NAGANO TRIP 
Tokyo is one of the most convenience and diverse place in Japan. Gathering a lot of people, Gathering a lot of cultures, in Tokyo. Probably, Your Japanese trip starts many times from Tokyo. However, you will feel a little tired when you stay in Tokyo for a long time. In that time, we recommend to visit other places where is near Tokyo, can visit one day. If you take a train for some hours, you can visit historical towns, rich natures. Today, we provide information of 9 place where is near by Tokyo.
TOKYO WHERE IS THE PLYMPIC CITY IN 2020
It is not necessary to explain. Tokyo (東京) is one of the biggest metropolitan in the world. However, Not only Tokyo is a contemporary city but also Tokyo has long and deep local a lot of cultures. Recently, Tokyo changing an atmosphere and landscape towards the 2020 Tokyo Olympic. So, If you visit now, you will look at a state mix old and new culture and buildings. The Tokyo Sky Tree is a new symbol in Tokyo, Japa. The height is 643 meters, highest radio tower in the world.
AKIHABARA TOKYO JAPAN
Akihabara (秋葉原) started as an illegal market after World War Ⅱ. After soon, Akihabara has become famous electric appliances town street. After 2000, Akihabara has changed from the electric appliances city to Japanese youth culture (Anime, Manga, PC, TV game) city. Akihabara is a source of youth fashion in the world.
KAMAKURA WHERE THERE IS A BIG BUDDA IN JAPAN
Kamakura (鎌倉) is a small city in Kanagawa prefecture, Japan. Kamakura is located just near Tokyo. The JR Yokosuka Line for Zushi is the earliest connection from Tokyo to Kamakura. It takes about 1 hour. Kamakura is an ancient place, so there are many historic destinations in a small area. In addition, not only Kamakura has nature and mountain but also has seen and coast. A lot of Japanese people have attracted these points of Kamakura.
ENOSHIMA ISLAND
Nearby Kamakura, there is a famous island in Japan. The island’s name is Enoshima (江の島). Enoshima is a small island off the Shonan coast of Kanagawa. Especially, Enoshima Shrine is well known.
Mt, FUJI JAPAN
Mountain Fuji (富士山) is located between Yamanashi and Shizuoka Prefecture. Mt, Fuji has registered the world heritage site as a name of ” Fujisan, sacred place and source of artistic inspiration ” in 2013. If you visit Mt, Fuji in August, you should go to by public transport. Because there is a regulation of private cars every August.
NIKKO TOSHOGU JAPAN
Nikko (日光) is located in Tochigi Prefecture, Honshu. Nikko has visited many people after the Edo period since this place has become a mausoleum of Tokugawa Ieyasu and Tokugawa Iemitsu who was Shogun of Japan. It takes about 2 hours 30 minutes from Tokyo Station to Imaichi Station by Tohoku-Hokkaido Shinkansen & Nikko Line.
Shrines and Temples of Nikko have registered the world heritage site.
KARUIZAWA
Karuizawa (軽井沢) is one of the most popular resorts located only one hour from Tokyo by Hokuriku Shinkansen. 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.
The attractive points in Karuizawa are to enjoy both nature and shopping. Especially, we recommend Kyu-Karuizawa road (旧軽井沢通り). There are many select shops and cool individual shops aside this road. Visitor can buy selected products. However, It is not only shopping this road to enjoy. There are some historical places and rich nature behind the street. You should walk behind the Kyu-Karuizawa road.
NAGANO CITY
Nagano City (長野市) is a prefectural capital in Nagano prefecture. In some decades, Nagano City has been grown by the merger, so the number of sightseeing place has been increasing recently. It takes about 1 hour 30 minutes by Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Nagano Station. Below is our recommended places in Nagano city.
Zenko-Ji temple (善光寺)is one of the most famous temples in Japan. This temple’s Honzon (principal image of Buddha) is Amida Nyorai statue from China. However, this culture was originally comed from India.
OKUSUSOBANA VALLEY
Okususobana Valley(奥裾花渓谷) is famous as a majestic valley in Kinasa area, Nagano city. The landscape of the valley is made by strangely shaped rocks and great rock cliff aside Susobana River rises in which wetlands (Okususobana Nature Park) is famous as skunk cabbage. Best season is Spring ~ Autumn. It is grandeur for us to look at the contrast between beech forests and autumn leaves.
TOGAKUSHI SHRINES
It is 1 hour’s drive from Nagano station, and five Togakushi Shrines (戸隠神社)are located in the Togakushi area. Soba is famous because Togakushi has pure and rich water.
