Enjoy winter camping in this special experience filled with tranquility and natural beauty by the snow-covered lakeshores of Lake Kizaki and Lake Aoki. Experience a truly special time spent gathered around a bonfire in the crisp air as you gaze at the starry sky. The view of the lake combined with the clear winter air is sure to calm your mind and bring you peace.
At Lake Kizaki, you can enjoy smelt fishing inside the warm fishing boats even during the cold winter. Enjoying the fresh smelt you’ve just caught as tempura is also highly recommended.
You can fully enjoy winter in Omachi with an activity like snowshoe walking through a silver-white forest. As you stomp through the deep, fluffy snow and advance through this silent, snow-covered nature, you’ll experience an other-worldly time. Even beginners can enjoy it with peace of mind.
Nestled quietly in the mountains, Kuzu Hot Springs features naturally sourced hot water that gently warms both body and soul to the core. The open-air baths, where you can gaze upon snowy landscapes, offer a luxurious healing experience unique to winter. Here, you can fully savor the quiet tranquility of nature.
*Please follow the rules and instructions of each individual facility regarding tattoos if you have tattoos and would like to use their facility.
A curry inspired by the Kurobe Dam, which was made famous through tourism.
You can eat delicious venison cuisine.
The Rokuzan Art Museum is a symbolic presence in Azumino. In particular, the Rokuzan-kan building, with its striking Western-style church architecture, is well worth a visit. You can experience Japanese beauty and spirituality through the works of Ogiwara Rokuzan, a pioneer of modern Japanese sculpture, particularly his sculptures.
Do you know how wasabi is cultivated?
You can freely stroll through Daio Wasabi Farm, the largest wasabi farm in Japan, for no charge. There’s also a large selection of food and souvenirs available, so you can take your time and fully enjoy your visit.
Starting at Hotaka Station, you can check out the Dosojin stone statues, shrines, and many more highlights of Azumino on this 3-hour walking course. Walking through the Azumino countryside, you’re sure to feel a deep sense of calm as the beautiful landscape, where nature and faith breathe as one, soothes your soul.
Revered as the “General Protector of the Japanese Alps,” many people visit this shrine to pray for traffic safety and safe travels. Highlights include the haiden (hall of worship), built with Hotaka-style construction, and the cedar and zelkova trees said to be over 500 years old. (Please be mindful of proper etiquette when visiting the shrine.)
Azumino, featuring ample amounts of water maintained at a stable temperature, is ideally suited to cultivate wasabi and is one of the nation’s leading wasabi-producing regions. Be sure to try some authentic wasabi.
“Shinshu Salmon,” an original brand from Nagano, has a mild flavor and is highly recommended served as sashimi or over rice in a donburi (rice bowl).
Projection mapping footage is displayed on the keep and stone walls of National Treasure Matsumoto Castle, allowing you to enjoy a dynamic and magical world. You’re sure to be captivated by Matsumoto Castle’s nighttime look, illuminated by artistic light; a complete contrast to its appearance during the day.
Guided tours available from Shiojiri Station
Shiojiri is a world-renowned wine region. Why not explore its 16 uniquely distinctive wineries to discover your favorite wine? Some wineries have adjoining shops where you can sample the available wines, making it easy to purchase your favorites.
Asama Hot Springs, a hot spring area with 1,300 years of history, has been cherished by many people since ancient times. Here, not only can you enjoy the hot springs, but you can also find various ways to relax, such as taking a stroll through the historic onsen town or having a break at a stylish café.
Access: 20 min from Matsumoto Station via bus on the Shindai Yokota Circle Line or the Asama Line.
*Please follow the rules and instructions of each individual facility regarding tattoos if you have tattoos and would like to use their facility.
Narai Post Town, which flourished as a post town along the Nakasendo Road, is a historical spot where the streetscape from the Edo period stretches for over one kilometer. The wooden architecture preserves the atmosphere of that period, offering visitors a chance to enjoy an experience just like stepping back in time. Traditional crafts and local cuisine are also major attractions.
Chicken dish that has been marinated in garlic and soy sauce,coated with potato starch, and deep-fried.
Enjoy this local dish by taking soba noodles from the dedicated basket and dipping them into this warm broth filled with meat and mountain vegetables. The name, Toji Soba, comes from the verb "tojiru," which means "to plunge or cast."
At Lake Suwa, you can enjoy a wide variety of activities, such as jogging or cycling along the lakeshore, or relaxing on the water aboard a sightseeing boat.
(Sightseeing boats may be suspended during severe weather.)
In winter, the Yokoya Gorge is a breathtakingly scenic spot where the waterfalls and rock faces, draped in a blanket of snow, radiate a magical beauty. Along the walking trail beside the tranquil streams, you may even be able to spot frozen waterfalls and rime ice. You can fully immerse yourself in the landscape of Japan with sceneries unique to winter while experiencing the stillness and power of nature.
Walk the Nakasendo Highway in Shimosuwa and encounter stone Buddha statues, ancient paths, and traditional architecture while exploring the historic road. Highlights, such as Kiotoshizaka Slope and the Manji no Sekibutsu Stone Buddha, are scattered throughout, allowing you to experience the feeling of being a traveler in the Edo period. You can enjoy a quiet, historical stroll in the crisp winter air.
Why not enjoy a tasting of a variety of unique local sake? Discover and appreciate the differences between the aroma and flavor of each sake as you learn about the history and brewing methods of each brewery. This experience is the perfect highlight for your trip, allowing you to feel the depth of Japanese culture.
Okaya eel is filleted by slicing open the eel’s back (Kanto-style) and grilled (Kansai-style), not steamed. The skin is crispy, the inside is fluffy, and the sweet, thick sauce is particularly distinct, creating “an unforgettable taste.” You can, of course, enjoy this delicious dish at restaurants, but it is also highly recommended as a souvenir.
This unique Tendon features fresh shrimp, vegetables, and seasonal ingredients, fried as tempura and finished with a miso sauce made from Suwa miso.
* The information is up-to-date as of Dec. 2025.
* The transit map is only an image.
* The photos and illustrations are only images.
© East Japan Railway Company
