Leisure / Outdoors Spots in Nagano Area

  • Jigokudani Yaen-koen
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    4.5
    2715 Reviews
    Leisure / Hobbies
    Nagano Pref. Shimotakaigunyamanouchimachi Hirao 6845
    This is a park where you can watch bathing monkeys in a hot spring and it is also popular with foreign tourists as a place to see “snow monkeys”. All the monkeys in the park are wild and enter the hot spring in order to be able to endure the cold temperatures of the severe winters which can reach minus 10°C. The park is located in the valley of Yokoyu River which brims with rustic beauty, and is located 30 minutes by foot from the free parking lot at Kanbayashi hot spring.

    We had a great experience at the Snow Monkey Park! We took a taxi from the train station—which took about 15 minutes and cost around 2000 yen. We arrived right when it opened at 08:30 am and were...

  • Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza
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    4.0
    1400 Reviews
    Leisure / Hobbies
    Nagano Pref. Kitasakugunkaruizawamachi Karuizawa
    A gigantic shopping mall and virtual landmark in Karuizawa. With a total of seven parking areas, shoppers visiting by car are encouraged to look up which stores they are most interested in before choosing where to park. In addition to fashion brands, the mall also contains a shop selling Karuizawa sweets and jams, making it the perfect place to pick up a few souvenirs as well. Children can play to their hearts’ content in the spacious outdoor kids park.

    This outlet mall is situated just in front of shinkansen station and very accesible. The mall is very huge with many brand stores selling outlet items. The price is very reasonable for some brands...

  • Daio Wasabi Farm
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    4.0
    766 Reviews
    Leisure / Hobbies
    Nagano Pref. Aduminoshi Hotaka 3640
    This vast wasabi farm in Azumino spans a space equal to 11 Tokyo Domes. Entry is free and the farm is open every day year-round. In addition to wasabi fields and a processing plant, visitors can enjoy the tranquil waterside scenery, including a water mill used in a Kurosawa’s film. The farm’s shop sells unique products found nowhere else such as wasabi soft serve ice cream and wasabi-don rice bowls. If traveling by train, a 10-minute taxi ride from Hotaka Station on the JR Oito Line.

    There are a couple of wasabi farms in the area but this one seems more popular, perhaps as it is the closest to the train station. There are several walks there, as well as a wasabi statue. In the...

  • shiromaiwadakeyurien & Montain view
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    4.0
    244 Reviews
    Leisure / Hobbies
    Nagano Kita-azumi Hakubamura Hokujo 12056
    A mountain resort where you can enjoy activities as varied as winter sports, trekking, and mountain biking among magnificent scenery. In the winter, it's a white wonderland with skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, and more. It has 26 runs with a diversity of natural terrain, the most in the Hakuba area. Its HAKUBA MOUNTAIN HARBOR opened in 2018 and has a superb view of the Shirouma Sanzan peaks. The outdoor terrace hosts THE CITY BAKERY, a veteran shop with branches around the country. It's open during the winter, too.

    Beautiful spot where you can enjoy great views. Activities And festivities happening during the four seasons. Cafeteria and café available Hiking course too with the Nezuko forest.

  • Komoro Castle Remains Kaikoen
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    4.0
    235 Reviews
    Leisure / Hobbies
    Nagano Pref. Komoroshi Tei 311
    This park on the site of Komoro Castle in Komoro City, Nagano Prefecture has been selected as one of Japan’s 100 famous castles and 100 famous cherry blossom spots. Komoro Castle is an unusual structure built below the elevation of the castle town, and has also been called Anashiro Castle (“hole castle”). The park is dotted with facilities including the Important Cultural Property San-no-Mon gate, the Toson Memorial Hall, the Koyama Keizo Art Museum, a zoo and a children’s play area. It is appreciated by both tourists and locals looking for a place to refresh and relax. In spring there are 400 cherry blossom trees in bloom, and in autumn it is famous as a great place to see the changing leaves.

    A little-too-early for cherry blossom season, the park is particularly sparse and drab with no focal point to draw attention other than some bright and happy cartoon posters of a smiling lion...

