Spots in Kita-Shinano Area

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Kita-Shinano

Category

Jigokudani Yaen-koen

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...
Nozawa Onsen Snow Resort

4.5

747 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Nagano Pref. Shimotakaigunnozawaonsenmura Toyosato 7653

One of Japan’s foremost ski and snowboarding resorts offering elevation differences reaching 1085 meters. The resort is popular for its wide array of courses enjoyable from beginners to experts. The resort also has a wide and gentle slope for children as well as a kids’ park for young ones to play in the snow making it a great destination for families as well. Another attractive point is the resort’s moving walkway which extends from the hot spring district directly to the slopes.

This ski resort is unique in that the town itself predates it by 800 or so years. You have the charm of the town with a resort that provides someting for every level of skier in enough quantity to...
Shiga Kogen 18 Ski Area

4.5

438 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Nagano Shimotakai-gun Yamanouchimachi Shigakogen

This ski resort is located in Shimotakai County, Nagano Prefecture. The facility name is actually the collective name for several ski slopes of varying sizes and is one of the largest ski resorts in Japan. The area is known for its abundant snowfalls, and during ski season the resort bustles with locals and tourists alike. Each slope has its own unique character and they are all connected via free lifts; there are also shuttle busses. There's something for skiers of all levels here - for example, the resort offers classes for children and beginners, and there's a highly difficult, 30 degree Olympic Course used during the Nagano Olympics. Some of the slopes have lights for nighttime skiing, ensuring that visitors can enjoy a full day of winter sports here.

Highly recommended for both on & off-piste skiing, although many lifts are slow and none have footrests, so tired legs !
Shibu Onsen

4.5

262 Reviews

Accommodations / Hot Spring

Nagano Shimotakai-gun Yamanouchimachi Hirao

A hot spring district with a long history which records state was discovered by the great priest Gyoki in the Nara period. The area boasts such a large number of source springs and such an abundance of hot spring water that you can dig practically anywhere into the ground and soon find piping hot water bubbling up from below. In addition to hot spring hotels, there are nine public bathhouses in the area, and visitors can go on the traditional Kyu-to Meguri pilgrimage and try all nine for free to compare and contrast (limited to persons staying overnight in the district). Each of the Kyu-to Meguri bathhouses makes use of a different source spring with differing water qualities, and pilgrims can get a special tenugui hand towel stamped at each bathhouse as proof of their visit. The pilgrimage ends with a visit to the Shibutaka Yakushi Temple, which offers a sweeping view of the district, to receive one final stamp that is said to grant one's wish as well as protection from misfortune, safe childbirth and child rearing, and youth and longevity.

I walk to Shibu Onsen in February when I visited Snow Monkey park. There are many Onsen and restaurants. Shibu Onsen is clam and beautiful/
Biyunoyado

4.5

537 Reviews

Accommodations / Hot Spring

Nagano Prefecture Shimotakai gun Yamanouchi cho Yudanaka

A hot spring hotel with a 100% natural hot spring large public bath and outdoor baths include a private outdoor bath reservable for an extra fee. The hotel has Japanese and Western-style rooms and a full array of amenities. Guests can also enjoy a Japanese taiko drumming show in the lobby and eat kaiseki course cuisine in the hotel restaurant.

After touring around Japan, our last stop was yudanaka. We stayed at Biyunoyado for 3 nights and had the best time. We went on the snow monster tour which I highly recommend, especially if you are...
Hokusai-kan

4.0

225 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nagano Pref. Kamitakaigunobusemachi Obuse 485

This museum was built to commemorate famed artist Katsushika Hokusai, who stayed in Obuse several times from the age of 83 and left several works behind there. The museum displays hanging scrolls and hand-painted pictures by Hokusai as well as videos which present the history of the artist. The main exhibition room contains two festival floats whose ceilings were painted with Hokusai's Surging Waves and Dragon and Chinese Phoenix. A 12-minute walk from Obuse Station.

