Nagano Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in Apr)

Amagawa Shrine in Nagano

Name 📝: Amagawa Shrine 天川神社 Address📍: 1278-1 Hirao, Yamanochi, Shimotakai District, Nagano 381-0401, Japan Nearest train station 🚉: Yudanaka Famous for ✨: its history and importance in the area, its architecture and it’s tranquility Tourist spots nearby 👀: ♨️ the numerous outdoor and indoor hot spring places in the area 🖼️ Shiga Kogen Roman Museum that shows the artworks of Roman influenced Japan #nagano #Yudanaka #japan

Mishakaike Pond

This pond has also an amazing view of momiji in orange color. You can see also in here the nice reflection of nature in the water 🤩🤩🤩. There’s near toilet too if ever your by car and want to stop over. We had tour bus and visited this famous pond. This is a pond for agriculture, but become famous for the work paintedby Higashiyama Kaii, a famous Japanese painter. Beautiful.

#Autumn Throwback

*This is just some snaps from the bus when I went to Nagano for the autumn viewing in November.Nagano is one of the beautiful place you can visit if you live here in Japan or if you are living outside the country and planning to come here. You can add this into your list and check some other places here in Nagano if you want😊.Nagano is just 3-4 hours trip from Tokyo if you gonna ride a bus but you can also take a train if you want or a taxi etc. #autumn2022 #throwbackpics #naganoadventure #japan #japanAutumn

Enjoy the best white Christmas wonderland

#skiadventure Address - Nagano, Japan Ambiance/Facilities - Christmas wonderland, ski facilities, hot spring, restaurants Highlights - White flurry snow Avg. Price per Person - $200 to >$500 Rating - 5.0 out of 5.0 stars If you want to enjoy the purest Christmas and see white flurry snow flew down from the sky covering roof, cars and streets. You also dream of building snowman and making snow angel. You want to ski down the most exciting slopes. Then you have to visit Nagano in Japan where there are great food great snow and great ski resort. #japan #winter #nagano

Zenkoji temple

Zenkoji is well-known among many people in Japan. This spot is in Nagano city, which is a popular place for skiing. A winter Olympic was held in Nagano. From Nagano station, you can walk or take a bus. The gate is so large that Japanese people are amazed whenever we see it . #Zenkoji #Japan #Temple #善光寺 #長野 #日本

Zenko Cathedral is the oldest Buddhist building in Japan. It has a long history of 1400 years. It is also the temple that best reflects Japanese culture. Because of the architectural and cultural heritage of the Zenkoji Temple and the Hidden Shrine, Nagano is filled with a strong cultural atmosphere and natural resources. Get off at the bus stop and go to the Zenkoji Temple. On both sides of the road are the courtyards and temples that are very old in Japan. They are all enshrined in different places. The lush green trees in front of the door add to the enthusiasm. Going inside can go to Daren Wangmen, this Renwangmen was burned down in 1752, and now Renwangmen was newly built in 1918. Walking through the Renwang Gate will pass through a street full of shops selling many products about Buddhism, called Zhong Zhong Shi Tong. After walking through a long street, I went to the gate of the Zenko Temple. On the right side of the gate are six Tibetan Bodhisattvas, and the Bodhisattva of the Divine Bodhisattva can appear in six lanes. After the death of the people, they can save all beings. Next to Japan's unique sink, you can wash your hands with a bamboo spoon, then rinse the water from the spoon handle and wash the spoon handle for the next use.

A must-visit temple in Nagano

Finding the key to Paradise in the pitch black is a experience - not only does it show you how a blind person feels but also it is worth it for the atmosphere. The Buddhist praying area is very calm and they keep the place very keen in the Main hall so walking in stocking feet as you carry your shoes around in a bag is not a issue. Beware the initial steps down into the corridor with the key is dimly lit and the first steps are steep and deep. The gardens are beautiful and there are plenty of places to have food - we took a bento box in with us and found a quit spot . Plenty of loos around and opportunities abound for buying souvenirs, fortune telling and food. It’s easy to find and if you take a bus it saves time but if not it’s an easy walk from the station. I want to travel to Thailand in 2024. #2024wish

Nagano, Japan

Nagano has always been a holiday destination in central Japan, whether it's for summer retreats or winter snow viewing. It is the region with the longest life expectancy in Japan and one of the happiest areas. Joe Hisaishi and Makoto Shinkai were both born here. In the city of Nagano, the Zenko-ji Temple has a history of 1,400 years and possesses the oldest Buddha statue in Japan. The Shiga Kogen Plateau in the east has many ski resorts, and the scenery of the snow-capped mountains is also quite spectacular, evoking memories of the "Eternal Snow Mountain" map for players of the game "Dungeon Fighter Online". At the Jigokudani Monkey Park on the mountainside, there are natural outdoor hot springs and monkeys bathing here, which is a very rare and interesting sight to see.