  • Chihiro Art Museum Azumino
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    4.5
    182 Reviews
    Leisure / Hobbies
    Nagano Pref. Kitadumigunmatsukawamura Nishihara 3358-24
    This art museum located inside of the Azumino Chihiro Park in the Matsukawa Village district of Kita-Azumi County, Nagano Prefecture collects and displays works by picture book artists from around the world including Chihiro Iwasaki. In addition to displays about Chihiro’s representative works, related items, and career, the museum also introduces the history of picture books and a collection of original pictures from picture books around the world. The museum is complete with facilities sure to delight children such as a reading room where they can read their choice from approximately 3,000 picture books as well as a play area for small children. There is also a picture book café where visitors can relax while gazing out at Japan’s Northern Alps (Hida Mountains).

    The grounds here are lovely, in a perfect park setting, completely wonderful for children to play and explore with their families. Chihiro loved children, as evident in her art and exemplified in...

  • Hiroshi Senju Museum Karuizawa
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    4.5
    168 Reviews
    Leisure / Hobbies
    Nagano Pref. Kitasakugunkaruizawamachi Nagakura 815
    Located in Karuizawa Town, Kitasaku County, Nagano Prefecture, this private art museum exhibits the works it owns created by artist Hiroshi Senju, a modern Japanese painter who is active around the world. The building was designed by architect Ryue Nishizawa and has large glass windows that give it a bright and spacious atmosphere. It also has a beautiful garden with various trees and plants, and is a creative space that achieves harmony with nature. The museum holds exhibitions that introduce Senju’s works as well as special exhibitions according to different themes. There are also a bakery café and shop, and guests can relax and enjoy art and nature.

    A unique approach to defining a building, well worth the visit. Unfortunately the art, while well-executed, is not cohesive and sometimes derivative. I tried to imagine the experience of the building...

  • Matsumoto Alps Park
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    4.5
    135 Reviews
    Leisure / Hobbies
    Nagano Pref. Matsumotoshi Arigasaki 2455-11
    A park located in Arigasaki, Matsumoto City. The park has a zoo and hosts the Matsumotoshi Yama to Natural Museum, which offers a sweeping view of the Hida Mountains (Northern Alps). There's also a 630 meter long coaster slide and variety of other playground equipment. From adults to children, the whole family can enjoy an entire day here.

    If you cant catch bus, taxi will cost ard 1700yen from Matsumoto station. Just take note that the only bus leave this park at 10:25am and 2:25pm. Or else you need to walk down. It is abt 4km to...

  • Suwa City Kohan Park (Lakeside Park)
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    4.0
    178 Reviews
    Leisure / Hobbies
    Nagano Pref. Suwashi Kogandori
    Suwa City Kohan Park was built in 1953 when the Lake Suwa was dredged to form the shoreline. It features a footbath, a lake geyser center, a pleasure boat boarding point, an outdoor stage, and more for year-round enjoyment. A fireworks display is held over Lake Suwa every year on August 15, and the first Saturday in September is a national competition for showing off new fireworks. It’s about a 15-minute drive from the Suwa Interchange.

    If you filled up at a tasty restaurant in Suwa, the park is a nice place to take a walk and enjoy the view. Best for a stroll, and theres a little onsen stream where you can dip your feet.

  • Alps Azumino National Government Park
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    4.0
    115 Reviews
    Leisure / Hobbies
    Nagano Pref. Aduminoshi Horiganekarasugawa 33-4
    This national park in Azumino stretches over the foothills of the Northern Alps. It is divided into two areas with the theme being the realization of fruitful free time activities in nature and culture. There are five areas in the Omachi and Matsukawa districts, preserving the excellent natural environment for the Alps mountain landscape. In the Horigane and Hotaka districts there are two areas, where the preservation and restoration of rural scenery in Azumino is carried out. All areas of the national park are designed with a diverse array of recreational activities in mind.

    Very nice and large park a few kilometers from downtown Matsumoto. Beautiful views of the surrounding mountains from the hilltops. Excellent and large playground for kids, perfect spot for the kid to...

  • Matsumoto City Museum of Art
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    3.5
    122 Reviews
    Leisure / Hobbies
    Nagano Pref. Matsumotoshi Marunouchi 4-1
    This is a municipal museum on the grounds of Matsumoto Castle in Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture, exhibiting items related to the history and folk customs of the area. It introduces the history of the castle and the castle town from their origin to the modern day. There are also materials which convey information and allow visitors to learn about local lifestyles and customs including raised cloth pictures, star festival dolls, travelers’ guardian deity and an aging ceremony. One important highlight is the Edo period waterworks discovered during an archaeological dig.

