As with many cities in Japan, Nagano has a long history. Developed in the Nara period, it started as a small temple town centred around Zenk\u014dji Temple \u5584\u5149\u5bfa. But, it soon grew in size.<\/p>\n
By the 1500s, Nagano was a key strategic point in the historic battle between the Uesugi clan and the Takeda clan. As things settled and it became less of a focus for warring clans, Nagano continued to grow as a city and is now one of Japan’s “core” cities.<\/p>\n
Nowadays it\u2019s famous for a lot more than its temple and its strategic advantage. If you\u2019re a sports fan then you\u2019ll know that it hosted the Winter Olympics in 1998. It still has a reputation for excellent winter sports across the region, which is a highlight for winter sports lovers who live in Nagano.<\/p>\n
Alternatively, the famous Zenk\u014dji Buddhist temple and the beautiful rustic onsen in the area offer a more relaxed pace of life. For a city of around 380,000 people, Nagano and the surrounding region is packed with nature, history, and sport.<\/p>\n
READ MORE: If you live in Nagano, then you’re in the perfect place on Honsh\u016b <\/span><\/em>\u672c\u5dde<\/span><\/span> (the largest of Japan’s four islands) for winter sports. The facilities in the areas surrounding the city offer some of the best in the country<\/strong>, as they were developed for the 1998 Winter Olympics. Hakuba in particular has a reputation for great skiing and snowboarding.<\/p>\n View other great places in Japan to enjoy snow sports here<\/a>!<\/p>\n If you don\u2019t fancy sports, but still want to get out and about in the mountains, then there are some amazing hikes that are just a bus ride away from the city. One of the most surprising is Tsugaike Nature Park<\/strong>. Once you\u2019re up in the mountains you can head to the high moorlands with boardwalks running through them. In the spring there are beautiful skunk cabbage flowers blooming and an array of auburn, orange and red across the landscape in the autumn.<\/p>\n Once you\u2019re done with the snow sports and hiking in the mountains, you\u2019ll surely want to relax and there\u2019s no shortage of beautiful onsen towns in the region. Yudanaka onsen<\/em> \u6e6f\u7530\u4e2d\u6e29\u6cc9 (close to the monkey park), Nozawa onsen<\/em> \u91ce\u6ca2\u6e29\u6cc9 (by Nozawa Ski Resort), and Bessho onsen<\/em> \u5225\u6240\u6e29\u6cc9 (just outside of central Ueda city) all have traditional hot springs in glorious settings.<\/p>\n Read more about onsen etiquette and culture in Japan here<\/a>.<\/p>\n One of the most famous temples is Zenk\u014dji, a 7th Century Buddhist temple that serves as one of the few remaining pilgrimage sites in Japan. There is a lot to explore, from the Sanmon Gate, to the main hall and the underground passage that leads visitors on a search for the “key to paradise”.<\/p>\n There are plenty of other shrines and temples to explore in this area. If you want to visit one that\u2019s a bit closer to nature then Togakushi Shrine \u6238\u96a0\u795e\u793e<\/span> is a good choice. It’s actually three shrines and are related to an important Japanese myth. These shrines are connected by hiking trails up the forested mountain slopes, which make for a peaceful escape.<\/p>\n Read more about how to navigate your way around a Shinto shrine in Japan here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Up in the mountains and just a short bus ride from the centre of Nagano is the Chibiko Ninja Village. This is a small themed park with attractions that appeal to both kids and adults. There are lots of parts to explore and many chances for you to try your hand at being a ninja!<\/p>\n Further up the hill is a favourite at Go! Go! Nihon, the Togakushi folk museum that explores the history of ninjas and has a traditional ninja house that is full of secret doors and passages. If you\u2019re feeling brave you can head in on your own and see if you can find your way through the maze of a building.<\/p>\n Situated up in the northern reaches of the region, this castle once belonged to a samurai clan that defeated the Tokugawa hordes twice. It\u2019s an impressive fortress in a beautiful setting and well worth the trip to absorb the history of the area and maybe even join the samurai festival, the Ueda Sanada Festival.<\/p>\n Possibly the most famous place near Nagano is Jigokudani Yaen K\u014den<\/em> \u5730\u7344\u8c37\u91ce\u733f\u516c\u82d1. Follow the trail from the car park through the mountain and up to the hot springs where you\u2019ll find the monkeys having a lovely relaxing bath. In the winter the snow covering the area adds to the majesty of the place and offers plenty of photo opportunities.