For centuries, Zenkoji Temple has drawn pilgrims from across Japan as Nagano's spiritual heart. After sunset, when daytime crowds disperse, the temple approach …
Shinshu Sake Festival: Fireworks and Sake in Late Autumn
The first thing most people think when they hear "fireworks festival" is summer. Yukata, humidity, cicadas singing into the dusk. However, on November …
Things to Do with Family in Nagano City
Nagano Prefecture, Japan's "Roof of the Alps," offers families a mix of adventure and culture amid its peaks and valleys, from Olympic sites …
Zenkoji Omotesando Illumination Returns to Light Up Nagano's Historic Pathway
On November 15, 2025, the 1.8-kilometer stretch between Nagano Station and Zenkoji Temple transforms into a river of light. The Zenkoji Omotesando Illumination …
The Snow Monkeys of Jigokudani
The name Jigokudani translates literally as Hell Valley, and the ancient peoples who first gazed upon this landscape understood why. Steam rises from …
Jizo: Japan's Beloved Guardian Bodhisattva
Walking through Japan, you'll encounter small stone statues with gentle, childlike faces wearing red bibs and caps. These are Jizo statues, representing one …
The Shared Temple: Zenkoji's Unique Non-Sectarian Legacy
In the heart of Nagano City stands a temple with an unusual story. Zenkoji Temple operates under a management system that sets it …
Katana: The Blade That Defined a Warrior
Few objects are as instantly recognizable, or as deeply tied to Japan’s past, as the katana. With its gently curved blade, elegant simplicity, …
Nagano City: Where Tradition Meets the Mountain Air
Nagano City sits quietly in the northern part of Nagano Prefecture, surrounded by forested mountains and open sky. It is the prefectural capital, …
Welcome to Nagano Experience!
After more than seven years of welcoming travelers to the heart of Nagano Prefecture, we are proud to announce the launch of Nagano …
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