    The Matsumoto City Museum covers three floors of a building adjacent to the castle grounds. It is different from many city museums in that it includes some early history of the city and area. It is...

  • Matsumoto Timepiece Museum
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    4.0
    130 Reviews
    Leisure / Hobbies
    Nagano Pref. Matsumotoshi Chuou 1-21-15
    This museum displays a wide range of timepieces centering on a collection donated by antique timepiece researcher Chikazo Honda. The museum has a policy of displaying each timepiece in its collection (which contains more than 1,000 items) in working condition whenever possible. The museum also exhibits a number of phonographs, which have a deep connection to the history of timepieces. The museum is notable for the massive pendulum clock, one of Japan's largest, which is built into the front of the building. The museum is a 10-minute walk from JR Matsumoto Station.

    If you are curious about technology or history this is a fascinating museum. Who knew the Egyptians invented the hourglass as an advance over water to tell time. There were candles for predetermined...

  • Sanada Treasure Museum
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    4.0
    93 Reviews
    Leisure / Hobbies
    Nagano Pref. Naganoshi Matsushiromachi Matsushiro 4-1
    The Sanada Treasure Museum opened in 1966 to display the various battle articles and furniture handed over by the 12th-generation head of the Sanada household, Koji Sanada. Among the exhibited items are the “Aoe war sword,” considered an Important Cultural Property, the “Nobori Hashigo armor used by Masayuki Sanada, documents from Takeda Shingen, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Ishida Mitsunari, and Tokugawa Ieyasu, and more for a collection of about 50,000 articles total. Exhibitions are rotated four times a year, and there are workshops and other experiences as well. It’s about 10 minutes from the Nagano Interchange on the Joshin-Etsu Expressway.

    We followed the advice from other posters. We took the #30 Bus from the JR Nagano Station busstop #3. About 30 min and 650 Yen later we arrived at the transit center and walked about two blocks to...

  • SUWA GARASUNOSATO
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    3.5
    86 Reviews
    Leisure / Hobbies
    Nagano Suwa-shi Toyoda 2400-7
    Standing on the bank of Lake Suwa, this art museum can be identified by its triangular roof. Displaying numerous delicate and highly emotional pieces by noted glass artists from countries around the world, the museum's standing exhibition changes seasonally. In one of the largest glass blowing workshops in the country, visitors can try activities such as glassblowing, candle making, and making glass beads. In the adjoining glass shop, there are a variety of accessories, tableware, and other glass items available for purchase which are also fun just to look at. The facility's bakery and restaurant, offering a sweeping view of Lake Suwa, is also recommended.

    単なるガラス製品のお土産屋さんかと思って入ったら、体験教室もあり、子供たちも参加できる。ガラス製品に限らず、一般的なお土産もあり、しばらく時間が使える。買い物の後はガラス張りのレストランで諏訪湖を見ながら飲むお茶もまたおいしい。旅に来たなって感じ。

  • “Mugonkan” Memorial Art Museum for Fallen Art Students
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    4.5
    68 Reviews
    Leisure / Hobbies
    Nagano Pref. Uedashi Koaso 3462
    Mugonkan was born when Seiichiro Kuboshima acquired half the Shinshu Dessan Building in 1997 to exhibit works left behind by art students who fell in battle. You can see exhibitions of fallen students’ art pieces and easels. It’s about 30 minutes by car from the Sakaki Interchange on the Joshin-Etsu Expressway.

    長年訪問したかった「無言館」。 日曜日だったので混雑していてじっくり見ることが出来ず、残念でしたが、やはり心に訴えるものがありました。 戦争という悲しい歴史がなかったら、さぞやご活躍なされただろうと思う方の作品も多くあり、本当に残念な思いがしました。 次回は、ゆっくりじっくり見学したいと思います。

  • Togariishi Museum of Jomon Archaeology
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    4.5
    65 Reviews
    Leisure / Hobbies
    Nagano Chino-shi Toyohira 4734-132
    This museum is located inside the Togaishi Ruins, a historic site and park which is considered one of the best examples of Jomon culture sites found at the foot of the Yatsugatake Mountains. The museum displays around 2,000 artefacts created by the Jomon people, who flourished here 5,000 years ago. The area at the foot of the Yatsugatake Mountains is the location of one of the largest caches of obsidian, a material used to make stone tools, in Japan, and it is believed the Jomon people flourished here due to the forests which grew here and provided broadleaf tree seeds as well as ample deer, wild boar, and river fish hunting. The museum's Jomon Venus, a deformed depiction of a pregnant woman; and Masked Goddess statue are valuable cultural properties which have been designated National Treasures.

