Historical Monument Spots in Nagano Area

Area

Nagano
- Japan
- Hokkaido / Tohoku
  
  Hokkaido
  
  Aomori
  
  Iwate
  
  Miyagi
  
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- Koshinetsu / Hokuriku
  
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- Tokai
  
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  Tottori
  
  Shimane
  
  Okayama
  
  Hiroshima
  
  Yamaguchi
- Shikoku
  
  Tokushima
  
  Kagawa
  
  Ehime
  
  Kochi
- Kyushu / Okinawa
  
  Fukuoka
  
  Saga
  
  Nagasaki
  
  Kumamoto
  
  Oita
  
  Miyazaki
  
  Kagoshima
  
  Okinawa

Category

Travel / Tourism

History / Culture / Tour

Historical Monument

Narai-juku (post town)

4.5

354 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nagano Pref. Shiojirishi Narai

Long ago, the Nakasendo was an important highway connecting Edo and Kyoto, and many travelers stopped at the post town of Narai-juku before or after crossing the Torii Pass following this route. The post town once prospered due to the many people moving along the highway, and the town was even described as “Narai Sen-ken” (1,000 buildings of Narai). Narai was quite large, and divided into three districts—uptown, midtown, and downtown, and today the townscape remains mostly unchanged from its heyday. In 1978, the post town was designated an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings.

It was great to get to Narai-juku early in the morning before all the shops opened & the arrival of bus loads of tourists. We parked our vehicle for 500 yen @ the train station. Convenient & clean...
Manbei Hotel

4.0

372 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nagano Kitasaku-gun Karuizawamachi Karuizawa 925

The Mampei Hotel was originally an inn in Karuizawa-juku on the Nakasendo Highway, and was established in 1894 (Meiji 27) after learning the techniques of handling foreigners from missionaries during the Meiji era (1868-1912). Located in a quiet villa area, the stately building is registered as a national tangible cultural property. It is also known that John Lennon was a favorite of the hotel and visited there with his family for summer vacations. There is also an archive room in the hotel, where a piano and other items said to be Lennon's favorites are on display.

We went to this hotel for afternoon, and it was wonderful. Biking around the hotel was very relaxing and picturesque. The hotel has a lot of history, and John Lennon used to stay here. We ordered a...
National Treasure-designated Former Kaichi School

4.0

349 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nagano Matsumoto-shi Kaichi 2-4-12

This elementary school opened in 1873 as the Dai-ni Daigaku-ku Dai-ichiban Shogaku Kaichi Gakko. The current structure was built in 1876, and approximately 70% of the construction expenses were funded by donations from the townspeople. It is a representative structure of Giyofu Kenchiku (imitation of Western-style architecture) and inside are displays of materials that give the visitor an impression of what it looked like back then.

The Former Kaichi School was founded in 1873, Construction was completed in 1876 and it served as a functional school for 90-years until 1963. Having been designated an important cultural asset in...
Sanada House

4.0

78 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nagano Pref. Naganoshi Matsushiromachi Matsushiro 1

This was built for the mother-in-law of ninth generation Matsushiro domain lord Yukinori Sanada towards the end of the Edo period. From the Meiji period it became a private residence of the Sanda family, and in 1966 it was transferred along with heirlooms to the care of Nagano City. It is a court construction with a main building, front gate, seven storehouses and garden, and one can enjoy the charms of the four seasons from within. Paper cutting and koto performances are held in the third storehouse.

This will give you an idea of how the gentry lived in Japan during the Edo period . It is well maintained, and the centerpiece of a number of historical sites, including some castle ruins. There are...
Wakihonjin Okuya

4.5

39 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nagano Pref. Kisogunnagisomachi Aduma 2190

This is one of the facilities of the Nagiso Town Museum located 10 minutes away by bus or taxi from JR Nagiso Station in Nagano Prefecture. This building was built in 1877 using plenty of hinoki (Japanese cypress) wood that had been forbidden to use., and served as an inn and warehouse throughout the generations. It is also where Yufusan, Shimazaki Toson’s first love, came to live after her marriage. It became a nationally-designated Important Cultural Property in 2001. The museum is composed together with Tsumago-juku Honjin and a historical museum, and you can tour them both with a common ticket.

