Curator’s statement
The second I stepped off the train, I loved Nagano! Not far from Tokyo on the Shinkansen, it has a slower pace of life and doesn’t feel like a suffocatingly large city. The people are friendly and there is a wonderful food culture to explore. Even though it is not as large as some of the more popular spots, there are more than enough things to do and so many places to eat!
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Day 1: Sake tasting, Zenkoji Temple & snow monkey park
Snow monkey in a hot spring at the snow monkey park
Day of tours! Enjoy a sake tasting before you head over to Zenkoji Temple. Our guide was fantastic and had a lot of energy and love for her culture. They grow the best apples here, so if you are into desserts, definitely get an apple pie! The best one is up by Zenko-ji Temple. Right across from it is an oyaki stand, which is kind of like a bao—the cheese and onion was my favorite!
After time exploring the temple, jump on the bus to visit the snow monkey park. This was a ton of fun! You get to see the monkeys lounge in the hot springs and play around. We even got to see a few tiny babies!
Day 2: Skiing at Shia Mountain Resort
Skiing
If you enjoy winter activities, Nagano is the perfect place for it! We went skiing at Shia Mountain Resort—specifically, Okushigakogen Lodge. We got to take a beginners' class teaching us how to ski and then we were released to the slopes. It was a fun-filled day and booking through a tour company allowed us to get all of the rental gear included, as well as transportation.
Right across from the train station is a super-popular ramen restaurant and rightfully so—it was amazing! The best ramen I’ve ever had. If these aren’t your speed, then you have to eat at the train station at Meijitei. This might have been the best meal I had all trip. Full of flavor, giant portions, and a great location.
Day 3: Seven Lucky Gods Goshuin Quest
A Seven Lucky God temple
Complete your Seven Lucky Gods Goshuin Quest! While the main and best-known temple in Nagano is Zenko-ji, the road leading up to this temple is studded with other little gems. If you are trying to collect goshuin stamps, definitely check out this street and all of the lucky gods' temples and shrines. This is a main road filled with shopping and food as well. If you like soba, Nagano is known for its buckwheat noodles, and we got the best soba right beneath our hotel, the Nagano Plaza Hotel.
Day 4: Onsen visit
Onsen at the snow monkey park
Not only is Nagano known for its winter sports, but they are also known for the onsens in the area that are naturally occurring. There are so many to choose from so you really have to pick your vibe. One that is tattoo-friendly is the one on the way up to the snow monkey hot spring, so if you want to double dip in experiences head there. If you aren’t looking for quite the hot spring experience, get a head spa treatment at Head Spa Run. It was amazing! I was so relaxed I almost fell asleep. If I could go there every day and not go broke, I totally would.
Need to know
Always have cash with you. If you go to the snow monkey park, bring an extra set of shoes or shoe covers/micro-spikes. The trail can get muddy and snowy, depending on the season you go. Onsens can reject guests due to tattoos, so always be sure to check their requirements.
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Ellen Reinhold
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