| Nagano (長野(ja)) | |
 | |
| Information | |
| Country |  Japan |
|---|---|
| Region | Chūbu |
| Altitude | Between 362.49 and m |
| Area | 834,81 km² |
| Population | 376 578 hab. (2015) |
| Density | 451,09 inhab./km² |
| Spindle | UTC 09:00 |
| Location | |
 36 ° 36 ′ 14 ″ N 138 ° 12 ′ 36 ″ E | |
| Official site | |
Nagano is the capital of the prefecture of Nagano, in the region of Chūbu, on the island of Honshū, the largest of Japan. It flourished as the city of the famous Zenkō-ji temple.
Understand
Nagano hosted the 1998 Winter Olympics. Most of the Olympic facilities remain open - such as the arena M-Wave speed skating and arena Aqua-Wing - making Nagano a popular destination for indoor and outdoor sports enthusiasts. It is also an essential starting point for trips to onsen and ski resorts in the nearby mountains, which are often referred to as the “Japanese Alps”.
To go
By train
- 1 Nagano Station (長野 駅)
Nagano is approximately 90 min from the station Tokyo on the high speed train. The Hokuriku Shinkansen, also known as Nagano Shinkansen or Asama (あ さ ま), was completed in time for the 1998 Winter Olympics. There are 2-3 departures per hour from Tokyo Station. The trip costs 7 970 JPY in each direction.
The express train Wide View Shinano runs with a departure every hour from Nagoya towards Nagano. It takes about three hours and costs 7 130 JPY in either direction, this is the best way to reach Nagano by train from Kyoto, Osaka and elsewhere in western Japan, just take the Shinkansen and change to the "Shinano" in Nagoya.
By bus
Tokyo coaches depart from Shinjuku Station and Sunshine City Prince Hotel To Ikebukuro. The journey takes approximately 3 h 30, and the price is 4 000 JPY the one-way trip. The round trip price is 7 200 JPY, about half the cost of the Shinkansen.
The Hankyu and Nankai buses also make some day and night trips from Osaka and Kyoto to Nagano. The journey takes about seven hours during the day, and nine hours at night. Expect to pay 6 200 JPY one way and 10 000 JPY round trip from Osaka, 5 300 JPY one way and 9 500 JPY round trip from Kyoto.
Circulate
There are buses called Gururingō (ぐ る り ん 号) looping around the city center. If you stay in the main area, one ride costs only 100 JPY.
To see
- 1 Zenkō-ji temple (善 光寺) 491, Motozen-machi,
81 26 234 3591 
temple: June-August: Mon.- Sun. : 5 h 30 - 16 h 00 otherwise Mon.- Sun. : 7 h - 16 h ; Museum : Mon.- Sun. : 8 h - 16 h. 
500 JPY. – By bus 10 min from Nagano station, stop "Zenkôji Daimon" or 30 min walk. This temple, built for the first time in VIIe century, is a major pilgrimage site. The main attraction is the hibutsu (秘 仏), or Hidden Buddha, a statue that is on display to the public only once every 6 years (the next time will be in 2021). A major renovation of the large interior gate was completed in 2007. You can see a beautiful line of houses along the street. There are restaurants with a certain atmosphere. You can also buy talismans as souvenirs. - 2 Nishi-no-Mon (西 之 門) Nishinomoncho 941 (southwest of the main gate of Zenkō-ji), 81-26-237-5000 sat.- Fri. : 9 h - 17 h. free. – A sake brewery also having a restaurant and shops, all located in traditional buildings. The brewery has a small, free museum with little more than historical photos and a view of the brewery's stainless steel equipment.
temple: June-August: Mon.- Sun. : 
- 3 Nagano Prefecture Shinano Art Museum (長野 県 信 濃 子術館, nagano-ken shinano bijutsukan) Hakoshimizu 1-4-4 (just east of Zenkō-ji), 81 26-232-0052 Game.- Tue. : 9 h - 17 h. 500 JPY. – The most important art museum in the prefecture. The Higashiyama Kaii Gallery exhibits peaceful landscapes (depicting Northern Europe as well as Japan) by one of the masters of nihon-ga (traditional Japanese type painting).
- 4 Matsushiro Underground Imperial Headquarters (松 代 大本 営 跡) 479-11 Matsushiromachi Nishijō, 81 26-224-8316 Game.- Tue. : 9 h - 16 h. free. – A large underground bunker complex built during WWII, it was intended to protect the emperor and central organs of government, but Japan surrendered before its completion.