This historic musuem gave us a peek into how the locals live during the Edo period. The Honjin and Waki-honjin were luxurious buildings constructed along the post towns of the Nakasendo highway for...
Shimosuwa-shuku Honjin Iwanami House

3.5

15 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nagano Suwa-gun Shimosuwamachi

This historic structure was once a honjin inn for government officials located in the post station town of Shimosuwa-shuku, where two of the Five Routes, the Nakasendo Road and the Koshu Kaido, intersected. Reception is located past the front gate and beyond the extremely lengthy front entrance garden. The inn was used to accommodate many important persons, including Princess Kazu, Emperor Meiji, and various daimyo lords during the Sankin-kotai period in which lords were obligated to alternate living in the capital every other year. The current 28th head of the family privately maintains and manages the facility, preserving the primary parts of the structure as well as period furnishings and making these viewable to the public. Its permanent exhibition includes a short sword left behind by radical Sekihotai group member Sagara Sozo prior to his execution. The facility's landscape-style rock garden, purported to have been the best along the Nakasendo Road, is exceptionally beautiful on rainy days and is well-worth a look.

甲州街道の終点、下諏訪宿にある旧本陣。皇女和宮降嫁の際に、この本陣で使われた道具類。歴史の舞台そのままで、けっこう生々しく展示されていました。明治以降、岩波家は兄弟が遺産相続後に新しい事業に進出。失敗しながらも、本陣の建物が何とか残されたという経緯です。
Former Matsumoto High School (Agata no Mori Cultural Center of Matsumoto City)

3.5

24 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nagano Pref. Matsumotoshi Agata 3-1-1

This educational facility is located inside Agata Forest Park. You can see the restored principal's room and classrooms in the wooden Western-style building-former Matsumoto Highschool-that is an Important Cultural Property. In addition, there is an adjoining auditorium, and it is used by many as a venue for the educational and cultural activities of local residents such as concerts and exhibit presentations.

重要文化財にも指定されている旧制松本高校本館に図書館や文化会館が置かれている。ただし、現在改装中のようで中には入れなかった。
Jozan Yamadera's Historic Residence

4.0

19 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nagano Nagano-shi Matsushiromachi Matsushiro 1493-1

"A residence which belonged to Yamadera Jozan, considered one of the ""Three Great Men of Matsushiro Domain."" The residence' front gate, believed to have been built between the end of the Edo period and the early Meiji period; and its study; believed to have been built between the end of the Taisho period and the early Showa period, have been restored to their former beauty, and visitors can freely tour the residence and make use of its facilities."

・無料...
Eshima Enclosed Residence

3.5

20 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nagano Ina-shi Takatomachi Higashitakatoo 457 Ina Municipal Takatomachi History Museum

Takato is famous for being the area where Ejima, principal actor in the Ejima-Ikushia affair concerning the shogun's harem, was exiled to in the early Edo period. This residence, built on the north shore of Takato Lake, was built based on a rough sketch of the home Ejima was confined to after the incident. The simple residence' eight tatami mat-sized room where Ejima lived out the rest of her life is enclosed by fixed latticework bars. The residence was built like a prison; the only entrance and exit is a room for a guard, and spikes on the fence repelled any person considering sneaking in. Informational panels in the residence inform visitors of the harsh life the woman lived here.

