• Kawanakajima Onsen opened!

    witten by Tyler Kawanakajima Onsen opened this month. The onsen water has a salty taste. Lots of types of baths, including one with electric currents! One-day hot spring 10:00-24:00 700 yen(750yen on Sat. and Sun,) for adult, 350 for kids 20mins walk from JR Imai Station See google map

    April 24, 2017

  • Chikuma Riverside Park in Obuse

    witten by Junko Along the embankment of the Chikuma River you can see the big yellow fields!   There are also  600 double-fold cherry  trees over 4 km.  They will bloom soon. Chikumagawa Riverside Park near Obuse Bridge. About 20 minutes on foot from Obuse Station or about 5 minutes by bus “Ohanami Shuttle”

    April 24, 2017

  • The Owner of an Unique Inn with a Japanese Archery Range

    written by Tyler     Miyasaka-san, the owner of Uotoshi Ryokan in Shibu-Yudanaka Onsen, showing off his collection of antique arrows. His inn features a ‘kyudo’ (Japanese archery) range. See more

    April 16, 2017

  • Ueda Castle’s 1000 cherry trees are in full bloom!

      Ueda Castle, especially its original tower and impressive main gate, will impress you with its massive size and stonework. The castle grounds are famous for the cherry blossoms in April and the colorful foliage in the fall. Ueda City’s “Omotenashi Bushotai” samurai performances take place at scheduled times throughout the year. Two of the recreated towers are open for touring (entrance fee required).   As with most similar castles in Japan, Ueda Castle was torn down after the Meiji Restoration. Many of its timbers were then repurposed to construct other buildings in the area. When civic leaders decided to rebuild, after an exhaustive search they tracked down many of those timbers and re-repurposed them for the castle’s reconstruction. Despite being recreated relatively recently (the main gate was finished in 1996), the use of the original posts and beams adds …

    April 14, 2017

  • Fresh Vegetable Udon Dish in Onsen Town

      This amazing Udon dish has just released at a local restaurant MAIZURU in Togura-Kamiyamada Onsen Town in Chikuma City, Nagano. This city is known as a  place of producing wheat, the both of rice and wheat are grown in the same field because of the unique climate and abundant water.   The Vegetable Udon dish is served in the green seasons.  The noodles are quite thin like pasta. The Sauce is based on egg. You should mix with the local Miso paste including garlic, sesame oil, dried shrimp, and pour on the dish. All these vegetables are amazingly cut by hands!  Boiled soybeans on the top are also delicious. Some vitamins, proteins, and good quality oil are balancedly scattered.   See google map

    April 10, 2017

  • Congrats to SC Karuizawa! Go Curling with Olympians!

    written by Tyler The men’s curling team from Nagano, SC Karuizawa, has qualified for the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics!  The team practices at Karuizawa Ice Park.  There anyone can go and experience curling with the 60-minute curling lessons they offer. More on Karuizawa Ice Park’s 60-Minute Curling Lessons on Unique Nagano:  https://www.unique-nagano.com/detail.php?l=en&id=279.    

    April 6, 2017

  • Beautiful Daffodils in Bloom now in Ueda City

    written by Junko Shinshu International Music Villege 信州音楽村     Thousands of daffodils are blooming in the music village on the hill.You can see beautiful mountain view from there. Daffodil Festival is held from March 25th to April 23rd in 2017. It’s free and you can enter anytime.         Volunteer staffs are taking care of the garden, selling the flower only 100 yen with 5 wheels, and chatting with guests.       About 1 hour by walk from Ooya Station on the Shinano Tetsudo Line. see google map

    April 5, 2017

  • Japan’s original elegant wild flowers are blooming

    written by Junko These flowers are called ‘Setsubun-sou’ , Japanese wild flower. Those spices are now on the red list. A local volunteer group take care the field and even the path from the park. it’s about 20 mins walk from the park.       Kitty Park is located on a hill near Togura Station. It takes 30mins on food. The park is famous for cherry blossoms as well around mid-April.   Go!Nagano blogs about Chikuma City  

    April 4, 2017

  • Nagano City Tourist Information Center

    written by Junko Arriving at Nagano Station you should visit Nagano City Tourist Information Center. You can get information over Nagano prefecture.         Some staffs speak English. There is also a Foreign Currency Exchange Machine.    Nagano City Tourist Information Center   (at Nagano Station) Open:  9:00-19:00 (April-October)9:00-18:00(November-March)

    April 4, 2017