Nagano city began as a temple town around 1300 years ago during the Nara period. It has a population of about 375,000 and is well-known for hosting the Nagano 1998 Winter Olympic Games.
The JR Nagano Station is a major stop on the bullet train line. From Tokyo to Nagano, it takes 90 minutes on the Hokuriku Shinkansen bullet train.
There are many things to do in Nagano prefecture, such as visiting hot springs, skiing, and hiking. But don’t miss these things to do in Nagano city.
4 Best Things to Do in Nagano City
1. Visit Zenkoji Temple
Zenkoji Temple, founded in 642, is one of Japan’s most important temples. It is believed that you must visit Zenkoji Temple at least once in your life.
The temple holds the first Buddha statue brought to Japan. It came from India in the 6th century when Buddhism was first introduced to Japan. It has been hidden in the temple since 654 and no one has ever seen it. There is a replica on display every 6 years in the spring.
The main hall, or Hondo, is over 300 years old with the most recent construction in 1707.
The Sanmon Gate dates back to 1750.
2. Attend a Buddhist Morning Ceremony
The highlight of a visit is the morning ceremony, called Osaji. The morning ceremony takes place at sunrise 365 days a year, and has been for over a thousand years. The monks pray for the salvation of the pilgrims visiting the temple and of the world.
The exact time of the morning ceremony changes every day because it is based on the sunrise. Depending on the time of year, it could start anytime between 5:30 am and 7:00 am. The website for Zenkoji Temple posts the times.
Before the ceremony, you can line up outside the main hall and get blessed by the head monk as he makes his way to the temple.
3. Buy Shichimi Togarashi
Nagano is famous for Shichimi Togarashi, which is a mixture of seven spices. It was first used in the 17th century as an herbal medicine.
There are still three traditional manufacturers of the spice located at Sensoji Temple in Tokyo, Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto, and Zenkoji Temple in Nagano.
The manufacturer in Nagano, Yawataya Isogoro was founded in 1725. The spice contains chili pepper, ginger, shiso, Japanese pepper, dried orange peel, black sesame seed, and hemp seed.
4. Eat Nagano Cuisine
Nagano Oyaki is a local dish of dumplings filled with seasonal vegetables, such as local pickles, miso flavored eggplant, shredded daikon radish, and mashed pumpkin.
The area is well known for soba. It has the second highest production of soba in Japan. The Nagano variation of soba is called Shinshu Soba and has a combination of buckwheat and wheat flour, with at least 40% buckwheat flour.
Nagano is the biggest producer of miso in Japan. You’ll find miso marinades, dips, and even ice cream.
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Becki and Shawn
Japan Travel Specialists
Hi, we’re Becki and Shawn! We love Japan and are truly passionate about Japan and Japan travel.
We’ve lived, worked, and traveled in Japan for 20+ years, so we know where to go, what to see, and how to get there. Join us in Japan for an adventure of a lifetime!
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