高遠城の100名城スタンプが保管されている施設です。スタンプのみの捺印は無料で利用できます。駐車場もあり、入場料も高くなく、高遠城より歩いてアクセスできます。中には大奥で有名な絵島の囲い屋敷もあり、スタンプだけではなく立ち寄りもお勧めです。
Nakamura Residence

4.0

15 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nagano Pref. Shiojirishi Narai 311

The wood manufacturing industries such as comb manufacturing and lacquerware flourished in Narai-juku during the Edo period. The “Nakamura Residence”, which was the residence of Nakamura Rihei who ran a comb wholesalers in Narai-juku is a typical Narai-juku merchant’s style building with the feature of the second floor slightly jutting out (overhanging beam structure). It has been registered as a Tangible Cultural Property of Shiojiri City, and the residence is open to the public as a museum.

[奈良井宿]に《国重要文化財》指定の建築物が 2件ありその内の1件です[他の1件[手塚家住宅（上問屋史料館）]]。こちらで印象に残ったのは外観的；[奈良井宿]の建築物の特徴である《鎧庇》と《猿頭》の説明文（添付写真参照）が掲示してあり 2階から 1階を眺めると《鎧庇》と《猿頭》が良く見え [奈良井宿]の建築物の特徴が良く理解出来ることです。又小さな入口から腰をかがめて内部に入ると江戸時代...
Former Matsushiro Bell Tower

3.5

14 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nagano Nagano-shi Matsushiromachi Matsushiro 166-2

This bell tower, used to announce the hour, was built in 1624 along with a fire watchtower. During the Edo period, the bell would be run hourly, helping the domain's retainers and the citizens of the castle town to manage their time. The bell tower was also used to warn people in the event of a fire or other disaster. After being burned down in large fires three times, the current tower was rebuilt in 1801 and restored in 2012. It has been designated a Cultural Property (Structure) by the city government.

松代藩の藩校である[文武学校]の規模に驚かされましたがこちらの[鐘楼]を眺めると同じくその規模に驚かされます。説明文（添付写真参照）によると高さは約12mですが基壇：石積みの上に井楼（せいろう）式高櫓形と非常に立派な鐘楼となっており《時の鐘》としては私が知る範囲では最大規模です。
Komoro Castle Otemon Gate

Travel / Tourism

Nagano Pref. Komoroshi Ote 1-150

Famous as an example of large gate architecture representative of eastern Japan, this castle gate is inside Otemon Park located in Komoro City, Nagano Prefecture. Inside the turret, there are limited time special exhibitions that are free to view. In addition, it has been selected as a nationally-designated Important Cultural Property, making it visited by many tourists.
Honjin Omoya, Komoro Juku

4.0

12 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nagano Pref. Komoroshi Ote 1-6-14

"This history museum is on the grounds of Otemon Park in Ote, Komoro City. The building itself was where high-ranking officials like Daimyo would stay during their alternate attendance to the capital during the Edo period. It was relocated to its current location, where it was reconstructed as faithfully as possible before becoming a museum. In addition to exhibits on Komoro's history as a post town, they rent out a room called the ""Jodan-no-ma"" where the Daimyo used to stay. There is also a handicraft gallery and a cafe."

無料で入れる歴史資料館といったところです。小諸駅大手門公園内に有る建物で、説明書からですが18~19世紀に建てられました。小諸宿の賑やかな時代を想像させる古民家です。
Honjin (Tsumago Juku)

Travel / Tourism

Nagano Pref. Kisogunnagisomachi Aduma

Restored in 1995, Honjin served as lodging for feudal lords passing through. The Shimazaki family oversaw it starting with the establishment of the post town system and acted as village leaders as well until the Meiji Period (1868-1912) when it was demolished. The final owner was Shimazaki Toson’s older brother Hirosuke. Also, their mother was born there. The Honjin you see today was restored based on pictures from the Shimazaki family collection. When you visit, you’ll see models of even earlier versions of the building, and there’s a traditional irori hearth that they light every day. You can visit the Honjin, Wakihonjin Okuya, and Nagiso (town) Museum of History with a single ticket.
Oshoya Yamaguchike

3.0

4 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nagano Azumino Horigane Karasugawa 70

"This old Japanese home was built in the early Edo period. At that time, it served as the residence of the Yamaguchi family, whose head was the local ""Oshoya"" or ""grand village headman"" in charge of the ""shoya"" village headmen who ruled the villages in the area. Records state that some of the lords of Matsumoto Domain even stayed at the grand residence. The highlight of the estate is the stunning Japanese garden visible from the residence' study as if a framed picture. The garden's old trees are still carefully maintained today and form beautiful scenery. The estate was also the birth home of Nihonga Japanese painter Sorin Yamaguchi and, in addition to the garden, visitors can view some of the artist's paintings."

