A Summer Adventure in the Tenryu Riverlands, Nagano
[Music] [Music] [Music] Close [Music] to mine. [Music] Don’t get stuck inside your mind. We’re pushing the limits. We’re going blind. I’m fully in it. I’ve been this one all my life. [Music] So no turning backward. Head straight forward. You know I’ll be there at every corner. Now won’t you just take off that heavy armor? You know that we got this. I promise. And I bet this part of my life [Music] is [Music] This one. [Music]
MEET THE LOCALS: Discovering Local Heritage and Key Figures of Nagano
Description
The Tenryu Riverlands are a scenic and culturally-rich region in the south of Nagano Prefecture – a region dominated by the Tenryu River, subsidiary waterways, farmlands, forests and mountains.
Lying around 2.5 hours to the south of Nagano City, the Tenryu Riverlands are defined by the river from which it takes its name and a unique blend of tradition and adventure. For centuries, the Tenryu River served as a water road to the coast, stretching over 200km to the Pacific Ocean and in doing so, offering an alternate route into the mountainous heart of Japan. As such, life revolved around the river and distinct local industries and craft emerged.
Descending from high above in Japan’s South Alps, Tenryu River runs more than two hundred kilometres through the mountainous heart of the country – a river road all the way to the Pacific coast that forges the local identity and feeds the riverlands. This immersive two day tour takes on an exploration of the riverlands including a traditional river cruise, rural experiences including fruit-picking and tea-picking in combination with a one night stay at local hot spring guesthouse. Taking you off the beaten path and deep into Central Japan, this tour will introduce you to local people and a quieter, more traditional way of life sourced from the river
Highlights
— Discover the history and character of Tenryu River with a stroll through Tenryukyo Gorge including fruit-picking at Tenryukyo Farm
— Enjoy an overnight stay a traditional ‘onsen’ (hot spring) guesthouse including traditional ‘kaiseki’ (multi-course) dinner menu and breakfast
— Follow the river deep into the heart of the region on your second day with a Tenryu Rhine-Kudari boat ride followed by short journey by train along one of the Central Japan’s most scenic rail lines
— Enjoy an evening of glamping with a stay at ‘Tree Dome Matsukawa’ including bbq dinner, breakfast and entry to nearby Seiryuen Onsen
— Choose your outdoor adventure including rafting on Tenryu River, canyoning at Mango Ravine or fishing or fishing at Myokin Park
— Customise your package with the option of multiple activities, transport and / or a local guide
— Experience tea-picking in the beautiful terraced fields of Nakaisamurai – one of Nagano’s most beautiful yet least visited landscapes
— Visit Tenryukyo Farm, where you can meet the resident farmer and pluck your own apples straight from the orchard with a morning of fruit-picking
— Follow a leisurely walking trail from the farm into Tenryukyo Gorge and over the Tsutsuji Suspension Bridge to your lunch restaurant
— Enjoy lunch at a popular local restaurant serving favourites including ‘soba’, ‘tempura’, ‘katsudon’ and more!
— Turn-up the excitement with an afternoon of rafting on Tenryu River including the fun of whitewater and other activities led by a qualified instructor
Access
Iida is the largest city in the riverlands, lying approximately 4-hours / 270km to the west of Tokyo, 2-hours / 120km to the north-east of Nagoya, and 2.5-hours / 165km to the south of Nagano City. For visitors heading to the region using the train network from locations including Tokyo and Nagoya – or further afield from Kyoto or Osaka – it will be easiest to take the Tokaido Shinkansen to Toyohashi Station and transfer to the JR Iida Line for the onward journey to Iida Station via Tenryukyo Station. One of Central Japan’s most scenic train journeys, the line follows the Tenryu River for much of the way, taking you deep into the heart of country and back to a place of tradition and adventure.
AloJapan.com