#awesomepic Great little temple with some manicured conifers, nice little cemetery out the back. Togakushi-jinja Shrine, located at the base of Mt. Togakushi to the northwest of Nagano, is connected to one of Japan's most enduring legends. #awesomepic

The ancient road of the Hidden Shrine is 2 kilometers long. In the shrine, there is no hierarchical status. Everyone treats all the same people. Whether it is a nobleman or a civilian, you must walk down here. The person wearing the hat needs to take off the hat when passing the torii. When walking, you need to walk on both sides of the road, because the middle is God walking. This road is very long, but the environment is also awesome. The towering trees stand on both sides of the road, making the whole road look solemn. There is a building in the way of one kilometer. It is called "Following the Gate of God". It is the door to the evil spirits entering the shrine courtyard. The thatched roof and the vermilion red color are a quiet and quiet place away from the world. There are some stones piled up by pedestrians along the way. It can be seen that these acts are full of faith. The trees became taller after passing the gate, and the leaves on both sides were reddish and full of autumn flavor. I like this color and I like the feeling here. Even with some pedestrians, I feel in a world that nobody disturbs.

Togakushi-Jinja

#cherryblossom2024 One of the most beautiful places in Nagano. There was heavy snow, and that was fun to walk throughout the way until we reached the shrine. The shrine on the top is usually closed during winters. But the pathway is beautiful.Majestic experience if you get to hike among all 5 shrines. Direct bus loop departing from Nagano Station. About an hour ride up to the mountain, and about 2-3 hours walk for the while hiking trip. Visited during winter with heavy snow. Beware of the slippery ice, and be equipped with boots. The final segment with the trees may be closed during snow melting season. Be sure to double check with local before you go.

Nagano·Togakushi Shrine

The ancient cedar trees here are all over 400 years old, among which one is over 800 years old. In front of these tree gods, we seem so insignificant, just like a falling leaf. It seems that we can feel the mysterious charm emitted by nature. The surroundings are quiet, only the rustling sound of the breeze gently brushing the leaves and the squeaking sound of feet stepping on the snow, as if telling ancient legends and stories. Forest, stream, wild flowers, moss, the air is full of the smell of spring, it is really hard to describe, "Suddenly encountering a peach blossom forest, a few hundred steps along the bank, there are no miscellaneous trees, the grass is fresh and beautiful, and the fallen flowers are colorful" "The land is flat and open, the houses are solemn, there are good fields, beautiful ponds, mulberries and bamboos. The roads are interconnected, and the chickens and dogs hear each other. Among them, men and women are dressed like outsiders. The old with yellow hair and the young with long hair are all happy." Melon cut clear water.

Kagami ike pond

#cherryblossom2024 A tourist attraction. It's along a walking path. Good place to take some pictures. If you're lucky you might take a picture with the mountains reflection in the lake. There is a restaurant for crepes. If I remember correctly they make it from buck wheat.One of my favorite views in all of Japan. It’s difficult to come here when there are no clouds, but it’s a unforgettable view. You can eat some great Soba crepes here as well!

Kagami ike pond

#2024wish When I went there two years ago, it was very beautiful, so I visited again this time during the autumn leaves season. It was a really beautiful scenery. I'm impressed by the magnificent beauty of nature. I visited on weekdays, but during the autumn leaves season, there are waiting for parking lots and traffic jams, so I decided to walk from the entrance of Togakushi Shrine, and it was about 45 minutes one way, and I thought it was hard for my body due to lack of exercise on a daily basis, but there are few ups and downs, so it's a problem. I was able to walk without it. It was very pleasant to walk along the path of nature, it's just a bear habitat, so it may be better to be careful in these times. I wish to travel more in 2024

Lake Kagami in Nagano

#2024wish After walking up to the Okusha Shrine, we headed for the Lake Kagami. The hike through the Botanical Garden to the lake took us about 30-40 minutes and wasn't very challenging. Thus, you won't need any special hiking gear. Sneakers will do just fine. But you should definitely bring your camera! The reflections of the mountains and trees in the water of the lake are truly amazing. Needless to say that you should visit on a sunny day.

Cultural path leading to Zenko-ji Temple

Name📝: Zenko-ji Omotesando 善光寺表參道 Nearest train station 🚉: Zenkojishita 善光寺下 Address📍: Nagano, 381-0841, Japan Famous for✨: The cultural architecture on the street The many local restaurants and street food stalls The various small temples that lead to the main Zenkoji Temple Tourist spots nearby 👀: ⛩️Zenko Ji Temple -25 minutes walk 🐻 Jooyama Zoo - 17 minutes walk #nagano #Zenkoji #Zenkojitemple #japan

Shopping Street leading to Zenko-ji Temple

Name📝: Zenko-ji Omotesando 善光寺表參道 Address📍: Japan, 〒380-0853 Nagano Nearest train station 🚉: Zenkojishita 善光寺下 Famous for ✨: the many souvenir shops and local delicacies all the way leading up to the Zenko-ji Temple Tourist spots nearby 👀: ⛩️ Zenko Ji Temple (from the beginning of the shopping Street it’s about 25 minute walk, but time passes quickly when you are shopping) 🐵 Joyama Zoo (from the end of the street at Zenko Ji Temple only 10 minute walk) #nagano #Zenkoji #japan