The only read you’ll need! Nagano Prefecture: a Guide to the Best of all Four Seasons (2024)

Just in the center of Honshu with the Japan’s fourth-largest area sits Nagano, a prefecture hugged by the Japanese Alps and rolling peaks that soar over 3,000 meters high. With plenty of natural landscapes as far as the eye can see, swing by for a cool escape in summer or for a time at Japan’s premier snow resorts in winter, known and loved by travelers all around. The prefecture is also sprinkled with historic castles and hot springs, making it ideal for a leisurely drive across all the many sights to see.
Below is a handy roundup of all the best of Nagano so you can figure what best to try each season. From Shinshu soba to other local delights, buckle up for Nagano food that’s sure to bring you back for more.

Table of Contents

  1. A Guide to Nagano Transportation and Getting Around
  2. If you plan to explore all of Nagano Prefecture, renting a car is recommended.
  3. Enjoying Spring in Nagano.
  4. Enjoying Summer in Nagano.
  5. Enjoying Autumn in Nagano.
  6. Enjoying Winter in Nagano.
  7. Even more Nagano to love! The hot springs of Nagano Prefecture.
  8. Check out the local eats of Nagano Prefecture!

A Guide to Nagano Transportation and Getting Around

The gateways to Nagano Prefecture include Shinshu Matsumoto Airport for air travel and the Nagano Shinkansen Station for rail travel. Here's how to access the main tourist spots in Nagano Prefecture.

Rail

From Tokyo:

  • To Karuizawa Station & Ueda Station: Tokyo Station → JR Hokuriku Shinkansen (Hakutaka & Asama services) approximately 1 hour to 1 hour 20 minutes → Karuizawa Station → JR Hokuriku Shinkansen (Hakutaka & Asama services) approximately 18 minutes
  • To Nagano Station: Tokyo Station → JR Hokuriku Shinkansen (Kagayaki, Hakutaka, & Asama services) approximately 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 50 minutes
  • To Shinano-Omachi Station: Tokyo Station → JR Limited Express Azusa approximately 2 hours 40 minutes → Matsumoto Station → About 1 hour on the Oito Line
  • To Matsumoto Station & Kamisuwa Station: Shinjuku Station → JR Limited Express Azusa approximately 2 hours 5 minutes to 25 minutes → Kamisuwa Station → JR Limited Express Azusa approximately 25 minutes to 45 minutes
  • To Komagane Station: Shinjuku Station → JR Limited Express Azusa approximately 2 hours 5 minutes to 25 minutes → Okaya Station → JR line approximately 1 hour 4 minutes

From Osaka

To Nagano Station, Ueda Station & Karuizawa Station: Osaka Station → JR Limited Express Thunderbird approximately 1 hour 17 minutes to 27 minutes → Tsuruga Station → JR Hokuriku Shinkansen (Kagayaki & Hakutaka services) approximately 1 hour 50 minutes to 2 hours 15 minutes → Nagano Station → JR Hokuriku Shinkansen (Hakutaka service) approximately 11 minutes → Ueda Station → JR Hokuriku Shinkansen (Hakutaka service) approximately 19 minutes → Karuizawa Station
To Shinano-Omachi Station: Osaka Station → JR Limited Express Thunderbird approximately 2 hours 50 minutes → Kanazawa Station → JR Hokuriku Shinkansen 1hour 30 minutes → Nagano Station → Express Bus about 1hour 10 minutes
To Matsumoto Station: Osaka Station → JR Tokaido Shinkansen Nozomi approximately 48 to 54 minutes → Nagoya Station → JR Limited Express Shinano approximately 2 hours 5 minutes
To Kamisuwa Station: Osaka Station → JR Tokaido Shinkansen Nozomi approximately 48 to 54 minutes → Nagoya Station → JR Limited Express Shinano approximately 1 hour 55 minutes → Shiojiri Station → JR line approximately 23 minutes
To Komagane Station: Osaka Station → JR Tokaido Shinkansen Nozomi approximately 48 to 54 minutes → Nagoya Station → JR Limited Express Shinano approximately 1 hour 55 minutes → Shiojiri Station → JR line approximately 11 minutes → Okaya Station → JR line approximately 1 hour 6 minutes

Airport

Shinshu Matsumoto Airport → Airport Shuttle Bus approximately 30 minutes → Matsumoto Bus Terminal → 3 minutes walk → Matsumoto Station → JR Limited Express Shinano approximately 54 minutes → Nagano Station

Express Bus

From Tokyo

To Nagano Station: Bus Terminal Shinjuku → Express Bus approximately 4 hours 30 minutes
To Komoro Station: Bus Terminal Shinjuku → Express Bus approximately 3 hours
To Ueda Station Front: Bus Terminal Shinjuku → Express Bus approximately 4 hours
To Karuizawa Station: Bus Terminal Shinjuku → Express Bus approximately 3 hours 22 minutes
To Shinano-Omachi Station: Bus Terminal Shinjuku → Express Bus approximately 4 hours
To Matsumoto BT: Bus Terminal Shinjuku → Express Bus approximately 3 hours 18 minutes
To Ina BT & Komagane BT: Bus Terminal Shinjuku → Express Bus approximately 3 hours 10 minutes → Ina BT → Express Bus for 20 minutes
To Iida Station Front: Bus Terminal Shinjuku → Express Bus for 4 hours 15 minutes

