3 Days in Nagano: Snow Adventures, Local Eats & Strolling Through Historic Streets

3 Days in Nagano: Snow Adventures, Local Eats & Strolling Through Historic Streets

Nagano is a destination not too far from Tokyo. Yet, it offers a completely different vibe. Peaceful, beautiful nature. [Music] delicious food and many interesting experiences. [Music] I spent three days visiting Zenoji Temple, walking through snowy forests to see monkeys soaking in hot springs. eating ramen at a small roadside shop and enjoying a Rioan stay with a traditional Japanese dinner. If you enjoy trips that aren’t too crowded with nature and a touch of nostalgia, then Nagono is definitely worth a try. [Music] 3-day itinerary summary in Nagono. Day one, Zenoji. Local specialties, Shibu Onen. Day two, snow monkeys, Miso Ramen, Art Museum. Day three, Togakushi Forest, Matsumoto Castle, Naray Juku. Nagano is often visited during three of the most beautiful times of the year. Cherry blossom season, late March to midappril. Autumn foliage, October to early November. [Music] and snowy winter December to February. As the weather warms up, cherry blossoms begin to bloom at popular spots in Nagono like Takato Jooshi Park, Matsumoto Castle, and along the Sai River. This is a peak travel time, especially from early to midappril. As a result, hotel and rayoken prices near top flower viewing locations tend to rise, especially those with onsen or garden views. If you plan to visit during this period, it’s best to book your stay 2 to 3 months in advance to avoid soldout accommodations. [Music] Autumn in Nagono is the perfect time to enjoy colorful foliage in the cool and dry air. Places like Kamakochi, Togakushi Shrine, and along the Tatayyama Kurob alpine route. are filled with vibrant reds and yellows, ideal for light hikes, nature exploration, and photography. This is also the season for delicious foods like matsutake mushrooms, chestnuts, and soba noodles, a local specialty. Nagago becomes blanketed in white snow, making it a top destination for ski lovers or those who want to experience onsen in the cold weather. Areas such as Hakuba, Nozzawa onen, and Shiga Kogan attract many visitors with their scenic beauty and modern ski resorts. The Jigokani Snow Monkey Park is one of the rare places in the world where you can see wild monkeys soaking in hot springs. For those wanting to book a Rioan, especially ones with meals in private hot springs, it’s best to reserve about 2 to 3 months ahead. If traveling during peak season, accommodations near major stations or popular tourist areas often fill up quickly. [Music] Day one from Kanazawa to Nagano Zenoji Temple. At noon, I left Kanazawa and took the Shinkansen to Nagono. Traveling by high-speed train in Japan is always a rewarding experience, not just for the speed, but also for the convenience. The trains are clean, the seats are spacious, and there’s room for large luggage. The Kanazawa Nagono route takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes. Just enough time to relax before arrival. Along the way, the scenery outside the window kept changing. Low mountains, small forests, and now and then rooftops dusted with early snow. Arriving at Nagono station, the first thing I did was store my luggage in a coin locker at the station. There are many lockers of various sizes here costing between $280 and $550. Thanks to that, I could freely explore the area without carrying my bags. From the station, I walked about 20 minutes to the first stop in Nagono, Zenoji Temple. This is an ancient temple over 1,400 years old. Considered the most sacred place in the region, the walk was easy with clear paths and little traffic. Along the way were a few wooden craft shops, tea stores, and local eeries. [Music] The main hall of Zenoji is a large black painted wooden building standing solemnly in the snowy courtyard. [Music] Behind the main altar is a narrow tunnel where visitors walk in complete darkness to find a metal latch called the key to enlightenment. There are no lights or signs inside. You have to feel your way along the walls to find the latch. It’s quite a unique experience with only the sound of footsteps and the feeling of your hand tracing the wooden wall. It’s a short walk, but one you’ll remember. Exiting the main hall, I stopped by the souvenir stalls outside the gate. There were small dolls in various colors, each representing a wish for health, career, love, etc. People often write their wishes and hang them on a nearby wooden frame. In the cold air, seeing the colorful dolls hanging close together felt like a cheerful spot in the quiet temple atmosphere. Leaving the temple, we strolled around the nearby small streets. We visited a specialty store. Inside were all kinds of products made from noono apples. Fresh fruit, juice, jam, baked goods, even handcrafted apple wine. Upstairs, there were more displays