Do
- Binzuru Dance Festival (び ん ず る, 賓 頭 盧) the first Saturday in August. – Nagano's biggest summer festival. Each year, more than 200 groups take part in the festival. They walk and dance through Chūō-dōri, snapping together wooden spatulas called shamoji. The name of the festival comes from the Japanese version of the Indian Buddhist saint Pindola Bharadvaja. The procession ends its journey at Zenkō-ji temple where festival-goers rub a well-worn Binzuru statue to attract good luck.
- 1 Kagai Onsen Ichiyōkan (加 賀 井 温泉 一 陽 館) Matsushiro Machi Higashijo 松 代 町 東 条 55 (take Route 403 south from the Nagano Interchange on the Joshinetsu Expressway. Turn left at the Kojinmachi intersection. Follow the road and take the last right before a 90 degree right turn. The onsen is at the end of the road.), 81 26-278-2016 8 h - 20 h. adults: 300 JPY. – This unusual onsen has full length indoor baths with brown water, separate men and women. It also has two mixed outdoor baths. Bring a large towel.
- 2 Omura Onsen Makibanoyu (大 室 温泉 ま き ば の 湯) Matsushiro Machi Omura 4108 松 代 町 大 室 4108 (from route 18, follow route 380 east. Turn right onto Route 403, then immediately left. Cross the railway line and go up the hill to the left), 81 26-278-5687 9 h - 22 h. adults: 500 JPY. – Has a large outdoor bath (rotenburo) with magnificent views from the Zenkōji plain to the northern Alps. Great any time of year, but better in winter.
To buy
Nagano is famous for Togakushi soba. Make sure you taste some Oyaki, delicious and inexpensive Japanese dumplings. They can be filled with different things, sweet or savory.
- 1 Yawataya Isogorō (八 幡 屋 礒 五郎) Daimon-cho 83 (just south of the main Zenkō-ji gate) sat.- Fri. : 9 h - 18 h 30. – A 280-year-old store specializing in shichimi ("Seven flavors"), a condiment made from chili, sesame, citrus and other spices, commonly sprinkled over noodle soup soba. The pewter boxes unique to Yawataya are a staple in soba shops across Japan.
Eat
Have a drink / Go out
Housing
Cheap
- 1 1166 Backpackers 1048 Nishimachi (at about 15 min from Nagano station; convenient location at 03 min walk from Zenkō-ji temple), 81 26-217-2816 dormitory 2 600 JPY, private room for 5 600 JPY (2 pers.) Or 7 200 JPY (3 pers.). – Very friendly owner speaking good English. The facilities are very good and clean.
- 2 Moritomizu Backpackers Hostel (森 と 水 バ ッ ク パ ッ カ ー ズ) 1-6-2 Nakagosho (near Nagano station, approx. 25 min of the Zenkō-ji temple), 81 26-217-5188 separate male / female dormitory 2 600 JPY ; private rooms from 3 600 JPY ; discount for longer stays and groups. –
free. A practical inexpensive hostel. Nice person speaking English and able to give information on tourist and outdoor activities. Kitchen, living room and hot showers. No curfew. - 3 Zenkōji Kyōjuin (善 光寺 教授 院 ユ ー ス ホ ス テ ル) , 81 26-232-2768 room available from 16 h, to be released before 10 h. shared room with futon 3 360 JPY ; private room 4 000 JPY. – Located in an old temple building a few blocks from Zenkō-ji Temple. The owner speaks limited English and is happy to use it.
free. A practical inexpensive hostel. Nice person speaking English and able to give information on tourist and outdoor activities. Kitchen, living room and hot showers. No curfew.Average price
Luxury
Around
- Jigokudani monkey park (To 30 min) – Where snow monkeys bathe there.
- Joshin'etsukogen National Park – Where is Shiga Kōgen, one of the most important ski resorts in Japan.
- Chikuma (Shinano railway line south to Chikuma or Togura station) – Explore the onsen, mountains, and temples of this small town straddling the Chikuma River.
| Routes via Nagano |
| Kanazawa ← Toyama ← | O  E | → Ueda → Tokyo |
| Joetsu ← Toyota-Iiyama ← | NOT  S | → Kosyoku →  S → Fujioka |
| This article uses content from the Nagano Wikipedia article. See the history of this page for the list of authors. |
| This article uses content from the Wikipedia article ja: 長野 市. See the history of this page for the list of authors. |
