Nagano Experience

20/04/2026

🙏 Zenkoji Temple is one of Japan’s oldest and most revered buddhist temples. For over 1,400 years, people from across the country have come here to pray, reflect, or simply soak in its peaceful atmosphere.

Zenkoji Temple also houses one of the oldest buddhist statues in Japan, believed to have arrived from India centuries ago. The original is so sacred it’s never shown to the public.

The approach to Zenkoji is part of the experience. Lined with traditional inns, quaint shops, and cozy cafés, it invites visitors to linger and take part in the local atmosphere. Strolling this road, it’s easy to imagine the footsteps of pilgrims, samurai, and townspeople who have walked the same path for generations.

This walking tour of Nagano city is more than a simple stroll. It is a journey into the cultural spirit of a region once traveled by pilgrims, monks, and samurai. From the revered grounds of Zenkoji Temple to the quiet backstreets lined with local shops, a former sake brewery, and traditional kura storehouses, this experience reveals a deeper side of Nagano that many visitors overlook.

⬇️ Book Now
https://naganoexp.com/activity/nagano-walking-tour
----

19/04/2026

🌙 Zenkoji Temple in evening light
⏩ A Cultural Stroll Through the Temple Town

The Zenkoji Temple precinct, with its broad stone paths and wooden halls, takes on new character after dark. Shadows accentuate the architecture of the gates while illuminated buildings stand out against the night sky.

The atmosphere naturally slows your pace, inviting quiet observation and reflection on the centuries of history these grounds have witnessed.

A nighttime walk through Zenkoji connects you not just to what you observe, but to the tranquility and sense of continuity the place embodies.

For those drawn to deepen that historical connection, our Evening Samurai Sword Experience offers a natural continuation, moving from walking the paths of history to learning skills from the same era. It creates an evening that balances quiet reflection with hands-on cultural discovery.

⬇️ Book Now
https://naganoexp.com/activity/evening-samurai-sword-experience
----

17/04/2026

🏃 The Nagano Olympic Commemorative Marathon will be held on Sunday, April 19th at 8:00 AM. Whether you’re wanting to see the action or avoid the crowds, understanding where and when this marathon will take place will be the key to enjoying your time in Nagano City this Sunday. Here we’ll take you through the itinerary of the race so you can best plan your trip to Nagano.

***Due to road closures for the marathon, we will not be accepting any tours in Nagano City for the duration of Sunday, April 19th.
----

The 2026 Nagano City Olympic Commemorative Marathon Posted on 2026.04.17 in EventsThe Nagano Olympic Commemorative Marathon is almost here! The race will kick off on Sunday, April 19th at 8:00 AM. Whether you’re wanting to see the action or avoid the crowds, understanding where and when this marat...

15/04/2026

🤤 Oyaki: The Bun That Became a Local Icon

Nagano Prefecture is a place where geography once shaped everyday meals. In many mountain districts, rice cultivation was difficult, so households leaned on wheat and buckwheat and the vegetables they could grow, dry, or pickle.

Out of that practical food culture came oyaki, a filled bun that is still treated as everyday food in Nagano, even as it has become known beyond the prefecture.

At a traditional restaurant where oyaki are still prepared with care, you can taste this regional classic. Fillings often feature Nagano staples like nozawana greens, kabocha squash, or eggplant with miso, offering a delicious contrast of earthy flavors and gentle sweetness.

⬇️ Book Now
https://naganoexp.com/activity/sake-brewery-tour-guided-tasting
----

10/04/2026

🌸 Enjoy the cherry blossoms in full bloom while visiting the historic Zenkoji Temple!

For the Japanese, cherry blossoms are something special, symbolizing the arrival of spring and new beginnings. Many people associate cherry blossoms with important memories such as school and company entrance ceremonies.

In addition, cherry blossoms, which fall in a short period of time, give a sense of beauty and transience and have been cherished by the Japanese people since ancient times. Therefore, the culture of "cherry blossom viewing" to enjoy cherry blossoms for a limited period of time is widely popular in Japan.
----

11/03/2026

🤤 Oyaki in Nagano: The Bun That Became a Local Icon

Nagano Prefecture is a place where geography once shaped everyday meals. In many mountain districts, rice cultivation was difficult, so households leaned on wheat and buckwheat and the vegetables they could grow, dry, or pickle. Out of that practical food culture came oyaki, a filled bun that is still treated as everyday food in Nagano, even as it has become known beyond the prefecture.