    I went there after seeing the English website and being super excited about getting to do some hands-on craft. After extensive web research, I managed to get there on a day they were open and...

  • Nagano Chausuyama Zoo
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    4.0
    46 Reviews
    Leisure / Hobbies
    Nagano Pref. Naganoshi Shinonoiutabi 570-1
    A zoo located on Mt. Chausu in Shinonoiutabi, Nagano City. The zoo is home to many animals and is divided into various areas such as a children's zoo where kids can play with rabbits and other small animals; a red panda forest; and an African plains area where visitors can be giraffes, zebras, and other large herbivores. The zoo also has a picnic area with an excellent view of the surrounding highlands.

    This place was so much fun! The animals seemed so happy too. I think this zoo is a great place to start your sightseeing in the Nagano region. The monkeys are very friendly and not aggressive. I...

  • Rokuzan Art Museum
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    4.0
    88 Reviews
    Leisure / Hobbies
    Nagano Pref. Aduminoshi Hotaka 5095-1
    This facility was opened in 1958 with the goal of preserving the works of Rokuzan Ogiwara, nicknamed the “Rodin of the East.” In addition to his masterpiece carvings such as “Woman” and “Despair,” the museum also displays the works of Kotaro Takamura, who was deeply connected to Rokuzan. The impressive building, covered in ivy and church-like in appearance, is beloved as a symbol of the Azumino region. A 10-minute walk from JR Hotaka Station.

    安曇野を訪問した際、最も行きたかった美術館。まず、今井兼次設計の赤レンガの美術館そのものが見所満載。ドアの取っ手や、暖炉など細かいところも興味深い。館内の展示も素晴らしい。碌山の代表作、女をはじめとして、時間を忘れてしまいます。美術ファン、建築ファンには強くおすすめです。

  • The Home of Ninja Kids’ Ninja Village
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    4.0
    68 Reviews
    Leisure / Hobbies
    Nagano Pref. Naganoshi Togakushi 3193
    Located in “Togakureryu Ninja Town” Togakushi, Nagano City, Nagano Prefecture, this experience-based amusement park is based on ninjas and ninjutsu. With trick houses, ninja manors and other buildings, there’s also field athletics that constitute ninja training, like “water-spider technique.” There’s enough for kids and adults to have a fun time. The resource museum is also popular, with its comprehensive collection of ninja goods, historical materials, as well as manga and movies that cover ninjas. You can even rent fun ninja costumes.

    子供はもちろんのこと大人も楽しめます。 本格的な忍者資料館が中にあり、忍者の武器を学べます。ハンモックもあって気持ち良いです。忍者関係のお土産もかなり充実してます。長野から遠いですが、子連れの外国の方におすすめ。

  • Hakuba Lion Adventure
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    4.5
    74 Reviews
    Leisure / Hobbies
    Nagano Pref. Kitadumigunhakubamura Hokujou 5746-3
    A company situated in Hakuba Village, Kitaazumi County, Nagano Prefecture which offers a variety of activity-oriented tours through which you can enjoy the great outdoors of the Shinshu area. Go rafting or canoeing down the rapids of the Sai River, canyoning in a mountain stream, or experience the Hida Mountains from 30 meters above the ground in a hot-air balloon. The company also offers a variety of winter tours, including skiboarding and snow rafting.

    This was a great little tour/experience with a couple of really good guides. While it was explained it’s an “enter at your own risk” type of tour they provided a safety briefing for all comers. Well...

Nagano Areas

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Nagano prefecture is an exciting mix of mountains, hot spring monkeys, and preserved Edo history. At the heart of the Japanese Alps, Nagano is one of the country’s most popular destinations, whether in winter for its snow sports and the much-loved Jigokudani Monkey Park or in the warmer months for discovering the undulating hills on foot. For fantastic Edo architecture, head to the Kiso Valley for a 60-kilometer stretch of quaint wooden buildings that marked the Nakasendo route 200 years ago.

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