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On a sunny cool spring morning on April 9, an age-old tradition took place in Suwa, Nagano Prefecture again after six years. (Locals, however, will tell you it happens every seven years…
By Patrick Murphrey
Because Nagano is situated within the Japanese Alps, spring comes a bit later than around Kanto, so you can enjoy various blossoms after they have passed in Tokyo. Aside from cherry blossoms,…
Hidden up in the far north of Nagano, bordering Niigata Prefecture, Iiyama is deep in the Japanese Alps. However, it’s easily accessible from Tokyo too, with the JR Hokuriku Shinkansen stopping at…
On the outskirts of Yamanashi’s capital city Kofu is a spot so scenic that it has inspired poems and became the object of paintings. No wonder it’s a Japan Heritage Site. The…
When English archaeologist William Gowland coined the term “Japanese Alps” in the late 1800s, he was originally referring to the Hida Mountains, now commonly known as the Northern Alps. Here on the…
When the English archeologist William Gowland saw the major mountain chain in the middle of Honshu he thought they resembled the European Alps so he named them accordingly. Later, English missionary Reverend…
On the border of Nagano and Niigata prefectures is an area that defies time as its mountain ranges have set the stage for some of Japan’s most historic moments. Within this area there is…
Japan’s winter resort town of Nozawa Onsen, located in the northern corner of Nagano’s Japanese Alps, is best enjoyed by foot. Walk from onsen to onsen (all free) amongst the steamy vapors…
