Located centre of Japan, Nagano Prefecture has mountain range along the border with 8 Pref. All city and town situated at the foot of mountains, many tourists visit from all across Japan for skiing, hiking, fishing, hot springs and temples.
About 90 skiing resorts
Happy winter Nagano has beautiful epic snow covered, it’s more feathery dry powder than Hokkaido or Myoko(Nigata) . The best and popular resort is HAKUBA, wonderful mountain range scenery and great facility to ski/snowboarders by vibrant village people and migration. Second one is NOZAWA, compact rural village has popular public hot springs(free) foot of a big skiing resort, and gorgeous fire festival.
Moreover, a lot of ski resorts has own style but not convenient for transportation by train and bus. If you have a rent car, try to get small hidden resorts 🙂
Over 200 spots of Onsen – hot spring
Too much hot spring everywhere to choose, mostly Northern Nagano. Day visit hot spring prices 300-1000 yen, some facility has private use option.
Make sure Japanese hot spring has own rule and manner, not a pool.
Worry about Tatoo?
Many guests told me about tatoo, Japanese refuse the person has big exotic tatoo on back. No worries about your small tattoo on arm. (some hot spring don’t accept any person even small tattoo).
Easy access from/to Tokyo
Only 2-3 hours from Tokyo by train, thus round Japan tripper visit as first/final spot from Nagoya, Hida-takayama, Shirakawago or Kanazawa.
Today useful highway direct bus from Airport to each town or ski resorts.
http://willerexpress.com/st/3/en/pc/
http://www.alpico.co.jp/access/english/
https://naganosnowshuttle.com/Routes.aspx
Food?
Hum, Not bad, Not special.
Fruits must be best you have ever!
Seafood should be Westcoast, and rice, sake and ramen everywhere in Japan. Western food will be better to go big city.
People and communication
Nagano Pref. is one of a popular tourist area for all Japanese, big fun of hiking, hot springs and skiing resort. So the person who talk with you can be tourist, too. And the most accommodation host came from big city, loved nature in common. The people are used to talking and telling in English, and help a lots than other prefectures.
Honestly local person has strong exclusive and typical closed culture in Japan, but very kind and good look to tourists, try to talk with translation apps 🙂
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