in and around Obuse, and where to stay, see our page ‘15 Things to Do Around Obuse and Where to Stay‘

TOURS AND CHARTERS TO OBUSE

With all of the great things Obuse has to offer, it’s only natural that you would wish to visit! And luckily for any travelers whose interests have been piqued, we offer tours and charters to Obuse which will allow you to make the best of your day with explanation from an informative guide and no need to worry about public transport.

1 Day Tour

1-Day Historic Obuse & Hokusai: Japan’s ‘Mad Man of Art’ Tour
Period	April to November
Time	09:30 – 16:20
Meeting Place	Nagano Station Obuse Station
Adult Rate	¥19,800
Child Rate	¥13,000

Our best tour for anyone interested specifically in Obuse, on this day trip you will be able to visit a museum dedicated to the artist Hokusai, a museum dedicated to his benefactor which contains the building Hokusai lived in, and the Ganshoin Temple, which houses one of Hokusai’s last and most impressive works. By the time the day is done, you will practically be an expert on Hokusai, and will also have had a taste for the local cuisine during the included lunch hour.

Private Tour

[START FROM NAGANO CITY] Private Snow Monkey Tour
Period	All Year Round
Time	09:00 to 17:15 ~ 18:30
Meeting Place	Any location in Nagano City
Price	¥122,000 ~ / group

Although focused on the Snow Monkeys and Zenkoji Temple, this private tour also makes a stop in Obuse, with just enough time to stroll the town and try some local sake or chestnut sweets. Perfect for larger groups or those who want to do things at their own pace, you will have the guide and vehicle all to your self from start to finish.

If you are looking for transport options, look no further than our private charter services. With clean and modern vehicles driven by friendly and safe drivers, we are ready to pick you up where you are and take you where you want to go – whether that be a day trip around the area, or a ride straight to the airport in Tokyo or Nagoya. We are of course able to bring your group to the town of Obuse as well, and a guide can even be attached to the trip if you would like so. Please see HERE for more details on pricing and availability.