Day1
Head to the hot spring resort by express train with a great view!
From Fussa Station to Nagano Station by Shinkansen about 3 hours
Arrival at Nagano Station!
Soba
そば
When you get to Nagano, have some Shinshu soba for lunch! The well-drained volcanic ash land and cool climate in Nagano produces delicious soba noodles. There are many famous soba restaurants in front of Nagano Station.
From Nagano Station to Yudanaka Onsen Station
40 min. by express train
Nagano Electric Railway
長野電鉄特急列車
Nagano Electric Railway runs from Nagano Station to Yudanaka Onsen. The Yukemuri Limited Express has observation seats in the first car, and the Snow Monkey Limited Express has one private room per car. Enjoy them like an attraction!
Arrive at Yudanaka Onsen station.
Yudanaka Onsen
湯田中温泉
Yudanaka Shibu Onsen Hot Spring Village, which has been popular for over 1,300 years, consists of nine hot springs. Yudanaka Onsen is located close to the station, and visitors can enjoy not only hot spring accommodations, but also day-trip hot spring baths and footbaths. Take a quick break at the footbath at Kaede no Yu, located just a short walk from the station!
Head to to today's accommodation
20 min. by walk
Shibu Onsen Kanaguya
渋温泉 歴史の宿 金具屋
Located within Shibu Onsen, which is blessed with an overwhelming amount of hot spring water, Kanaguya has three large baths and five private open-air baths with different spring water qualities. The building is a nationally registered tangible cultural property with a nostalgic atmosphere.
DATA:Shibu Onsen Kanaguya
Address/ 2202 Hirao, Yamanouchi-machi, Shimo Takai-gun, Nagano 381-0141
TEL/ 0269-33-3131
Explore Shibu Onsen! ♨︎
♨︎
9 Onsen Hopping
九湯めぐり
There are nine public bathhouses in Shibu Onsen that are used by locals. These bathhouses can be enjoyed by those who stay at Shibu Onsen. Each one has its own special qualities and benefits. Please find your favorite hot spring by having your original tenugui stamped on it.
DATA:9 Onsen Hopping
Address/ 2112-1 Hirao, Yamanouchi-machi, Shimo Takai-gun, Nagano 381-0141
TEL/ 026-933-2921
Back to the hotel
Stay at Kanaguya
Day2
After enjoying snow monkeys, go to Temple Town.
Check-out at Ryokan after breakfast
From the hotel to Jigokudani Yaen-koen
15 minutes by taxi
/ 4km
Snow Monkey
地獄谷野猿公苑
Jigokudani Yaen-koen is called Jigokudani because it is covered with snow for one-third of the year and steam rises from everywhere. Because of the harsh cold environment, wild Japanese monkeys also soak in the hot springs to warm themselves. Tourists from all over the world visit the valley to catch a glimpse of the monkeys comfortably enjoying the hot springs.
DATA/ Snow Monkey
Address/ 6845 Hirao, Yamanouchi-machi, Shimo Takai-gun, Nagano 381-0141
TEL/ 0269-33-4379
From Jigokudani Yaen-koen to Yudanaka Onsen Station
50 minutes by bus
/ 7km
From Yudanaka Onsen Station to Zenkojishita Station
Approx. 1 hour by Nagano Electric Railway
15 minutes walk
from the station to Zenkoji Nakamise Street / 600m
Zenkoji Street
善光寺 仲見世通り
If you are going to Zenkoji Temple, you will also want to check out the delicious stores along Nakamise-dori! Shinshu specialty oyaki, sweets using local chestnuts, Shinshu miso, soba noodle shops, and stores perfect for eating and walking are all lined up along the street.
DATA:Zenkoji Nakamise Street
Address/ 483 Nagano Motoyoshicho, Nagano, Nagano 380-0851
Short walk from Nakamise to Zenkoji Temple
Zenkoji
善光寺
Zenkoji Temple has long been loved and cherished by the masses for its promise of a paradise once visited. The temple has a history of over 1,400 years and is home to Japan's oldest statue of Buddha, the Ikko-Sanson Amida Nyorai, which is visited by even more people every seven years when the temple is open to the public.
DATA:Zenkoji
Address/ 491 Nagano Motoyoshicho, Nagano, Nagano 380-0851
7spices
七味唐辛子
Shichimi Togarashi is one of the most popular souvenirs from Zenkoji Temple. In addition to the standard 7 spices, the lineup includes a wide variety of sweets and cosmetics that use spices. There is also a service that allows you to make your own shichimi, so you can create your own original shichimi!
DATA:Yawataya Isogoro Shop
Address/ 83 Daimoncho, Nagano, Nagano 380-0841
TEL/ 026-232-8277
Sake Brewary
酒蔵
There are nearly 80 sake breweries in Nagano Prefecture. There is a sake brewery near Zenkoji Temple that offers sake brewery tours, tastings, and a store. Visitors can learn about the sake brewing process and see an old sake brewery used since the Meiji period, modern facilities today, and a collection of labels that change from era to era.
DATA:Yoshinoya Sake Brewary
Address/ 941 Nishinomoncho, Nagano, Nagano 380-0857
TEL/ 090-2248-1324
From Zenkoji Temple to the temple of today's accommodation
Short walk
Check-in at the temple
Ryoseiin
宿坊 良性院
There are nearly 40 shukubo at Zenkoji Temple. How about a shukubo experience with vegetarian meals made without fish or meat, and the opportunity to worship at the morning rituals held each morning? There are also options such as goma prayer, zazen meditation, and sutra copying, so you can explore Zen's world.
DATA:Syukubo Ryoseiin
Address/ 498 Motoyoshicho, Nagano, Nagano 380-0851
TEL/ 026-233-2386
Shojin Cuisine
精進料理
仏教の教えに基づき野菜や大豆などの植物性の食材だけで作られた料理で、僧侶の食事として発展してきました。栄養バランスも良く丁寧に作られた料理は今では海外でも人気です。胡麻豆腐や湯葉、天ぷら、こんにゃく、食材も調理方法も様々です。
Day3
Morning Prayer & Zen Experience
Wake up in the morning and go to morning worship with the priest
Oasaji
お朝事
Morning at Zenkoji begins with sunrise. Oasaji is a Buddhist memorial service held every morning, and the main hall echoes with the chanting of sutras and nembutsu (Buddhist prayer) performed by the monks. When the monks enter and leave the main hall, they pat the heads of visitors with their prayer beads, which is said to bring blessings.
Zen Activity
禅体験
If you are staying at a temple, why not try zazen or sutra chanting? You will find yourself relaxed and at peace as you listen to the monk's teachings. It is the perfect way to start your day!
Local Food
鯉料理
In Nagano Prefecture, where there is no ocean, carp cultivation using rice paddies has been popular for a long time. Saku carp, in particular, has a reputation for having no odor and a firm body. Enjoy it in a variety of ways, such as carp arai(sashimi), koikoku (carp stew), and umani.
Back to Fussa
From Nagano to Fussa station
About 3 hours by Shinkansen
End of tour