NAGANO TRIP 
Nagano is beautiful whatever the weather, but it’s even more glorious during the summer months. Nagano’s nature environment weloceme your trekking and activity. Nagano’s traditional architecture show our these hasn’t changed since a lot time ago.
Whether you’re looking to roam the great outdoors, embrace the festival spirit or enjoy a family fun day out in the sun, Nagano is the ideal place for a summer staycation！
Things to do in Nagano in the summer season!
There are many kinds of adventure in Nagano. The reason why visitors can enjoy the adventure in Nagano is that Nagano has a diverse environment Mountain, Lake, River, Sky. And, Japan has four distinct seasons, and each of them has its charms. Thus visitors can experience many kinds of adventures.
Togakushi
Togakushi (戸隠) is visited about 1.5 million tourists every year, so popular destination in Nagano. The temperature in summer season is lower than the metropolitan. Togakushi is well known as a cool place in the summer season. Togakusshi is at high elevation, so UV light is higher than it is at a lower elevation.
It is 1 hour’s drive from Nagano station. Visitors can go to Nagano station from Tokyo station by Hokuriku Shinkansen. Therefore Togakushi is a good access location from Tokyo.
Togakushi is well known as a holy place for a long time ago, many worshipers visit Togakushi shrines every year. Visitors can enjoy collaboration in historical shrines and autumn leaves. On the other hand, Togakushi Soba is famous because Togakushi has pure and rich water.
Togakushi Shrine
In Togakushi, There is 5 shrines are called Togakushi jinja (戸隠神社). These shrines were constructed for 2000 years ago. This place is famous as a power spot. If you can all shrines, probably you will get good things.
Togakushi Bokujo
Togakushi Bokujo (戸隠牧場) is a stock farm in Nagano city. Family can enjoy touch animals. Rabbit, Guinea pig, Sheep, Cow, Goat and much more… Not only to touch the animal, but also giving them their food!
Karuizawa
Karuizawa (軽井沢) is one of the most popular resorts located only one hour from Tokyo. Karuizawa has been known as a somewhere cool to stay and relax since about 1886.
In the present day, the new places, such as a Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza outlet mall, Hoshino resort, and the Church Street Karuizawa have come to be known, and the number of foreign tourists has been increasing. Visitors can enjoy sightseeing, shopping, walking in nature!
Visitors can arrive only 1 hour’s trip from Tokyo station to Karuizawa station by Hokuriku Shinkansen. Karuizawa is one of the best access to sightseeing places from Tokyo.
Kumoba Pond
Kumoba-Pond (雲場池) is one of the 3 major attractive spots in Karuizawa. It is a beautiful spot that reflection of the forests in the water of the lake. Kumoba Pond is called Swan Lake. Since visitors can look at many kinds of birds.
Shiraito-no-taki Falls
Shiraito-no taki (白糸の滝) is located between Nagano and Gunma prefecture. Shiraito means many fine threads. This waterfall is looked like many fine threads. Recently, this place is well known as a beautiful instagrammable spot.
Old Karuizawa Ginza Street
Old Karuizawa Ginza Street (旧軽井沢銀座通り) was an old highway in Edo era. Visitors can enjoy the mixed Japanese historical atmosphere and European atmosphere. There is a cafe’de minoriya where has special soft serve that was eaten and praised by John Lennon.
Hakuba Valley
10 ski resort in Hakuba(白馬) is collectively called Hakuba Valley. There is Hakuba valley in the foot of the Northern Alps in North area of Nagano. Hakuba Valley is an international mountain resort After this area was used as a place of Nagano Winter Olympic in 1998. On the other hand, we recommend the summer season. We can enjoy trekking while looking at an alpine plant at Hakuba HAPPO-ONE (Hakuba HAPPO REDGEA SPUR).
Tsugaike Natural Garden
Tsugaike Natural Garden (栂池自然園) is located in Hakuba Tsugaike (白馬栂池) spreads in Otari village. Visitor can go to altitude 2,000 meters high by gondola lift and ropeway. There are various kind of alpine plant, some kind of endemic species. visitor can walk on the 5,5 km’s promenade.
