With centuries-old Zenkoji Temple and its surrounds in Nagano City, the samurai residences in Matsushiro, and the chestnut village of Obuse, Northern Nagano has many popular historic and traditional townscapes.

Omachi, the gateway to mountain climbing and the Kurobe Alpen Route as well as world-famous Hakuba ski resort. Matsumoto, a classic castle town with springwater welling up throughout.

Today the area is a convenient 1 hour from Tokyo by the Nagano Shinkansen bullet train. It was well-located during feudal times, too, situated as it was on the crossroads of the Kyoto-to-Edo Nakasendo and the Hokkoku road to the Sea of Japan.

Known as the Swiss of the Orient, the Suwa area is home to many watchmakers and other precision manufacturers.

The post towns of the Nakasendo stretch from north to south along the “Kiso-ji” road. There are several designated Historical Areas that convey a sense of history from the Edo era.

The Ina River Valley is famous for the cherry blossoms in Takato, the 2600 meter Senjojiki curl and the Komagatake Ropeway (which has the largest elevation gain in Japan).