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Nagano Prefecture's popular spots and attractions

Click on a tourist spot on the map to view tourist information.

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Kamikochi

A scenic spot at an altitude of 1,500m, formed by the accumulation of sediment along the Azusa River in the southern part of the Northern Alps. As it is mostly flat, it is popular as a spot where you can casually enjoy hiking without special equipment. It takes about an hour to reach Taisho Pond after getting off the bus at the bus terminal. If you have three hours from Taisho Pond, you can extend your walk to Myojin Pond, stopping off at Tashiro Pond and other places along the way. Why not spend a relaxing time walking while enjoying the view of the majestic Hotaka up close, viewing the delicate wildflowers, and listening to the chirps of wild birds?

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Matsumoto Castle

The castle tower is thought to have been built in Bunroku 2-3 (1593-4), and is the oldest surviving five-story, six-story castle tower in Japan. The walls of the five-story, six-story castle tower, designated a national treasure, are lacquered in black and white, and the beautiful contrast of the castle tower reflected in the water moat is magnificent. At the management office just past the imposing black gate, you can receive a rare goshuin (castle seal) as a memento of your visit to the castle.

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Matsukawa Valley

Matsukawa Valley in Takayama Village is one of the most famous V-shaped valleys in Japan, and is famous as a spot to see autumn leaves. You can enjoy the colorful autumn foliage, such as the view of the steep rocks covered with colorful maples, the gradation of the mountain ranges, and the colors along the valley.

Chinese-Japanese Garden Ceremony (held on Apr. 23rd and May. 7th) (C) Zenkoji Temple

Chinese-Japanese Garden Ceremony (held on Apr. 23rd and May. 7th) (C) Zenkoji Temple

Zenkoji Temple

Zenkoji Temple has a history of approximately 1,400 years and is widely loved by people as a non-sectarian temple that does not belong to any particular sect.
The principal image of the temple, the "Ikko Sanzon Amida Nyorai Statue," enshrined in the main hall, has been an absolute secret Buddha since 654, and cannot be viewed directly. In its place, a "Zenkoji Zenritsu Honzon" was created in the Kamakura period. It is usually kept in the treasure house, but once every seven years, it can be welcomed into the temple and specially worshipped, and the "Zenkoji Zenritsu Honzon Gokaicho" will be held from Sunday, Apr. 3rd to Wednesday, Jun. 26th, 2022.
When the current main hall was built (1707), the Matsushiro domain was the Fudai magistrate, and so an "Ekobashira" (pillar of devotion) was donated and erected in front of the main hall. The Ekobashira is tied to the middle finger of the right hand of the "Zen-no-tetsu" (principal image) with the "Zen-no-tetsu" (tie of goodness), and conveys the mercy of the "Buddha" to those who touch the pillar.
Why not take this rare opportunity to experience a blessed connection with Buddha by visiting Zenkoji Temple?
*It may not be possible to touch the ekobashira pillars when they are crowded.

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Kamikochi

A scenic spot at an altitude of 1,500m, formed by the accumulation of sediment along the Azusa River in the southern part of the Northern Alps. As it is mostly flat, it is popular as a spot where you can casually enjoy hiking without special equipment. It takes about an hour to reach Taisho Pond after getting off the bus at the bus terminal. If you have three hours from Taisho Pond, you can extend your walk to Myojin Pond, stopping off at Tashiro Pond and other places along the way. Why not spend a relaxing time walking while enjoying the view of the majestic Hotaka up close, viewing the delicate wildflowers, and listening to the chirps of wild birds?

Image

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Matsumoto Castle

The castle tower is thought to have been built in Bunroku 2-3 (1593-4), and is the oldest surviving five-story, six-story castle tower in Japan. The walls of the five-story, six-story castle tower, designated a national treasure, are lacquered in black and white, and the beautiful contrast of the castle tower reflected in the water moat is magnificent. At the management office just past the imposing black gate, you can receive a rare goshuin (castle seal) as a memento of your visit to the castle.

