Nagano

Introducing Nagano

Nagano was front-and-centre on the world stage when it hosted the 1998 Winter Olympics, but this mountain-ringed prefectural capital has been around since the Kamakura period. Back then it was a temple town centred around the magnificent Zenkō-ji. The temple is still Nagano’s main attraction, drawing more than four million visitors every year.

Since its brief flirtation with international fame, Nagano has reverted to its friendly small-town self, though it’s just a bit more worldly. It is also an important transport hub. Not surprisingly, the mountains surrounding the city offer superb recreational opportunities: skiing, hiking, soaking in onsen and exploring the region’s many mountain shrines.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009