<\/p>\n As with most places in Japan, there is of course a famous local dish. If you live in Nagano then you have to try the soba<\/em> \u305d\u3070<\/span> <\/span>, particularly as buckwheat is grown locally. Many of the restaurants in the area maintain the tradition of making the soba by hand and you can really taste the difference.<\/p>\n Read more about different types of Japanese noodles here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Other things you should try include oyaki<\/em> \u304a\u713c\u304d<\/span>, a flour dumpling that can be filled with vegetables, but fillings include a range of options. They\u2019re generally considered to be a snack, unlike the other dumplings, gy\u014dza<\/em> \u9903\u5b50, that<\/span> you might be familiar with. Other options include gy\u016bny\u016b pan<\/em> \u725b\u4e73<\/span> \u30d1\u30f3<\/span>, a sweet fluffy bread made with milk. Alternatively, you might prefer to try gohei mochi<\/em> \u4e94\u5e73\u9905 <\/span>, a glutinous rice cake coated in a sweet and savory sauce.<\/p>\n Whatever your tastes there’s plenty to get you salivating when you live in Nagano!<\/p>\n About 75km from Nagano City, is the city of Matsumoto \u677e\u672c, the second largest city in Nagano prefecture. Of particular note is the castle, which is one of Japan\u2019s oldest castles dating back to the 1500s. Unlike many of the castles in Japan it still has some of the original wooden interiors and external stonework. With a black exterior, it\u2019s known as the crow castle and sits strikingly on the landscape.<\/p>\n Karuizawa \u8efd\u4e95\u6ca2 is a small mountain and resort town just an hour from Tokyo thanks to the Shinkansen line. When things are starting to get overly warm in the summer months, Karuizawa offers the perfect cooler climate. It’s particularly famous for its autumn colours<\/a>, as well as its various outdoors activities like skiing, hiking, ice skating and cycling.<\/p>\n With so much to see, do, and eat in the area you have plenty of reasons to live in Nagano.<\/p>\n Personally, we love Nagano as it has so much to offer, but manages to offer a much more peaceful way of life<\/strong>. With the Japanese Alps as one of the main attractions of the area, Nagano and the surrounding area offers plenty of nature and hot springs for those who want to relax. If you\u2019re a bit more adventurous, then the legacy of the Winter Olympics has left some of the best ski resorts in the country.<\/p>\n As well as being chilled in nature, it\u2019s also chilled in climate. The mountains are the perfect escape for those that find the sweltering summers of the city a bit much. The proximity to Tokyo means that if you do miss the big city life you can hop on a train and be back in the same day.<\/p>\n All this combined with a lower cost of living adds to the relaxed nature of the region.<\/p>\n
\n*Best cities to study Japanese in Japan<\/a>
\n*Wondering where to study in Japan other than Tokyo? We\u2019re here to help<\/a>
\n*Study in Japan for 6 months: planning and timeline<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n![\"Skiiers](\"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Hakuba-Happo-One-WM.png\")
<\/h2>\nKeeping busy: what to do if you live in Nagano<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Snow sports<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Hiking<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"Onsen](\"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Onsen-WM.png\")
<\/p>\nA chance to relax<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"Zenkoji](\"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Zenkoji-Temple-Nagano-WM.png\")
<\/p>\nShrines and temples<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Chibiko Ninja Village<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Ueda Castle<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"Monkeys](\"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Monkey-park-WM.png\")
<\/p>\nJigokudani Monkey Park<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Local cuisine<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"Matsumoto](\"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Matsumoto-Castle-WM.png\")
<\/p>\nMatsumoto<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Karuizawa<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Why you\u2019ll love living in Nagano<\/strong><\/h2>\n