From Osaka

  • To Nagano Station: Osaka (Hankyu Sanban Gai) → Express Bus for approximately 8 hours 52 minutes
  • To Komoro Station: Osaka → Express Bus for approximately 9 hours 48 minutes
  • To Karuizawa Station: Osaka → Express Bus for approximately 9 hours 12 minutes → Ueda Station → Express Bus for 1 hour 34 minutes
  • To Matsumoto BT: Osaka (Hankyu Sanban Gai) → Express Bus for approximately 5 hours 46 minutes
  • To Ina BT & Komagane BT: Osaka (Hankyu Sanban Gai) → Express Bus for approximately 5 hours 16 minutes → Ina BT → Express Bus for 25 minutes

[If you're planning to visit the popular Alpine route, it's recommended to stay in Omachi City!]

The Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route is a popular tourist destination. It is a mountain sightseeing route that spans a total of 37.2 km through the Northern Alps, with a highest point of 2,450 m. Entrances to the route are located in Nagano and Toyama prefectures, at both ends of the route. Ogizawa Station, the entrance to the Nagano Prefecture side of the route, is located in Omachi City. If you start from the station and take six different modes of transportation to tour this route, it will take about 8 hours. It is recommended to stay in Omachi City and enjoy the Alpine Route from the morning.

The only read you’ll need! Nagano Prefecture: a Guide to the Best of all Four Seasons (1)

If you plan to explore all of Nagano Prefecture, renting a car is recommended.

Major rental car companies, including budget options, are located near key transportation hubs like Shinshu Matsumoto Airport, Nagano Station, and Matsumoto Station. First, ensure you have a valid driver's license and its Japanese translation, and make your reservation online from your home country. Don’t forget your passport on the day of rental. If you’re heading to the suburbs, consider arranging a rental car at the airport or main stations.
While it’s convenient to rent a car, there have been accidents involving tourists. It’s important to remember that Japan's traffic rules may differ from those in your country.

Key Rules:

  • In Japan, vehicles drive on the left side of the road, and most cars have right-hand drive.
  • All vehicles must stop at red lights. Unlike in the U.S., right-on-red turns are prohibited even if no cars are coming from the left.
  • STOP signs are red inverted triangles. Be sure to note if it looks different than back home!
  • Right-turn accidents are a major hazard at intersections, so please exercise extreme caution when making right turns. .
  • Reduce speeds and be cautious of slipping due to ice in winter.

☆ For more details on Japanese traffic rules, visit the JAF (Japan Automobile Federation) website.
Drive safe to enjoy your stay in Japan
https://english.jaf.or.jp/

The only read you’ll need! Nagano Prefecture: a Guide to the Best of all Four Seasons (2)

Enjoying Spring in Nagano.

Spring is synonymous with cherry blossoms in Japan. With its many famous castles, Nagano offers quintessentially Japanese scenes of castles adorned with cherry blossoms. Here are some spots where you can enjoy the beautiful collaboration of cherry blossoms with historic castles!

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[Matsumoto City] The national treasure, Matsumoto Castle, stands towering against the backdrop of the Northern Alps.

Matsumoto Castle, built during the Warring States period between 1593 and 1594, is Japan's oldest surviving castle with a five-story, six-floor keep. The castle's striking black and white contrast stands out beautifully against the backdrop of the Alps and is designated as a national treasure. In spring, the castle is adorned with cherry blossoms, creating a picturesque scene like a painting. The ”Yozakura-kai” (night cherry blossom viewing event) is also held, with the Honmaru Garden open to the public for free at night and illuminated beautifully.

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See more details of Matsumoto Castle

[Komoro City] The Komoro Castle Ruins and Kaiko-en Park are among the eminent cherry blossom spots in Nagano Prefecture where you can spend an entire day.

Komoro Castle is a unique "hole castle" set lower than the surrounding castle town. The site dates back to the Warring States period, known for its Important Cultural Property-designated structures like the Otemon Gate and the Sannomon Gate. The castle is renowned for its stunning beauty throughout the seasons, but especially in spring for its undeniable allure as one of the Top 100 Cherry Blossom Spots in Japan. There’s plenty to see inside the park including a zoo, an amusement park and an art museum, making it a one-stop delight for children and adults.

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See more details of Komoro Castle Ruins / Kaiko-en Park

[Ueda City] Ueda Castle, known for its impregnable defense, also appeared in the anime movie "Summer Wars."

Ueda Castle was built in 1583 by Sanada Masayuki and is known today as an impregnable fortress for twice repelling Tokugawa forces during the first and second Battles of Ueda. The castle's highlights include the South Turret, North Turret, and Eastern Gateway Tower that still stand today. In spring, Somei Yoshino and Weeping Cherry trees bloom profusely, engulfing the castle in a sea of blossoms during the Ueda Castle Thousand Cherry Trees Festival.