SHIGA KOGEN (SHIGA HIGHLANDS)
Shiga Highlands(志賀高原) is a magnificent ski resort in winter. Ski areas are connected by a useful shuttle bus service. It is famous for the skier that Shiga-Kogen’s snow quality is great! By the way, Shiga-Kogen was entered as a Biosphere Conservation Area (UNESCO Eco Park) by UNESCO. There are an original ecosystem and society and beautiful landscape. We can enjoy Shiga-Kogen for all years.
JIGOKUDANI MONKEY PARK
Around Shiga Highlands, there are some famous sightseeing places. Above all, Jigokudani Monkey Park
(地獄谷野猿公苑) is a famous and popular place in Nagano. Jikokudani Monkey Park is only one spot in the world that we can look at monkeys who take an Onsen (hot spring). There is the park in Yamanouchi town in north area in Nagano prefecture. Recently, the park is a well known most popular destination for foreign tourists in winter season’s Nagano. On the other hand, Shibu Onsen (渋温泉)(hot spring) which is good quality Onsen, is located nearby SHIGA HIGHLANDS.
MATSUMOTO WHERE THERE IS MATSUMOTO CASTLE
Matsumoto city (松本)is the second biggest area in Nagano. Matsumoto city has a cultured atmosphere.
It takes about 3 hours by Azusa Express Train from Shinjuku Station to Matsumoto Station. Below is our recommended places in Matsumoto city.
MATSUMOTO CASTLE
Matsumoto-jo Castle (松本城) is a Japanese-style castle built about 400 years ago. This castle is called ”The crow castle”. You can take a beautiful pictures Matsumoto-jo Castle with cherry blossoms and the Northern Alps. In addition, there are some historical destinations and sightseeing places around the Matsumoto-jo castle.
KAMIKOCHI NAGANO JAPAN
Kamikochi (上高地) is a name of vary area in Matsumoto city. Kamikochi area has the official English website, it is very easy to understand. We recommend looking at the below website. And one last thing, Kamikochi is extremely changing temperature, especially, you feel really different before you walk and after you walk. You don’t forget outerwear.
UTSUKUSHIGAHARA HIGHLANDS
There Utsukusigahara Highlands (美ヶ原高原) is an almost center, a part of the biggest national park (39,857ha) in Nagano prefecture. The top of the mountain is a pasture. There are many kinds of alpine plants and several places of great viewpoints, so we recommend that you try to walk a tracking course. Please be careful of attire, because Utsukushigahara is altitude 2000 meters place.
NAWATE STREET WHERE IS OPEN HOURS 10:00 ~ 18:00 (DEPENDING OF SHOPS)
Nawate street (繩手通り) is town street that are characteristic shops to form a line in Matsumoto city. Visitor can arrive about 10 minutes from Matsumoto station, 5 minutes from Matsumoto-jo castle. An origin of a name “Nawate” is “Street is long like a rope”. A rope is Japanese Nawa. This street is an only walker street, so safety. Nawate has a symbol character that is “Frog”. If you like a frog, you must visit this street. Every year, the frog festival is carried out.
KANAZAWA JAPAN
Kanazawa city (金沢市) is a prefectural capital in Ishikawa prefecture that is located Honshu in Japan. Kanawaza is well known as a traditional townscape of Edo period, Art museum, traditional crafts, seafood. Especially, Kenroku-en is known classical garden that is incorporated Pond and fountain.
Actually, until 2015 Kanazawa was not good access place from Tokyo. But Kanazawa could connect with Tokyo by Hokuriku Shinkansen in 2015. Therefore, Kanazawa became the near place for Tokyo, visitor can go to Kanazawa while one day.
KISO VALLEY AND HISTORIC TOWNSTREET
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.
Narai-Juku post town(奈良井宿) is a Japanese traditional townscape in Shiojiri city. Samurai period〔Edo (Tokyo〕 era 1603-1868), this area was one of the main ways (this way was called Nakasendo) to transport from Kyoto to Edo（Tokyo）.
Tsumago-juku post town (妻籠宿) is located in Nagiso town in Nagano. During the Edo period, traveler, merchant, administrator used transport Edo (now Tokyo) with Kyoto. We can look a state of remaining Japanese traditional townscape and feel a historical atmosphere.
10 DESTINATIONS FOR A DAY TRIPS FROM TOKYO
20 century to 21 century, our mobility has been changing dramatically. We can go everywhere in the world. Maybe there is no unexplored region in the present world. Recently, the traffic situation around Tokyo has been also changing. Visitor can go to a lot of areas while one day from Tokyo. There are many characteristic places which maybe not well known. We highly recommend you to go to the above places and more not famous places
