'''Nagano Prefecture''' (______ ''Nagano-ken''; [http://www.pref.nagano.jp/english/indexe.htm]) is located at the center of Japan. It is surrounded by 8 prefectures. (Niigata, Toyama, Aichi, Gifu, Shizuoka, Yamanashi, Gunma, Saitama)

Understand

The population of Nagano is 2,214,356.

Cities

  • Matsumoto — featuring one of Japan's top 3 castles and lots of wasabi
  • Nagano — the prefectural capital and site of the 1998 Winter Olympics
  • Ueda
  • Other destinations

  • Hakuba — Popular winter area with 7 major ski resorts
  • Karuizawa — Famous mountain resort and a popular summer getaway
  • Kiso Valley — The scenic villages of Magome and Tsumago
  • Obuse — Museums, temples, chestnut confections, hot springs and lots of cultural events and festivals
  • Suwa — Resort town with a large lake and access to the Yatsugatake Mountain Range
  • Yamanouchi — Ryokans, Japanese atmosphere, and snowbathing monkeys.
  • Understand

    Talk

    Get in

    By train

    The '''Nagano Shinkansen''' line, a branch of the Joetsu line to Niigata, connects to Tokyo in around 2 hours.

    By Bus

    Buses from the Shinjuku long-distance bus station run about once an hour. The trip takes about 3-1/2 hours; fare is \4000 one-way or \7200 round-trip. [http://www.alpico.co.jp/access/express/nagano_shinjuku/] There is also a similar bus to Matsumoto here, it just goes via Kofu.

    '''123bus''' [http://www.123bus.net/index.html] is a company which provides daily bus services between Osaka and Nagano. With English online booking service.

    Get around

    See

  • Nagano's '''Zenk?ji''' temple is a major draw for pilgrims.
  • Do

    There are many mountains in Nagano, so there are many places to ski. There are also many campsites and onsen, in easy to access locations.

    In 1998, Winter Olympics took place in Nagano.

    Eat

    In culinary terms, Nagano is best known for its ''soba'' (buckwheat noodles), known as ''Shinano soba'' (_M_Z____) or ''Shinsh? soba'' (_M_B____), with those from Togakushi considered by some the best in Japan. ''Miso'' (fermented bean paste), a staple of the Japanese diet is also a famous Nagano product. Among foods characteristic to the region are ''oyaki'', small grilled doughballs filled with vegetables or meat, and on the unusual side, ''basashi'' (raw horse meat) and ''inago'' (locusts).

    '''Apples''' are one of the special products of Nagano. The taste of Nagano apples is sweet and juicy. The yield of apples in Nagano is the second largest in Japan.

    Drink

    Sleep

    Get out