'''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