I happily found out about the Hokusai-kan museum from my hotel proprietor and I was able to make a stop off in Obuse on my way back to Nagano. Hokusai-kan is situated in a great part of the town and...
History no Yado Kanage Ya

4.0

151 Reviews

Accommodations / Hot Spring

Nagano Shimotakai-gun Yamanouchimachi Hirao 2202

I’m shocked by any reviews of this architectural treasure where it’s not being given it’s fair marks. No, it’s not a 5 star hotel, but it is 5 stars in a unique very Japanese experience teeming...
Ganshoin

4.0

137 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nagano Pref. Kamitakaigunobusemachi Karida 604

The Buddha is the principal object of worship here at this Soto sect temple in Obuse Town, Kamitakai County, Nagano Prefecture. Ogino Bingo no Kami Jorin, Lord of Karida Castle, laid the foundation stone in 1472, and the Zen priest Futaku Genkei founded the temple. On the ceiling of the main hall you can see the 21 tatami mat sized painting “The Great Ho-O”, painted by Katsuhika Hokusai. As well as this impressive painting there are many other places of interest such as the mausoleum of Fukushima Masanori, a Japanese daimyo of the late Sengoku period, and the pond with inscription where Kobayashi Issa composed his well-known haiku “Thin little frog, Don’t give in, Issa is here”.

Beautiful Sakura with temple in the background. The taxi ride is about 5-10 min or 30 walk from Obuse train station.
Nozawaonsen

4.0

10 Reviews

Accommodations / Hot Spring

Nagano Shimotakai-gun Nozawaonsenmura Toyosato

Sprawling at the foot of Mt. Kenashi, this is one of the most historic hot spring districts in the prefecture. There are various theories as to when the hot spring district was discovered. One belief is that it was found by the priest Gyoki (or an itinerate monk undergoing training) during the reign of Emperor Shomu, while another legend says that it was happened upon by a hunter following a wounded bear. Since the Edo period, the district has been lovingly maintained by the hands of local residents under a system called Yunakama, and today this system continues to preserve and service the area's abundant water flow and more than 30 source springs. In addition to bathhouses, the town is dotted with countless footbaths and 13 external bath areas for visitors to sample and enjoy.

There is a single entry door and a small foyer with seats before dividing into male and female onsens- useful for waiting for family members out of the cold. The water was slightly whitish, with...
Tangram Ski Circus

3.5

84 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Nagano Kamiminochi-gun Shinanomachi Furumi 3575-8

About 20 minutes from Shinanomachi Interchange on the Joshinetsu Expressway. A ski resort in northern Nagano Prefecture with a hotel immediately accessible from the slopes. Located on the north-northwest flank of Mt. Madarao, you can get a panoramic view of the Five Peaks of Northern Nagano and Lake Nojiri from the slopes with their high-quality natural snow. Their popular Tree Run Course has incredible powder and there's a thrilling ungroomed run where you must avoid trees and other natural features. There are also ample indoor activities like bouldering and swimming in their indoor pool.

Snowpark for little ones, magic carpet free for beginners, all material for rental is good, even a swimming pool and nice Onsen are there. Good place for family skiing holidays.
Roadside Station Kitashinshu Yamanouchi

4.0

56 Reviews

Transportation

Nagano Pref. Shimotakaigunyamanouchimachi Sano 393-2

"A roadside station standing along National Route 292 in Sano, Yamanochi Town, Shimotakai County. The station sells original products like sabatake, a local dish consisting of bamboo shoots and mackerel stewed with miso; and ""Kakure Soba,"" a soba shochu made with select local ingredients. You can also buy local specialty products and farm-fresh produce here. In addition, the station's restaurant serves homemade soba noodles crafted with local buckwheat flour, ramen, and curry."

