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Visitors heading to Nagano in the first-half of 2022 have the chance to join one of Japan’s great Buddhist festivals, with the city’s near-1400 year old Zenkoji Temple hosting the ‘Zenkoji Maedai...

Japanese fireworks festivals are grand in scale and duration with some lasting for up to two hours! Held in late-November each year, the Nagano Ebisu-ko Fireworks Festival (長野えびす講花火大会) is huge...

Established in 642, Zenkoji Temple is the spiritual and physical heart from which Nagano City grew. The road leading to the temple, known as the Omotesando or 'Pilgrims Path' now connects the cit...

Held every year since 2004, the Zenko-ji Tomyo Lantern Festival takes place at Nagano City's near-1400 year old Zenko-ji Temple to commemorate the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics. Held between Febru...

Setsubun (節分) means the last day of winter, or the day before the beginning of spring. It is held on February 3rd every year. This day is also known as the Bean-Throwing Festival in English. In Japan...

Spring is always a big event in Japan, with Japanese traveling the country to see the best cherry blossoms. One of the best cherry blossom spots is the Takato Castle Park, a park which lays on the ru...

As we head toward summer in Japan, it means one thing – festivals, lots of them! Japanese love a matsuri (festival) and whether you are a visitor to Japan, or living here yourself, there’s no better ...

Dondo-Yaki is an event usually held after the New Year’s Holidays. It is a traditional event commonly seen more in the countryside of Japan, where everyone in the neighborhood gathers to make a big b...

This annual snow event “The Beeso (The べ〜そ)” is held on the 1st Saturday of March at the square in front of the Chusha (mid-shrine) in Togakushi, Nagano City. The word “Beeso” means “be lousy and part...