Travel guide

Nagano

Snow monkeys and a great temple

🗓️ Best time: December–March (snow), June–October💰 Mid-Range · ~$115/day📍 Japan

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About Nagano

A mountain-ringed city famed for the ancient Zenkō-ji temple and, nearby, the snow monkeys that bathe in steaming hot springs — plus Olympic ski resorts and alpine hiking.

⭐ Things to do in Nagano

Zenkō-ji templeJigokudani snow-monkey parkTogakushi shrine & forestSki resorts (Hakuba/Nozawa)Matsushiro samurai townZenkō-ji pitch-black underground passageTogakushi cedar avenueObuse chestnut town

🍽️ What to eat in Nagano

Signature local dishes worth seeking out.

Shinshu sobaOyaki dumplingsMiso dishesApples & wasabi

✈️ Know before you go

🚕 Getting around

Bullet train from Tokyo; buses to the monkey park.

💡 Local tip

Bundle up for the Jigokudani snow monkeys bathing in their steamy pool — surreal in winter.