Regions & prefectures
JapanRegions & prefectures
Nagano
The roof of Japan: central Alps, the 1998 Winter Olympics and macaques in the hot pools.
- Capital
- Nagano
- Status
- Prefecture
- Region
- Chūbu
- Must-see
- The hot-spring macaques of Jigokudani
- Local specialty
- Soba, oyaki dumplings, Azumino wasabi
No prefecture has more three-thousand-metre peaks. Nagano hosted the 1998 Winter Games and lives off skiing, hiking and hot springs. Zenkō-ji, a temple predating the split of Buddhist schools and therefore open to all of them, has drawn pilgrims since the seventh century, while black-walled Matsumoto castle is one of only twelve original keeps still standing.
What to see there
Places, dishes and traditions tied to this territory.
In the magazine
Articles that cover this topic.