SEARCH RESULTS: 2024
Zenkoji Temple
Less than 30 minutes walk from Nagano Station, Zenkoji is one of Japan’s oldest and most important Buddhist temples. Built in dedication to the first known Buddhist statue to be brought to Japan, the temple has stood watch over the city – in one form or another – for nearly 1400 years. To this day, Zenkoji remains an important destination for Buddhist pilgrims while also being one of Japan’s most open and welcoming temples. A morning ceremony is performed every day with visitors of any background or faith invited to attend. The temple also plays host to many events, festivals and celebrations throughout the year and remains the spiritual heart […]
Togakushi
Sitting quietly in the mountains bordering Nagano City and within the larger Myoko-Togakushi Renzan National Park, Togakushi is home to some of Japan’s most important Shinto shrines set among a beautiful forested landscape. The five major shrines that make-up the Togakushi complex are spaced-out at intervals through the forest and against the dramatic background of mountains rising above. Accessible via well-maintained walking tracks, Togakushi continues to draw Shinto practitioners and nature enthusiasts who revel in its tranquility, beauty, and purity. On the literal doorstep of the city, Togakushi is also home to the Togakure ninja school, Togakushi Ski Resort and famous for its ‘soba’ (buckwheat noodles), traditional bamboo craft and […]
Discover Matsushiro – Nagano City’s Samurai Town
Around 12km to the south of central Nagano City, Matsushiro is a small town known firstly for its samurai heritage while also home to an open-secret beneath its feet. Once the stronghold of the ruling Sanada clan, Matsushiro was established as an important strategic base during the Sengoku (Warring States) Period and thriving domain of the samurai class during the latter Edo Period. Today, the town’s samurai heritage lives on many excellent Edo Period attractions including Matsushiro Castle Park, the former Sanada Residence and Bunbu Military Academy, other samurai residences, temples, shrines and museums. Yet it is what lies beneath Matsushiro that increasingly attracts as much attention as its heralded […]
Nagano Cultural Experiences
The Japanese dedication to refined beauty and detail can be seen in many aspects of life but none more so than through its many traditional pastimes and activities. These experiences range from the simple to highly complex with a shared devotion to meditative practice and aesthetic beauty. Over generations the many traditional arts of Japan have been perfected to the point of mastery but most have their origins in very practical if not simple applications. — Where is Nagano? — Cultural Activities Around Zenko-ji Temple — How to Reach Zenko-ji from Nagano Station — Guided Tours With Cultural Experiences Included Trying your hand at traditional Japanese practices is a great […]
Matsumoto Castle
As a registered National Treasure, Matsumoto Castle is one of the region’s most important cultural assets. Set against the impressive backdrop of the Northern Alps, the castle dates back to the end of the Warring States Period with much of the original structure still intact. One of the most beautiful historic buildings in Japan, it is one of only two 6-storey castles remaining today – yet only exists due to the intervention of local residents who have saved it from destruction more than once. The distinctive black and white façade and beautiful aesthetic, somewhat belie the castles overall strategic design and importance. Constructed mostly in the 1590’s, the existing building […]
Walk as the Samurai did on the Nakasendo Trail
During Japan’s Edo Period (1603 to 1868) the Nakasendo was one of five major routes linking Kyoto to the new capital of Tokyo, then called ‘Edo’. Stretching over 500 kilometres between the two cities, the name Nakasendo translates as ‘中/naka = middle; 山 / sen = mountain; 道 / do = road’, or the ‘Road Through the Mountains’. Unlike the other major routes that followed the coast, the Nakasendo dissected Japan’s mountainous heartland including the beautiful Kiso Valley. Today, the hiking route known as the “Nakasendo Trail,” “Nakasendo Way,” or even the “Samurai Road” follows the historic road, transporting those who walk it through both pace and time and deep […]
Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route
The Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route can rightly lay claim to being one of Japan’s most iconic and spectacular landscapes. Inaccessible during winter, the Alpine Route emerges (and is carved) from the snow each spring, allowing visitors to access the region from mid-April to late-November using a series of different types of mountain transportation to reach the peak at Murodo Station. Each season also brings its own unique landscape that shouldn’t be missed. From April to May you can see the famous Snow Walls that in some years tower over 20 meters at the highest. The summer and melting snow reveals a stunning alpine scene that you can hike around and enjoy […]
Kamikochi
Located approximately 50km to the west of Matsumoto City, the stunning alpine valley of Kamikochi is one of Nagano’s most iconic destinations. Once considered the home of a sea god known as Hotakami-no-Mikoto by the Azumi Clan, visitors to Kamikochi will surely enjoy the heavenly atmosphere here. Stretching 18km in length from Mt Yari in the north, past the imposing triple peaks of Mt Hotaka down to Mt Yakedake in the south, the valley lies between 1400 and 1600 meters in altitude with the dramatic North Japan Alps rising to over 3000 meters above it. Blessed with abundant beauty and renowned for its pristine natural state, Kamikochi is considered the […]
Ride the Kurobe Gorge Railway
Running 20km from Unazuki Station to Keyakidaira Station, the Kurobe Gorge Railway is one of Japan’s most scenic train-rides. Taking approximately 80 minutes to complete the journey between Unazuki and Keyakidaira, the line follows the Kuronagi River along the heavily forested gorge and in doing so, passes over 20 bridges and through around 40 tunnels. The start point, Unazuki Onsen, is a charming hot spring town with numerous restaurants, footbaths and even a small nature hike where you can get views of the beautiful valley. At the end is Keyakidaira, deep in the mountains and where you can walk around amazingly beautiful gorge. This area is one that will leave […]
