Mountains define Nagano, snow-dusted peaks piercing the sky as far as the eye can see. In this sprawling, spellbinding prefecture made up of five national parks, countless pastoral plateaus, and miles of serene pilgrimage trails, it’s strange to think that Tokyo is only an hour to the south by bullet train — the neon lights of the capital have never felt so far away. The people of this prefecture have a special relationship with both the natural, and the spiritual world. They are guardians of the land, and like their ancestors before them, believe in the power of mountains.
Here, we meet four local adventurers: Shota Ono takes us out on Lake Nojiri, a deep, mysterious crater lake, where one’s connection to Mother Nature is keenly felt. Kohei Nishida is happiest among Nagano’s ancient trees, following forest trails beneath hundred-year-old cedars and falling autumn leaves. Yoshiki Kuremoto takes to the skies, relishing the power of the wind beneath his parasail, before finally, Tomofumi Takei gives a glimpse into the slower, spiritual side of the prefecture, revealing the harmony between people and planet.