Nagano
Birthplace of popular samurai figures leaving Nagoya castle and Inuyama castle
Nagano made its name for beautiful nature during the world for Winter Olympic Games in 1998.
Mountains with 2,000 to 3,000 kilometers (1,200 to 1,800 miles) lie in Nagano. Jigokudani Yaen Park is popular for tourists by offering a unique scene of wild monkeys in a hot bath in winter.
Jigokudani Yaen Park, Hell’s valley, is known as Snow Monkey Mountain as wild monkeys come down to a hot bath in winter for heat and foods.
Tsumago-juku preserves atmosphere of an ancient town from Edo Period when it was flourished as one of the 69 post towns of the Nakasendo road, which is one of the main roads from Tokyo to Kyoto.
You can enjoy 3 hour hiking from Tsumago-juku to Magome-juku in Gifu prefecture.
Shinshu soba - buckwheat noodles produced in Shinshu, another name of Nagano.
Oyaki - flour buns filled with pickles and vegetables cooked in ashes from a fireplace
Yashouma - home made sweets with colorful design made of rice flour, sugar, water and salt during spring that originates as an offering on an anniversary of death of Mr. Buddha on February 15
Lacquerware is unique to Japan and Kiso district in Japan is especially known for the production of lacquerware that originates in the 17th century.
It became a popular souvenir for travelers on the Nakasendo road. Uchiyama washi paper that traces back to 17th century is known as strong, soft and flexible paper that is good for shoji paper, which is paper used for traditional Japanese sliding door.