Stop over at this stop after visiting the snow monkey park and driving back to nagano. They sell cooked food here and theres a shopping area where one can find some local souvenirs. Theres one...
Roadside Station Oasis Obuse

4.0

47 Reviews

Transportation

Nagano Pref. Kamitakaigunobusemachi Ojima 601

A roadside station situated long Prefectural Route 343 in Ojima, Obuse Town, Kamitakai County. The station sells Nagano specialty products like local liquors as well as sweets and kuri okowa chestnut rice made with renowned Obuse chestnuts. The station's restaurant serves kuri okowa and other dishes made with local ingredients. You can also enjoy soft serve ice cream and chestnut sweets. The station adjoins Obuse Park and a farmer's market.

車を停めて、二階の売店、食堂へは、エレベーターで上がれます。食堂で一服し、産直販売所で、林檎と葡萄（シャインマスカット）を買いました。シャインマスカットは市価より安く品質のよい物が買えました。すぐ横に公園があり、アスレチックもあり子供を遊ばせるのにももってこいで、小さい子供がいる人にはリーズナブルに一日ゆっくり遊べて、買い物もできて、よい所です。
Maguse Hot Spring Bokyo no Yu

4.0

57 Reviews

Accommodations / Hot Spring

Nagano Pref. Shimotakaigunkijimadairamura Ougou 5567-1

This hot spring facility is inside the “Maguse Hot Spring Park” in Ogo, Kijimadaira Village. Both the open-air bath that sits among the mountains and the Hinoki indoor bath offer a great view of the Northern Alps (Hida Mountains), not to mention the beauty of the various seasons. The facility also features a dining hall, a rest area, a shop, and lodgings without meals (short rests also allowed), so you can take multiple dips in the hot springs if you wish.

The Maguse Onsen was well worth the experience as were the Soba noodles at their cafe. The downside is if one does not have a vehicle you will be taken advantage of by the taxi service which charges...
Roadside Station Shinano

4.0

45 Reviews

Transportation

Nagano Pref. Kamiminochigunshinanomachi Kashiwabara 1260-4

A roadside station standing along Prefectural Route 119 in Kashiwabara, Shinano Town, Kamiminochi County. The station sells fresh dairy products from the adjoining Kurohime Kogen Farm dairy plant as well as local products. There's also a farm-fresh shop selling seasonal produce. In the station's restaurant, Tenbo, you can enjoy soba noodles made fresh that morning while taking in a spectacular view of Mt. Myoko and Mt. Kurohime.

信濃町ICから近く、黒姫や野尻湖周辺の観光前のお得な情報収集や休憩に便利です。土産物売場にお食事処、地場産品直売所いっさっさなどがあり、天気が悪く売りの眺望は今一つでしたが、日曜はイベントもあって、かなりの賑わいでした。
Mayumi Takahashi Museum of Doll Art

4.5

52 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Nagano Pref. Iyamashi Iyama 2941-1

This art museum which opened in 2010 displays 100 works of Iiyama City resident doll maker Mayumi Takahashi. It is a popular spot where visitors can enjoy recalling their hometowns, the expressions of the grandma and grandpa dolls—looking like they are about to chatter—bringing back nostalgic memories. On weekends and holidays there is often a queue to get inside. The dolls on display are changed around twice a year. The nearest station is Kita-Iiyama Station.

とても人気があります。平田ますみ先生の和紙創作品が際立ってます。期間限定ですので是非お立ち寄り下さい。価値観のある作品です。
Lake Nojiri Naumann Elephant Museum

3.5

45 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Nagano Pref. Kamiminochigunshinanomachi Nojiri 287-5

A museum located in Shinano Town, Kamiminochi County, Nagano Prefecture. The museum exhibits materials relating to the natural environment in the Lake Nojiri area from pre-history up to today, with a focus on items discovered through the excavations of the lake which have been ongoing since 1962. The highlights of the museum are its life-sized replicas of a fossilized Naumann’s elephant and a giant Japanese elk skeleton. The museum also has an abundant collection of bone and stone tools, and even an exhibit where visitors can touch real fossils. The museum holds mini workshops and special events as well, such as a short class on stone tool-making.