Happo Alpine line
Hakuba Happo(白馬八方) is in Hakuba village. Visitor can experience and discover on the mountain in the summertime. Especially, There Happo-one Nature Study Course and Kita-one are many alpine plants and rich nature. In addition, after walking, a visitor can take a hot spring. We highly recommend you to go to those places.
Kitaone-Kogen Highland
Kitaone-Kogen Highland (北尾根高原) is a part of Hakuba Happo area. Visitor can go to Happo-Lake by 3 rifts. Happo-Lake reflects of the Northern Alps in the water of the lake. By the way, there is a special tour that visitor can look a sunrise and sea of clouds. Kitaone Highlands is well known as a place where can see a sunrise.
Hime-kawa River
Himekawa(姫川) is one of Japan’s foremost good quality rivers, between Azumino area, Nagano prefecture – Itoigawa City, Niigata prefecture. There is various kind of rocks, which are blessings of natural diversity. In addition, this area is registered as a nature conservation area by the Japanese government. Visitors can look at various kinds of flowers and plants in the bog and nature park.
Kiso -Nakasendo and Nature-
Kiso (木曽)is one of the Nagano’s well kept secret place. There is 6 town and villages between the Central Alps and Mt, Ontake. Samurai period, Kiso was one of the main ways (this way was called Nakasendo) to transport from Kyoto to Edo. We can look a state of remaining Japanese traditional townscape and atmosphere.
On another hand, there are many nature spots in Kiso. The above mountain’s water is very clear and cold. Defenetry you can look at the emerald green river and some strangely shaped rocks that were shaved while a long long time. This natural environment is related to that Mt, Ontake is a volcano.
Nezame-no-toko
Nezame-no-toko (寝覚ノ床) is a strange place. There are many strangely shaped rocks, flowing a river between rocks. It was designed as a place of national scenic beauty.
Atera Valley
Atera Valley (阿寺渓谷)is located in Ookuwa village. A watercolor of Atera valley is called “Atera Blue”, one of the spot in a bucket list in Nagano Prefecture. Visitor can go to from Nojiri station in Ookuwa village. Be careful that visitor cannot use an IC card at the station.
Kakizore Valley
Kakizore Valley (柿其渓谷) is located in Nagiso town. There are some waterfall is impressive. Especially, Ushiga-taki waterfall is max 18 meters down. The harmony between the waterfall and the river of emerald green is beautiful.
Senjojiki Curl
Senjojiki Cirque(千畳敷カール) is a popular alpine landscape in Komagane city. There are many kinds of alpine wildflowers, alpine animal. In the summer season, there is a field of a flower as far as the eye can see. Kenga-ike Pond is a popular photo spot. Let’s try to take a photo that mountain is reflected in the pond. Actually, this place is easily accessible for using the Komagane Ropeway. This is Japan’s oldest ropeway. We can rise 950 meters to 2,334 meters while 8 minutes. A climbing beginner doesn’t have to worry to visit cirque.
Senjojiki Cirque has an only one-week point. This place is not good access from Tokyo. Especially, you go to hard by train. We recommend using a highway bus from Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal (Basuta Shinjuku) to Komagane Interchange. After you arrive at Komagane Interchange, you should go to Suganodaira Bus Center. Form Suganodaira Bus Center, you can get a bus on regular route to the ropeway station.
Sora Terrace
Sora Terrace (空テラス)is located in Ryuoo Ski Park, Yamanouchi-town. In the summer season, visitor can enjoy a sea of clouds, sunset, a sky full of stars. Especially, Sora terrace is famous as the sea of clouds spot. If you want to see, you should go to evening (June to August: 5 p,m~/September to November: 4 p,m~).
The nearest station from sora terrace is Yutanaka station, Nagano Electric Railway. There is a shuttle bus from Yutanaka station to Ryuoo Ski Park.
Nagano in Summer season -10 Must do in Nagano, Japan-
We’ve given you some Nagano’s summer best spot. But there are many more just waiting for you to discover. Add a little bit of creative flavor to your next travel in Japan by including destinations Nagano prefecture’s summer best spot on your travel itinerary.
