3-Day Japanese History and Culture Tour of Nagano from Osaka
Take an excursion to the Nagano countryside for a slice of samurai and ninja history.
Update:2023/05/24
![](https://go-nagano.a.kuroco-img.app/v=1693359003/files/topics/21097_ext_01_en_0_L.jpg)
Take an excursion to the Nagano countryside for a slice of samurai and ninja history.
3-Day Tour of Nagano for Japanese History and Culture Buffs
Trip Highlights
- Walk the Edo-Era Nakasendo Trail (a.k.a. the “Samurai Trail”)
- Stay at a classic inn at a well-preserved post town
- Tour Matsumoto Castle, one of Japan’s only original wooden castles
- Search for ninja amongst ancient cedar trees in Togakushi
Itinerary
Day 1: Nakasendo Walk and Post-town Stay
Walk back to samurai times trekking through the Kiso Valley.
![](https://go-nagano.a.kuroco-img.app/v=1688345203/files/user/201909271451_1.jpg)
![](https://go-nagano.a.kuroco-img.app/v=1688345691/files/user/magome-tsumago-trail-small.jpg)
![](https://go-nagano.a.kuroco-img.app/v=1569563513/files/user/201909271451_5.jpg)
![](https://go-nagano.a.kuroco-img.app/v=1688346067/files/user/kisoTsumago.jpg)
![](https://go-nagano.a.kuroco-img.app/v=1688346404/files/user/nagiso-tsumagozyuku.png)
Day 2: Castle Town Matsumoto
Explore this classic castle town and the Ukiyo-e Museum.
![](https://go-nagano.a.kuroco-img.app/v=1688346907/files/user/Matsumoto-Nawate.png)
![](https://go-nagano.a.kuroco-img.app/v=1688347023/files/user/1163_ext_01_2.jpg)
Day 3: The Ninja and Temple Town of Nagano
Nagano City, famous for hosting the 1998 Winter Olympics, is at heart a temple town based around the venerable Zenkoji Temple. Above the urban center is the Togakushi Highland famous for its spirituality, soba (buckwheat) noodles and ninjas!
![](https://go-nagano.a.kuroco-img.app/v=1688348433/files/user/52665911362_9b041073bc_k-small.jpg)
![](https://go-nagano.a.kuroco-img.app/v=1688348709/files/user/01.jpg)
![](https://go-nagano.a.kuroco-img.app/v=1688348903/files/user/togakushiNinjaMuseumShuriken.jpg)
Map
For further reference, Osaka’s official tourism website features a 3-day / 2-night itinerary for seeing more of Kiso and vicinity and a 4-day / 3-night itinerary for Matsumoto and vicinity.