of light local sake varieties. We bought a few small bottles as gifts, carefully packed and easy to carry. As the weather grew colder, we tried oiaki flat buns filled with noana greens grilled over charcoal. The crust was lightly crispy, the filling savory and a bit salty, perfect for the chilly weather. Next was mochi senbe grilled rice crackers topped with mochi. Crispy outside, chewy inside with a balanced flavor. Lastly, we had apple pie with lightly sweet filling and soft crust. Just the kind of treat you’d expect from an apple growing region. By late afternoon, we returned to the station to catch a bus to our overnight stop, the hotring town of Shibu Onsen. [Music] It took less than an hour from Nagono to Udanaka station, followed by a short bus ride directly into the center of Shibu Ansen. Shibu Ansen is an old mountain town that has kept much of its traditional charm. Low wooden houses, red and yellow lanterns, and narrow stone-paved streets. I had booked a Rioin in advance via booking or Japan, a spacious tatami room, private onsen bath in the room, an outdoor courtyard plus yucata and wooden sandals for guests. Shibu onen is famous for its system of nine public baths. Each bath is located in a different part of town and Rioan guests are given keys to access them all. According to locals, each bath has a different healing property. If you don’t want to walk around, you can rent a private bath for about 6 to 7 per hour booked at the front desk or in advance by phone. Nights in Shibu are peaceful under the warm yellow lights. A few people in Yucata and wooden sandals walk the stone streets carrying towels in hand. the sound of hot spring water flowing gently and steam rising from the roofs of small houses. We entered bath number five. The water wasn’t too hot and it wasn’t crowded. It felt like all the day’s fatigue melted away. Day two, discovering Nagago. Today I visited the snow monkey park. This place has appeared in many travel magazines thanks to the image of Japanese macaks soaking and relaxing in hot springs amid the freezing cold. From the park’s entrance, it took me about 30 minutes to walk to the monkey habitat with snow-covered trees on both sides and a thick layer of snow underfoot. Most people around were in small groups, all dressed warmly and wearing anti-slip shoes. When I reached the hotring area, I saw a group of wild monkeys gathering around a natural hotring. Some were soaking in the water with their eyes closed, looking very relaxed. A few were grooming each other, and the younger ones ran around playing in the snow. The area isn’t very large, but there are clear paths for visitors and a few signs reminding people not to touch the monkeys. There were quite a few tourists, but everyone kept a respectful distance. There are no shops or extra services here. After about 30 minutes, I headed back the same way and took the bus and train back to Nagono. Back in the city center, I walked from the station to a small ramen shop nearby for lunch. The place was not big with around five to six tables inside, mostly local customers. There were Japanese and English menus on the wall, so ordering was easy. I ordered a bowl of spicy miso ramen. The broth was rich and moderately spicy with thin noodles, chashu pork, scallions, and softboiled egg. The steaming bowl looked simple, but it instantly warmed me up. In the afternoon, we visited the Nagono Art Museum where an exhibition on director Hidiyaki Ano, creator of the famous anime Evangelion, was on display. Entry was around Adar 3D Wallen. The interior was quite modern, divided into small sections based on different stages of his creative work. There were sketches, models, storyboards, and lots of behindthe-scenes images. The atmosphere was quiet with soft lighting. Photography wasn’t allowed, but the layout was easy to follow and never boring. Even if you’re not an anime fan, you can enjoy it as a relaxing museum visit. Leaving the museum, I walked to Joyama Park just behind it. This time of year, the trees had lost their leaves, and the lake in the middle of the park was nearly frozen. I sat for a while on a wooden bench, watching the people around me. It was cold, but dry and comfortable. The afternoon passed very slowly. In the evening, my friend and I stopped by a familiar Katsu Dawn place near the hotel. It was part of a fast food chain, but clean and decent in quality. I chose rice with crispy fried venison, topped with egg. The meat was slightly tougher than pork, but not too unusual in taste. The egg was softly cooked. The rice soaked in sauce, and the portion was just enough. Price was about $7 to 8. After eating, I took a walk around central Nagono at night. The city is pretty quiet in the evening, not crowded, not much traffic. Some convenience stores were still open, and a few small restaurants had light glowing from inside. This city isn’t