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Featured Destinations Nagano (Shinshu)
Featured Destinations
Nagano (Shinshu)
Number of days required: 1-3 days
Travel time: 105 minutes from Tokyo to Nagano on the Hokuriku Shinkansen
Shinshu is the traditional name for Nagano prefecture. Located in the center of Honshu, Shinshu has long prospered as a cultural crossroad between eastern and western Japan. Easily accessible from Tokyo and the site of the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, this area today attracts both domestic and international visitors. Furthermore, due to the surrounding Japanese Alps, with 3,000-meter peaks to the west, you can enjoy the natural scenery, skiing in Hakuba, hiking in Kamikochi, and beautiful mountain landscapes. To the east is a town lined with historical buildings and ruins such as Zenkoji Temple (near Nagano Station) and Matsumoto Castle (near Matsumoto Station). As for food, we recommend Shinshu soba, which uses local buckwheat grown in Shinshu’s pristine water and blessed nature.
Shinkansen
Last Updated: December 21, 2022
Shinkansen fare discount pass to Nagano
JR EAST PASS (Nagano, Niigata area)
5 days of unlimited travel for ¥27,000
* Foreigners living in Japan can also purchase a JR EAST PASS!
Recommended Sights
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Hakuba Alps Flower Festival
- Hakuba Alps Flower Festival
- Visit the foot of Mt. Hakuba, covered in flowers. Enjoy the beautiful wild grasses, alpine plants and flowers of the alps.
Kamikochi - the Most Breathtaking Alpine Wilderness in Japan
- Kamikochi - the Most Breathtaking Alpine Wilderness in Japan
- Surrounded by mountains over 3,000 meters high, Kamikochi is a base for mountain climbing in the Japanese Alps. Even if you don’t know the basics of mountain climbing, you can still enjoy hiking around Taisho Pond and Kappa Bridge.
Snow Monkeys, Popular the World Over
- Snow Monkeys, Popular the World Over
- The [snow monkeys] (Japanese macaques) are certainly a must-see attraction. This is the only place in the world where wild monkeys bathe in open-air hot springs. This tour is a great chance to observe Japanese macaques in their natural environment.
Matsumoto Castle, a National Treasure
- Matsumoto Castle, a National Treasure
- With 400 years of history, Matsumoto Castle is a national treasure that no traveler should miss. Once inside the castle tower, the beauty of the Northern Alps is truly a sight to behold.
The Travel Movie ~Ready! Set! Go East Japan! ~
For an unforgettable trip, go to Tohoku, one of Japan's most mesmerizing regions!
Find out the best tourist sights, breathtaking nature spots, amazing hot spring, ski resorts and more in these model course videos!
- [2D1N: East Japan By Rail (Shinkansen)]
Obasute, Matsumoto, Nagano, Obuse - Official YouTube Channel
Nagano Sightseeing Model Course
* The images, maps, and schedules are for reference purposes only. For the latest updates on the services and other information, please refer to the websites of each facility.
Nagano: Snow monkeys and Yudanaka Onsen2 Days 1 Night
Jigokudani Monkey Park is world-famous for [snow monkeys] that bathe in hot springs. Here you can observe Japanese macaques up close. And if you’re lucky, you can also meet baby monkeys. Yudanaka Onsen is the gateway to Shiga Kogen, the stage of the Nagano Winter Olympics, and Jigokudani Monkey Park. You can enjoy the charms of Shinshu with its longevity hot spring and local cuisine.