I didnt spend enough time in Nojiri Lake else I would do the elephant walk. I didnt know what to expect from this museum. As I entered the glass door, there was this elderly woman sitting behind...
Sake Storehouse Art Museum Gallery Tamamura Honten

4.0

50 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Nagano Pref. Shimotakaigunyamanouchimachi Hirao 1163

Sake Storehouse Art Museum Gallery Tamamura Honten, which provides free sake tasting and tasting for two types of beer for a fee, is an art gallery in a brewery that was partly renovated 150 years ago. The exhibits feature a collection of paintings created over generations by the Sato family that runs the brewery. The works of Shinsui Ito, Heihachiro Fukuda, Kayo Yamaguchi, and Shoko Uemura are the main features. It’s about 30 minutes by car from the Suzaka Nagano Higashi Interchange on the Joshin-Etsu Expressway.

Tamamura Honten Brewery is located in Yamanouchi and this location is very close to the Snow Monkey Park - you can combine both visits as they are rather close to each other. The brewery is in the...
Takai Kozan Memorial Hall

4.0

52 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nagano Pref. Kamitakaigunobusemachi Obuse 805-1

This museum commemorates Takai Kozan, a first-rate person of culture and pupil of Katsushika Hokusai who was Obuse Town's wealthiest merchant. The museum, which displays a large number of exhibits including works of calligraphy and art by Kozan, retains the vestiges of the era in which he lived. Yuzenro, the two-story wooden building that served as Takai Kozan's study and salon, is located on the grounds of the museum and open to visitors. It is located a short walk from the gallery, which features a large collection of works by Hokusai.

Kozan Takai was the patron of Hokusai largely responsible for Hokusai spending his last years in Obuse. At the other end of Chestnut Lane to the Hokusai museum in the delightful town of Obuse, it...
Nozawa Onsen Sparina

4.0

30 Reviews

Accommodations / Hot Spring

Nagano Pref. Shimotakaigunnozawaonsenmura Toyosato 6748

This large hot spring resort is located just outside the Nozawa Onsen Snow Resort. The fountain head springs freely in the open-air bath and the fine view open-air bath, in which bathers are required to wear swimsuits. Swimsuits and towels are available for rent. Small items of ski equipment are available to purchase in the shop. There is an outdoor pool too, open during the summer months. Other facilities include a restaurant, a relaxation room, and a convention hall. Recommended dishes in the restaurant include original recipes made with the specialty Nozawana (a Japanese leaf vegetable). Breakfasts can also be enjoyed here in winter. Opening times vary according to the season so please check ahead.

A group of us went for the shared (bathers allowed) Onsen. The staff are friendly and the facilities were great and so clean. The onsen wasnt as hot as the public onsens in town so that was nice...
Obuse Onsen Akebi no Yu

4.0

20 Reviews

Accommodations / Hot Spring

Nagano Pref. Kamitakaigunobusemachi Karida Immovable 1311

This hot spring accommodation facility is at the foot of Mt. Karida in the Obuse-machi area of Kamitakai County, Nagano Prefecture. The color of the spring water changes depending on the weather conditions, a feature characteristic of natural hot springs. You can look out on the Obuse cityscape and Hokushin Gogaku from the rotenburo (open-air bath). The morning bath is popular and is available for day trips. In addition, all of the guest rooms are on the Hokushin Gogaku side of the facility, allowing you to relax while enjoying the scenery.

露天風呂から見える「小布施市街とその奥に見える山々」がとても良かったでした。「北信五岳」ですね。妙高山、斑尾山、黒姫山、戸隠山、飯縄山の5つの山です。美しかったでした。で、「小布施温泉あけびの湯」ですが、泉質は、含硫黄・カルシウム－ナトリウム塩化物泉 ( アルカリ性低張性高温泉...

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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.