Nagano developed around Zenkoji Temple, a major Buddhist temple with a history of about 1,400 years. The streets around Zenkoji still preserve historic buildings, shops, and traditional foods such as oyaki, a local specialty of northern Nagano. South of the city lies Matsushiro Castle and its surrounding castle town, closely associated with the Sanada clan. Farther northeast, Obuse offers a glimpse into Edo-period culture through its connection to the world renowned ukiyo-e artist Katsushika Hokusai.
Zenkoji Temple
Zenkoji Temple has a history of about 1,400 years and is one of Nagano's most important landmarks. It is home to the Ikko Sanzon Amida Nyorai, a Buddhist image traditionally regarded as one of Japan's oldest. Unlike many Buddhist temples in Japan, Zenkoji has not belonged exclusively to a single Buddhist sect and has attracted worshippers from different traditions throughout its history.
Today, Zenkoji stands at the heart of the historic temple town. The approach leading from the main gate to the temple is lined with souvenir shops, restaurants, and temple lodgings. Zenkoji has played an important role in the development of Nagano itself, and it remains a symbol of the city and a major destination for visitors from across Japan and around the world.
Patio Daimon Kuraniwa
Patio Daimon Kuraniwa is a commercial complex in the historic area around Zenkoji, created by restoring traditional storehouses that once formed part of the temple town. Today, the complex brings together 15 shops and restaurants in the historic buildings.
At its center is a courtyard known as Kuraniwa, surrounded by the restored storehouses. Visitors can enjoy food and shopping while experiencing the atmosphere of Nagano's historic streets. Rather than demolishing the old buildings, the project converted the storehouses into shops and restaurants, giving them continued use in modern Nagano.
Oyaki
Oyaki is one of Nagano's well-known traditional foods. A thin dough made from wheat flour or buckwheat flour is filled with ingredients such as vegetables or sweet red bean paste and then cooked. In northern Nagano, including the area around Nagano City, oyaki developed as an everyday food in a region where the cold climate made rice cultivation difficult.
In the past, oyaki was often prepared using a method known as haiyaki. The filled dough was first baked and then buried in hot ash from an irori hearth, where it was cooked through. As traditional hearths disappeared, other methods, including pan-frying and steaming, became common. Today, visitors can find many varieties of oyaki throughout Nagano, with fillings such as nozawana greens, eggplant, and sweet red bean paste.
＞＞ NAGANO CITY WALKING TOUR & OYAKI TASTING
Matsushiro Castle
Matsushiro Castle began as Kaizu Castle, which was built under the direction of Takeda Shingen during the Warring States period to prepare for the battles of Kawanakajima. After changing hands several times, the castle became the seat of Sanada Nobuyuki in 1622, when he moved from Ueda and became the first lord of Matsushiro Domain. From then on, Matsushiro developed as a castle town under the rule of the Sanada family.
The castle was dismantled after the abolition of the feudal domains in the Meiji era, and many of its buildings were lost. Today, however, gates, wooden bridges, stone walls, earthen embankments, and moats have been reconstructed based on archaeological research and historical drawings. Nearby, the former Sanada family residence and the Sanada Treasure Museum preserve artifacts from the Sanada family's rule, including swords, armor, calligraphy, and historical documents.
＞＞ MATSUSHIRO CASTLE TOWN WALKING TOUR
Obuse and Ukiyo-e
Obuse village, northeast of Nagano City, prospered during the Edo period as a commercial town connected to river transport on the Chikuma River. People, goods, and culture gathered here, making Obuse an important commercial and cultural center in northern Shinano. The town is particularly known today for its connection to the ukiyo-e artist Katsushika Hokusai.
Late in his life, Hokusai visited Obuse several times after developing a close relationship with a wealthy local merchant, Takai Kozan. He created several works here, and the Hokusai Museum now displays works from throughout his career, including two festival floats whose ceilings he painted: one with a dragon and a phoenix, the other with the O-Nami and Me-Nami wave paintings. He completed the floats in his mid-eighties.
Today, Obuse offers more than the Hokusai Museum. The town is also home to traditional chestnut confectionery shops, historic streets, and the Takai Kozan Memorial Museum. Walking through Obuse provides a chance to experience the commercial and artistic culture that has continued here since the Edo period.
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