flashy or hurried. Perfect for those who enjoy slow, light travel without crowds or pressure. Day three, Togakushi, Matsumoto, Narayuku. Today was the last day of the trip. I woke up early, packed my things, and headed to the bus stop in central Nageno to catch a bus to Togakushi Shrine. The bus dropped me off at the lower shrine area. From there, it took about 30 more minutes of walking through the forest to reach the middle and upper shrines. The path was covered in snow, flanked by tall, straight cedar trees with wide canopies. Many trees had signs showing their planting years. Some were over 400 years old. The trail was quiet with only a few people walking the same way. At the upper shrine, I stopped for a while, lit incense, wrote a wish, and stood watching the snow fall. The path downhill was more slippery than on the way up, so I had to grip my walking stick tightly and move slowly. It took some effort, but it was well worth trying, especially in snowy season. I reached the base of the mountain close to 11:00 a.m. I went into a small ery near the forest edge. The menu was simple, and there weren’t many customers. Inside had an open kitchen and wooden tables. I ordered cold soba noodles with three dipping sauces, soy, dashi broth, and ground sesame. It also came with vegetable tempura, grated daon, and a small bowl of hot soup. The soba was thin, chewy, and refreshing when dipped in the cold sauce. The tempura was crispy, but not greasy. After eating, I felt clearly recharged following the long morning hike. I took a train to Matsumoto. I arrived around early afternoon. I had booked a night at a rioken under the Hosino Resorts group. Check-in was quick. The room was spacious with the Tommy mats, an indoor bath, an outdoor tub facing the forest, and a small dry sauna. I rested for about an hour, then walked to Matsumoto Castle, one of the few original wooden castles still preserved. It wasn’t far from the station. The entrance was easy to find, and the grounds were wide, surrounded by a moat. I bought a ticket and went straight into the main keep. The central tower had multiple floors, narrow walkways, and steep stairs. Climbing each level, the wooden floor creaked under my feet. From the top floor, I could see the entire city. The rooftops were dusted with snow. The sky was clear and a light breeze blew. The cold air was just enough to feel fresh, not harsh. In the afternoon, I continued my trip to Narayuku, a historic town on the old Nakasendo route. The main street was just a few minutes walk from the station. The whole area was quiet with rows of wooden two-story houses and almost no traffic. I stopped by a small ice cream shop and ordered ginger ice cream known as John Lennin ice cream because he once ate it here. It had a light spiciness and mild sweetness. Quite a unique taste in the cold. I also ordered a serving of Sanzoku yaki, a localstyle fried chicken dish with crispy skin and tender meat. Simple but tasty. I ate while watching people walk by on the old street. As dusk settled in, a few craft shops remained open, selling small items like wooden dolls, handcarved chopsticks, and fruit preserves. I browsed for a bit and picked a few small gifts to take home. The final day ended with three very different stops. A snowy morning in the forest at Togakushi. A visit to Matsumoto Castle. A walk through the old town of Narajuku. And an onsen bath back in Shibu. 3 days passed quickly with each place offering something unique. Constant changes of atmosphere made everything feel fresh and relaxing. The total cost for this 3-day trip was about $600 to $700 per person. If staying in a mid-range Rioin with dinner and onsen. If you opt for simpler lodging and budget transport, you could do it for around $500. This includes full meals, train tickets, entry fees for attractions, and a few small souvenirs. If you’re looking for a light trip without crowds with nature, good food, and peaceful vibes, then Nagono and its surroundings are a perfect choice. Not too far from Tokyo, easy to get around, and full of experiences that feel new and worth trying at least once. If you found this content helpful, don’t forget to subscribe to the channel and turn on the bell to catch our next travel documentary.

3 Days in Nagano: Snow Adventures, Local Eats & Strolling Through Historic Streets
Discover Nagano in this 3-day travel vlog filled with unique and memorable experiences – from the historic Zenkoji Temple and the famous snow monkey park to authentic Japanese meals and traditional ryokan stays. If you’re looking for a practical and inspiring Nagano travel guide, this video offers the perfect escape into nature, culture, and tranquility. Don’t miss this peaceful journey through one of Japan’s most charming winter destinations!

#naganotravel
#naganotravelvlog
#naganotravelguide
#naganodocumentary
#traveldocumentary
#travelguide