Nagano Prefecture Travelers Recommend

With two days in Nagano, you can enjoy the cultural highlights of the city, see the beautiful mountains of Nagano Prefecture that surrounded it, and watch the region’s famous “snow monkeys” bathing in hot-spring pools. Here are some tips for how to spend two days in Nagano.

Day 1: Tour Nagano City

Morning: Start your day at one of Nagano’s most important sites, the 8th-century Zenkoji Temple, around which Nagano City grew. See the Buddhist statues inside the Main Hall (rebuilt in the 1700s), then head to the nearby Zenkoji History Museum to learn more about the history of the temple and Nagano itself.

Afternoon: In the afternoon, learn about the local Togakure school of ninja, founded in the 12th century. If you’re traveling with children, check out the Kids’ Ninja Village theme park; otherwise dip into local ninja history at the Togakure Ninpo Museum.

Night: Enjoy a relaxed dinner this evening at a local izakaya, a Japanese pub-restaurant. Local food specialties to try include buckwheat soba noodles, oyaki dumplings, pickled mustard leaves, and—if you’re game—horse sashimi.

Day 2: See the Snow Monkeys

Morning: Set out this morning for Yamanouchi, less than an hour’s drive northeast of Nagano city and famous for the Japanese macaques that bathe in the hot waters of Jigokudani Monkey Park. Although it’s possible to see the monkeys year-round, winter is the best time to see these wild animals, which learned to enjoy the hot springs by mimicking humans.

Afternoon: If it’s winter and you’d like to warm up after seeing the snow monkeys, head to the hot springs at the nearby towns of Shibu Onsen and Yudanaka Onsen. If you’re visiting at another time of year, devote the afternoon to hiking in nearby Shiga-kogen, within the UNESCO World Heritage Site Joshinetsu-kogen National Park.

Night: Spend your final evening in Nagano enjoying the lively nightlife along the shopping arcade Gondo-dori. Join nattily dressed locals perusing the bars, clubs, and cafés, all open late, and raise a glass to your Nagano visit.

With three days in and around Nagano, you can spend a day seeing the sights of Nagano city and another two on day trips around mountainous Nagano Prefecture, taking in temples, castles, and the famous local wildlife. Here are our top picks for spending three days in Nagano.

Day 1: Nagano City

Start your day at one of Nagano’s most important sites, the 8th-century Zenkoji Temple, where you can view impressive Buddhist statues and learn more about the city’s long history. Next, turn your attention to Nagano’s 12th-century Togakure school of ninja. If you’re traveling with children, check out the Kids’ Ninja Village, with ninja costumes and obstacle courses; otherwise, visit the Togakure Ninpo Museum, which delves into the school’s history. Finally, take a hands-on cooking class to learn about local cuisine and make—and eat—Nagano specialties such as oyaki dumplings and basashi (raw horse meat).

Day 2: Snow Monkeys

Devote your second day to one of Nagano’s most famous attractions: Jigokudani Monkey Park, northeast of the city in the town of Yamanouchi. Visit the park independently, or join one of the many half- and full-day tours that stop at the park as part of a larger area exploration, including Zenkoji Temple and the Shiga-kogen Highlands. At the wildlife reserve, visitors watch Japanese macaques bathe in the hot springs, a pastime they learned from humans. Winter is the best time to see these “snow monkeys,” although viewing is possible year-round. If you feel like a soak after viewing the macaques, head to a nearby hot-spring resort such as Shibu Onsen or Yudanaka Onsen. Alternatively, hiking enthusiasts can take in spectacular valley views in Shiga-kogen Park, within Joshinetsu-kogen National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Day 3: Visit Matsumoto

Rise early on your third day in Nagano, and take a day trip to the castle town of Matsumoto, a 1- to 2-hour drive away. Spend the day exploring this small city on the plains, with snow-capped mountains visible in the distance. The town’s star attraction, black, 16th-century Matsumoto Castle survived World War II intact. Other highlights include well-preserved merchant houses and the Matsumoto City Museum of Art, where the hometown of eccentric Japanese contemporary artist Yayoi Kusama proudly displays many of her colorful sculptures, paintings, and installations.

A mountainous area that’s popular with skiers in winter and hikers throughout the rest of the year, Nagano is also famous for its cute “snow monkeys,” Japanese macaques that bathe in natural hot springs in winter. One day is just enough time to see the local wildlife, soak in the hot springs, and enjoy some local cuisine. Here’s how to get the most out of one day in Nagano.

Morning: Snow Monkeys of Yamanouchi

Head out first thing to Yamanouchi, less than an hour’s drive northeast of Nagano city, to the hot springs of Jigokudani Monkey Park. The macaques here aren’t trained monkeys, but instead wild animals that love a hot bath as much anyone. Many private and small-group half- and full-day tours visit the park as part of a wider area itinerary, and winter is the best time to see the animals. 

Afternoon: Soak or Take a Hike

If you’re visiting in winter, you might want to warm up yourself after seeing the monkeys. While you can’t hop in with the furry mammals, you can indulge in hot springs in the nearby resort towns of Shibu Onsen and Yudanaka Onsen. If you’re visiting at another time of year, spend the afternoon hiking or driving in the hills: The nearby Shiga-kogen Highlands are located within Joshinetsu-kogen National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with some lovely walks and valley views.

Night: Dinner at an Izakaya

Head back into Nagano city this evening and enjoy a relaxed dinner at a local izakaya, or Japanese pub-restaurant. Local specialties to look out for include buckwheat soba noodles,oyaki dumplings, pickled mustard leaves, and—although perhaps not to everyone’s taste—horse sashimi. Nagano has a fairly low-key nightlife scene, but if you’re not ready to call it a night, stop for a nightcap at a different izakaya or the town’s popular British pub.