2 Days 1 Night Model Course
First Day
| 10:00 | Depart from Tokyo Station on the Hokuriku Shinkansen (Travel time: about 1 hour 30 minutes) |
|---|---|
| 12:00 | Shinshu soba lunch near Nagano station |
| 13:30 | Depart from Nagano Station on the Nagano Electric Railway (Travel time: about 45 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes) |
 Stay at Yudanaka Onsen |
Second Day
| 7:30 | Breakfast at the hotel |
|---|---|
| 9:30 | Depart from Yudanaka Station bus stop by Nagaden Bus and move to Jigokudani Monkey Park (Required time: about 15 minutes by bus, 30 minutes on foot after getting off) |
| 10:30 |  Visit Jigokudani Monkey Park (Snow Monkey Park) |
| 12:00 | Take the Nagaden Bus to a restaurant near Yudanaka Station (Travel time: about 15 minutes by bus, 10 minutes on foot after getting off) |
| 13:00 | Lunch at a local restaurant |
| 14:00 | Depart from Yudanaka Station on the Nagano Electric Railway (Travel time: about 45 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes) |
| 15:30 | Arrive at Nagano Station Find souvenirs at [MIDORI] directly connected to Nagano Station (Travel time: about 1 hour) |
Route Map
Nagano: Shinshu power spot tour (Zenkoji Temple and Togakushi Shrine)2 Days 1 Night
Togakushi Shrine is popular as a power spot. If you want to feel the full extent of its sacred power, try a tour of the five shrines of Togakushi Shrine. You can tour in various ways depending on your momentum and time.
After visiting Zenkoji Temple, which is visited by many people throughout the year, it is recommended to browse through the souvenir shops along the approach to the temple and eat your way around.
2 Days 1 Night Model Course
First Day
| 8:30 | Depart from Tokyo Station on the Hokuriku Shinkansen (Travel time: about 1 hour 30 minutes) |
|---|---|
| 10:30 | Depart Nagano Station by Alpico Kotsu Bus and get off at Togakushi Chusha (Travel time: about 1 hour) |
| 12:00 | Lunch at Togakushi soba |
| 13:00 | Central Shrine visit |
| 14:00 |  Kagami ike pond tour |
| 15:00 |  Rear shrine visit |
| 16:30 | Depart from Togakushi Okusha Iriguchi on the Alpico Kotsu bus to the area around Nagano Station (Travel time: about 1 hour) |
| 18:00 | Horse meat dinner |
 Stay at Hotel Metropolitan Nagano |
Second Day
| 8:00 | Breakfast at Hotel Metropolitan Nagano |
|---|---|
| 10:00 | Depart from Nagano Station by Alpico Kotsu Bus [Binzuru-go] or [Gururin-go] (Travel time: about 15 minutes) |
| 10:30 |  Zenkoji Temple worship |
| 11:30 |  Souvenir shopping at Zenkoji Temple approach (approx. 30 min. walk from Zenkoji Temple to Nagano Station via the approach to the temple) |
| 12:30 | Sauce katsudon lunch at [MIDORI] directly connected to Nagano Station |
| 13:30 | Finds souvenirs around Nagano Station (Travel time: 1 hour) |
Route Map
Shinkansen fare discount pass to Nagano
JR EAST PASS (Nagano, Niigata area)
5 days of unlimited travel for ¥27,000
* Foreigners living in Japan can also purchase a JR EAST PASS!
Enjoy the Culture of Japan at a Genuine Hot Spring
A train trip around Nagano in the Joshinetsu region
- A train with the most enjoyable ride. We introduce [Oykot], a place where you can experience Japan’s countryside, [Resort View Furusato], which has terrific scenery, and [HIGH RAIL], where you can enjoy star-related services.
Oykot (Shinano Railway Kita-Shinano Line and Iiyama Line] Nagano: Nagano to Niigata: Tokamachi)
Hometown trip
In addition to enjoying the tranquil countryside scenery from the train windows, passengers can take in [Japan’s Heartland] through various on-board events.
Resort View Furusato (Nagano: Nagano - Minami Otari)
A train with beautiful scenery
Along the train route, there are magnificent mountains, cool rivers and lakes, clear skies, and nostalgic satoyama, all of which remind us of our [hometown] in Japan.
HIGH RAIL 1375 (Nagano: Komoro to Kobuchizawa)
The train closest to the sky
There are plenty of services related to [stars] such as the [Starry Sky Film] and [Stargazing] by starry sky guides. Enjoy the [train closest to the sky] inside the train and along the line.
Shinkansen fare discount pass to Nagano
JR EAST PASS (Nagano, Niigata area)
5 days of unlimited travel for ¥27,000
* Foreigners living in Japan can also purchase a JR EAST PASS!