安曇野にある、大庄屋の旧家。国営アルプスあづみの公園の近くにあります。立派な門構えと広々とした敷地。庭園見学ができるようですが、コロナの関係か訪問時は公開はされていませんでした。
Tsumago-juku Kosatsuba

Travel / Tourism

Nagano Pref. Kisogunnagisomachi Aduma Wife Hostel

This replica of a kosatsuba (old public notice board) is located in Nagiso-machi, Kiso County, Nagano Prefecture. The kosatsuba showed prohibitions and laws to the common people from the shogunate government and is similar to government bulletin boards today, and it is characterized by its appearance of looking down on people as if portraying the power of the shogun. The real one is on display at the Nagiso-machi Museum.
Former Kizawa Elementary School

Travel / Tourism

Nagano Iida-shi
Kyu Mikasa Hotel

Travel / Tourism

Nagano Pref. Kitasakugunkaruizawamachi Karuizawa 1339-342

A historic building located in Karuizawa Town. This hotel was built by the industrialist Naoyoshi Yamamoto in 1906. Purely Western in design, the interior is decorated with accoutrements that were both cutting edge and of the highest class at the time, including a chandelier with electric lights and a carpet made in England. Prominent men such as Eiichi Shibusawa, Fumimaro Konoe, and Takeo Arishima once stayed here at what was called “the Rokumeikan of Karuizawa,” a name which alludes to the cultural cachet of the hotel. The hotel remained in operation until the 1970 and was designated a national Important Cultural Property in 1980.
Akiyama Region Preserved Folk Home

Travel / Tourism

Nagano Pref. Shimominochigunsakaemura Sakai Koakazawa

Akiyama Village Open Air Museum of Traditional Preserved Farmhouses is located in the village of Sakae, Shimominochi County, Nagano Prefecture, about an 80-minute drive from either the Toyota-Iiyama Interchange on the Joshinetsu Expressway or the Shiozawa Ishiuchi Interchange on the Kan-Etsu Expressway. The ancestral home of the Fukuhara family in Koakazawa was renovated in 1975 and has been preserved and put on display. The house was built about 230 years ago with a thatched roof in the chumonzukuri style, with a central entryway that juts out from the main structure. Visitors learn about the history of the famine that struck the village in the Kyoho Era (1716-1736) and about housing and lifestyles in the late Edo Period (18th and early 19th centuries). Sightseers are free to wander around the building during the hours that it is open.
Suzuka City Historic Building Park

Travel / Tourism

Nagano Pref. Suzakashi Nobe 1386-8 in Suzaka Art Park

"Suzaka Historical Building Garden lies inside Suzaka Art Park in the city of Suzaka. A number of buildings of major historical value have been moved here or restored. At the Nagayamon entrance gate is part of the townhouse of the craftsman Koshi Jusaburo, popularly known as ""the king of yarn making,"" built in 1897, moved to the park, and restored. It has been designated a Suzaka City Tangible Cultural Property. In addition, visitors can see Machiya-style houses from the Edo period and a temple school from 1865. During the annual Hinamatsuri doll festival, 1,500 dolls representing ancient courtiers are displayed here."

Nagano

Around Nagano City Kita-Shinano Eastern Shinshu Hakuba / Azumino Kisoji Around Suwa Southern Shinshu

Travel / Tourism History / Culture / Tour Historical Monument

Nagano Areas

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.