In its best-known Shinshu style, oyaki is made by mixing wheat flour and buckwheat flour with water, kneading it into dough, wrapping it around seasonal fillings, and cooking it until the outside sets and becomes fragrant. Depending on the area and the household, the cooking method can be baked, steamed, or a combination of both. The idea is simple, but the variations across Nagano are wide enough that locals sometimes talk about oyaki the way they talk about dialects: familiar, but different from valley to valley.

🌐 Book Now
https://naganoexp.com/activity/oyaki-and-sake-brewery-tour-guided-tasting
--

02/03/2026

🐒 The Snow Monkeys of Jigokudani

🏞️ The name Jigokudani translates literally as Hell Valley, and the ancient peoples who first gazed upon this landscape understood why. Steam rises from hot springs at every turn, cliffs plunge dramatically into the narrow gorge, and snow blankets the ground for nearly a third of the year.

🐵 Yet what appeared hellish to humans has proven ideal for one particular troop of Japanese macaques, the world's northernmost-dwelling primates, who have called this valley home for generations.

♨️ The macaques' relationship with hot springs began out of curiosity in 1963, when a young female macaque (most likely) discovered the warmth of a natural hot spring. Over time, this behavior spread throughout the troop and gradually became embedded in their cultural repertoire.

🏔️ No other monkey species lives year-round in such cold, snowy environments. These Japanese macaques have developed remarkable adaptations for surviving harsh winter temperatures and heavy snowfall.

⚔️ For travelers with a full day to spare, our Nagano City's Zenkoji Temple and samurai sword training offer a half-day of deep cultural immersion into Japan's Buddhist and martial traditions. The 90-minute guided tour covers one of the country's oldest temples, followed by hands-on katana practice at our nearby dojo.

🚆 From our dojo, Zenkojish*ta Station is about 5min walk. Express trains reach Yudanaka in about 45 minutes from this station, followed by a short bus ride and forest walk to access the Jigokudani Monkey Park.

🌐 Learn more
https://naganoexp.com/activities-and-spots/a-full-day-in-nagano-temple-samurai-and-snow-monkeys

21/02/2026

✨ Omotesando Tomyo Lantern Festival
📅 Feb. 20th to 23rd / 6:00pm to 9:00pm

Nagano hosts the Tomyo Lantern Festival. During this one-week event, hundreds of handcrafted kiri-e (paper-cut) lanterns line the approach, each lit by candle. The festival commemorates Nagano's 1998 Winter Olympics while honoring the Buddhist practice of offering light to the Buddha.

18/02/2026

🚏 Obuse is compact, and most of the central sights sit within walking distance. On the central streets, it’s the details: white plaster kura storehouses, low wooden facades, small gardens tucked behind walls, and stone-lined lanes that keep visitors’ attention.

🌰 One of the most popular paths is Kurinokomichi, often translated as Chestnut Alley, a narrow walkway linking major sites in the middle of town. It is not a grand boulevard. It feels like a shortcut that became a feature because people kept using it.

Obuse in Nagano : A Town Built for Walking Posted on 2026.02.18 in Activities and SpotsObuse sits on the Nagano plain with orchards at its edges and low mountains in the distance. Arriving by train, the first impression is scale. The station is small, the streets are narrow, and the main sights are....

10/02/2026

🚅 Nagano Station is located in the heart of the downtown area, offering easy access to restaurants, accommodations, and major attractions. Exit via the Zenkoji Exit to find a large plaza surrounded by hotels, dining options and Don Quijote shop. Bus stands and taxi stands are also directly outside this exit.

23/01/2026

❄️🥶 In late November when the snow starts to dust Nagano's peaks and the valleys sparkle with morning frost, the prefecture transforms into terrain made for walking. The cold brings clarity to mountain views and stillness to temple grounds, while frozen waterfalls and snow-draped castle walls create scenes that belong only to these months. From Matsumoto's castle town to Nagano City's temple precincts, winter walking in this region rewards those who bundle up and step outside.

🌐 Read More
https://naganoexp.com/activities-and-spots/winter-walks-in-nagano-area