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See more details of Ueda Castle

[Omachi City] Omachi Park offers a stunning collaboration between the remaining snow of the Northern Alps and the beautiful cherry blossoms.

Located on the mountainside of Mount Higashi, this park offers a viewpoint where you can overlook the cityscape from within the park. During the period from mid-April to early May every year, cherry blossoms bloom, and against the backdrop of the cherry blossom trees, the snow-capped Northern Alps stretch out, making it a popular spot for photography. The Cherry Blossom Festival is also held, and during this period, the cherry blossoms are illuminated at night, providing a delightful experience.

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Details

Name in Japanese
大町公園
Postal Code
398-0002
Address
8056-1 Omachi, Omachi City, Nagano
Telephone
0261-22-0190 (Omachi City Tourism Association)
Closed
Open all day long
Business Hours
Open all day long
Admission
Free
Access
5 minutes by car from JR Shinano-Omachi Station
Credit Cards
Not accepted
Official Website
Official Website (Japanese)

[Iida City] A tunnel of cherry trees decorates the ~700m road leading to the shrine "Omiya Street's Cherry Blossom Trees"

One of the famous cherry blossom spots in Iida City, "Omiya Street's Cherry Blossom Trees," has many magnificent trees over 300 years old. About 150 cherry trees, including Somei-Yoshino, typically bloom around late March. During this period, night-time light-up is also conducted, attracting viewers with a different ambiance than the daytime.

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Details

Name in Japanese
大宮通りの桜並木
Postal Code
395-0085
Address
Azumacho, Iida City, Nagano
Telephone
0265-22-4851(Iida City Hall Tourism Division)
Closed
Free to walk
Business Hours
Walk anytime
Admission
Free
Access
A 5-minute walk from JR Sakuramachi Station

[Hakubamura] "Oide Park," a scenic spot overlooking clear streams and the grand mountains of Hakuba

Once the cherry blossoms are in full seasonal bloom, you won’t want to miss a chance to see them up close from the observation terrace. The spring view of cherry blossoms against a backdrop of Hakuba’s snow-capped mountains is remarkable. In summer, you’ll find the lush greenery of picturesque rural landscape, while autumn brings the splendor of bright foliage before the silvery world of winter wonderland sets in. Each season offers a different backdrop to behold, ensuring you’ll want to visit again and again.

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See more details of Oide Park

[Iiyama City] Breeze through the fields of rapeseed flowers by bike "Rapeseed and Cycling"

Iiyama City, dotted with rapeseed spots like the Rapeseed Flower Park and Kitaryu Lake, is best enjoyed by cycling. Various routes starting from Iiyama Station are available, allowing one to enjoy a journey by bike while feeling the refreshing spring breeze.

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Details

Name in Japanese
菜の花畑とサイクリング
Postal Code
389-2253
Address
Iiyama Station 1F, 772-6 Iiyama, Iiyama City, Nagano
Telephone
0269-62-7001 (Shinetsu Shizenkyo Activity Center)
Closed
Open every day
Business Hours
8:30am - 6:00pm
Price
Rental bikes from 1000 yen for half a day
Access
JR Iiyama Station 1F
Credit Cards
Accepted
Official Website
Official Website (English)

[Azumino City] Daio Wasabi Farm, Surrounded by the rich nature of Azumino, Japan’s biggest Wasabi farm is where melted snow is gushing from the northern Alps.

The biggest Wasabi farm started cultivating in 1917. The water of Tadegawa river is pure and 3 watermills are alongside the river, which makes fantastic scenery. The best time to view Wasabi blossoms is from the middle of March to April. A promenade is well prepared so you will enjoy exploring while relaxing around the beautiful scenery of Wasabi farm.

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See more details of Daio Wasabi Farm

[Saku City] Nagano Prefecture's largest hot-air balloon festival "Saku Balloon Festival"

Held annually from May 3rd to 5th during the Golden Week holiday, it's one of the largest hot-air balloon festivals in the prefecture. The sight of colorful balloons flying on the refreshing winds over the Saku highlands is truly breathtaking! In addition to competitive flights, the festival also offers various experiences such as hot-air balloon workshops.

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Details

Name in Japanese
佐久バルーンフェスティバル
Postal Code
385-0016
Location
Chikuma River Sports Exchange Plaza, 505-1 Naruse, Saku City, Nagano
Telephone
Saku Balloon Festival Organizing Committee Office 0267-62-3285 (within Saku City Hall Tourism Division)
Schedule
May 3rd, 4th and 5th
Admission
Free
Access
About 15 minutes by taxi from JR Hokuriku Shinkansen's Sakudaira Station
Official Website
Official Website (Japanese)
Next Page : Enjoying Summer in Nagano.
The only read you’ll need! Nagano Prefecture: a Guide to the Best of all Four Seasons (2024)

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