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Nagano

A quiet getaway in the Japanese Alps

Information about Nagano

Until the 18th century, Nagano was a small village nestled in the middle of the Japanese Alps, whose foundations had grown around the Zenkō-ji Buddhist temple.

In 1998, it hosted the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and became internationally famous. However, it is still little visited today. It is suitable for people who want to escape the hustle and bustle of Japan's megacities and get a breath of fresh air by following the paths of giant cedar trees in the surrounding mountains.

Its most popular site with visitors and locals alike is Zenkō-ji Temple, the historic heart of Nagano. Its main hall was designated a national treasure in 1953 and the temple is famous for housing a hibutsu (a hidden Buddha statue), the very first statue of Amida Buddha that was brought to Japan.

Interesting facts about Nagano

Enjoy a bowl of soba noodles! The first specialty of the region is soba, a noodle made from buckwheat flour. Indeed, the region has very pure water and this is an essential ingredient in the making of the noodles.

Try the oyaki, small buns filled with red bean paste (azuki), pumpkin or aubergine, steamed and then lightly toasted. A real treat!

In April-May, every seven years, during the Gokaichō matsuri, millions of people come to Zenko-ji temple to see the copy of the hibutsu, the first statute of Amida Buddha that we mentioned above. Its next celebration will be in 2022, a unique day not to be missed.

Pictures of Nagano

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Highlights in Nagano

Togakushi Plateau

Legend has it that the sun goddess Amaterasu once hid in a cave on Kyushu Island and brought darkness to the world. To get the sunlight back, the other gods lured her out of her hiding place with dances and, when she dared to come out, threw away the stone door of the cave. This stone door flew from southern Kyushu to snowy Nagano. This is how the Togakushi plateau got its name: literally translated it means “hiding door”.

Today the god who threw away the stone door is worshiped in the upper shrine, and in the lower shrine the goddess who lured Amaterasu out of the cave with her dances.

The way to the upper shrine leads through an avenue of approximately 900 year old Japanese cedar trees.

Spend a night in a Monastery

Spending one night the life inside a temple, which has hardly changed in millennia, is an unique experience in Japan. The relaxing atmosphere as well as the tradition architecture and design will make you live and understand the authentic life of a Japanese monk.

Many Buddhist temples offer overnight accommodation so that you can experience Japanese monastic life at first hand. The food in the temples is exclusively vegetarian. The very tasty meals consisting of several small dishes are called Shōjin Ryōri and usually consist of a bowl of white rice, pickled vegetables and variations of tofu, accompanied by a variety of tempura fried with vegetables.

Visit Zenkoji temple

The Zenkoji Temple in Nagano is one of the most important and famous temples in Japan. It houses the first Buddhist statue in Japan, which, according to the temple's records, came from China via Korea to Japan in 552 when Buddhism was introduced. The original statue is hidden, while a copy of it is shown to the public for a few weeks every six years.

In the magnificent main hall of the Zenkoji, which was last rebuilt in 1707, visitors can see many different Buddhist statues as well as the main altar. In the basement there is an underground passage that visitors walk in complete darkness in search of the “key to paradise”. The key is tied to a wall along the corridor and is designed to bring salvation to everyone who touches it.