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Matsukawa Valley

Matsukawa Valley in Takayama Village is one of the most famous V-shaped valleys in Japan, and is famous as a spot to see autumn leaves. You can enjoy the colorful autumn foliage, such as the view of the steep rocks covered with colorful maples, the gradation of the mountain ranges, and the colors along the valley.

Chinese-Japanese Garden Ceremony (held on Apr. 23rd and May. 7th) (C) Zenkoji Temple

Chinese-Japanese Garden Ceremony (held on Apr. 23rd and May. 7th) (C) Zenkoji Temple

Zenkoji Temple

Zenkoji Temple has a history of approximately 1,400 years and is widely loved by people as a non-sectarian temple that does not belong to any particular sect.
The principal image of the temple, the "Ikko Sanzon Amida Nyorai Statue," enshrined in the main hall, has been an absolute secret Buddha since 654, and cannot be viewed directly. In its place, a "Zenkoji Zenritsu Honzon" was created in the Kamakura period. It is usually kept in the treasure house, but once every seven years, it can be welcomed into the temple and specially worshipped, and the "Zenkoji Zenritsu Honzon Gokaicho" will be held from Sunday, Apr. 3rd to Wednesday, Jun. 26th, 2022.
When the current main hall was built (1707), the Matsushiro domain was the Fudai magistrate, and so an "Ekobashira" (pillar of devotion) was donated and erected in front of the main hall. The Ekobashira is tied to the middle finger of the right hand of the "Zen-no-tetsu" (principal image) with the "Zen-no-tetsu" (tie of goodness), and conveys the mercy of the "Buddha" to those who touch the pillar.
Why not take this rare opportunity to experience a blessed connection with Buddha by visiting Zenkoji Temple?
*It may not be possible to touch the ekobashira pillars when they are crowded.

Learn more about the attractions of Nagano Prefecture

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The only place in Japan where you can see the lost stones "Seven Famous Stones"!

Nagano is a forested prefecture, with forests covering about 80% of the prefecture's land area. The fourth Sunday Jul. every year is designated as "Shinshu Mountain Day."
The famous mountain "Kiso Komagatake" is one of the 100 famous mountains in Japan. It has an elevation of 2,956m, and you can take a private car or a ropeway to reach the high altitude of 2,638m in one go, so it is known as a mountain that can be reached in a short time. The surrounding area is full of unique attractions such as Japan's tallest hotel, "Hotel Senjojiki", the ropeway with the longest elevation change in Japan, and "Komausuyukisou", a specialty of the Central Alps. Among them, we would like to introduce to you the "Seven Famous Stones" of Komagane Plateau.
The Seven Famous Stones are stones that were left behind by melting glaciers, and are known in Europe as "Mayoi-ishi." This is the only place in Japan where you can find "Mayoi-ishi." It is said that these stones were carried from Senjojiki on Mt. Komagatake by the force of glaciers and floods.
The seven stones are scattered around Kiriishi Park in Komagane City, so we recommend taking a walk around them.

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Nagano's classic dish: canned mackerel miso soup

Nagano is not on the coast, so seafood was hard to come by in the past, and so canned foods were highly valued. Apparently, canned foods were considered a delicacy at the time. And even today, canned foods are still very popular in Nagano households! Nagano is one of the top prefectures in Japan for canned food consumption.
One of the famous dishes that uses canned foods is "miso soup with bamboo shoots and canned mackerel."
Many people may be surprised to hear that canned mackerel can be used in miso soup, but the canned mackerel acts as a substitute for stock and gives the soup a rich flavor. The crunchy texture of the "magaridake bamboo shoots" is also addictive.
This miso soup with canned mackerel and bamboo shoots has been passed down as a local dish that is indispensable especially in early summer. Nowadays, it is sold as a canned miso soup with bamboo shoots. Why not give it a try?

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