Appeal of Nagano Prefecture

Hi everyone who wants to go or is going to Japan, 

Today, I want to introduce apple of Nagano to you. I lived in Nagano for almost 10 years. I have felt that Nagano has lots of great things (places, foods and others) for tourists, but it is not as much popular and famous as other prefectures. So I want you to discover apple of Nagano though this article and have some good feelings to Nagano.

Nagano is located at high altitudes in the centre of Japan, west of Tokyo, the north of Nagoya. It is surrounded by high mountains, not faced to any sea. You can enjoy viewing beautiful landscape, climbing a mountain in summer and doing skiing or snowboarding in winter. 

"Kami Ko-chi" in Matsumoto City

The Southern Japanese Alps

Ski and Snowboard in a snowy mountain

Then, as one of the most famous sightseeing place, there is a beautiful Japanese castle "Matsumoto Castle" in Matsumoto city, which is located in the centre of Nagano. The Matsumoto castle's keep is designated as a national treasure.  

And, there are two inn towns in the Edo era in south of Nagano prefecture. They are called "Narai-jyuku" (in Japanese "奈良井宿") and "Tsumago-jyuku" (in Japanese "妻籠宿". Narai-jyuku is located in Shiojiri city, and Tsumago-jyuku is located in Kiso-gun. You can enjoy the ambience of old Japanese town. In addition, there is great looking wooden bridge near Narai-jyuku, which is called "Kiso-no o-hashi". It is not an old historic piece of architecture, but you can enjoy good atmosphere with the bridge. 

Narai-jyuku "奈良井宿"

Kiso-no o-hashi "木曽の大橋" near Narai-jyuku

Tsumago-jyuku "妻籠宿"

Finally, I'm talking about food in Nagano. Nagano has lots of great foods. First, I'm starting off Japanese traditional noodle "Soba". There are many soba restaurants in Nagano. Then, have you ever seen a soba field? It is very moved! There are white flowers as far as the eye can reach. The season that you can see it would be in summer. 

Soba

Soba Field in Summer 

And, Wasabi, which is Japanese horseradish, is one of specialty of Nagano. Wasabi need pure water kept the temperature constant, and there are some place to fulfill the demands in Azumino city or others, Nagano prefecture. So you can enjoy eating fresh wasabi with tasty soba.    

Nagano is famous for delicious fruits. It's because there is big difference in temperature between daytime and night-time, especially in spring and autumn, and the different in temperature make fruits sweet. Let me tell you 3 of Nagano fruits that I want you to try during Nagano trip. 

Grape: In August until the end of October in season (according to type of grape and area). There are a verity of grapes: Taste, size and colour are different. My favorite grape is "Kyoho" (巨峰). It's very fleshy and good sweet. Also, some farmers produce grape for wine and have a winery. So you can enjoy have a taste of many types of wine of Nagano at a winery.  

Kyoho "巨峰"

Apple: In the end of August until the middle of December (according to type of apple and area). There are a verity of apple: Taste and colour are different. My favorite apple is Sanfuji (サンふじ). The type of apple has honey-core. so it's very tasty, sweet and good crisp. The Sanfuji with honey-core's season is from the middle of November until the end of December.

Sanfuji "サンふじ" with Honey-core

Water melon: In the middle of July until the end of Aug. There is a special water melon in hata, Matsumoto. It's called "Shimoppara Suika" (下原スイカ). The water melon is very tasty, sweet and good crisp. You can get the water melon in a just particular place in Matsumoto city. If you come to Matsumoto in summer, I really recommend to you that you try it. you shouldn't miss it!!

How was appeal of Nagano prefecture? Do you want to go to Nagano? Actually, I love Nagano nature, historical architectures and foods. Especially, I love above 3 of fruits in Nagano. They are really amazing and impressive. When you come to Nagano, you can enjoy eating soba and tasty seasonal fruits, seeing beautiful landscape and architecture. Moreover, there are lots of tempting things, such as hot spring, temple, special fried chicken and other, in Nagano. If you want to ask me about good place to visit in Nagano, please feel free to do that.    

Enjoy your trip in Japan! And see you in the next article of the blog!! 
"The ordinary for Japanese" must work to spice up your trip!