Official Travel Guide of Shinanomachi, Nagano

How about trying “forest therapy”? You may have heard of “forest bathing” or “shinrin-yoku”, but forest therapy goes a step further such that a guide helps you enjoy much more benefit from the forest. Here Shinanomachi is the pioneer place that developed forest therapy programs in the world, before the practice spread and gained popularity worldwide nowadays. Treat your nose with the scent of branches and berries, challenge your legs in the icy cold stream, and give a little bite on the local medicinal plants… It has been proven that activating your sleeping five senses reduces your stress level, makes you feel relaxed, and even boosts the activity of immune cells in your blood! Our standard half-day program offers you …

Nomad Work Center, opened in Shinanomachi town in June 2019, is a facility which companies can rent weekly. Outside the glass wall is the auto camping site. Why don’t you sleep in a tent and work at this hi-tech place? Hotels and B&Bs are also available in town. Hi speed Wi-Fi covers inside and around the Center. Work Space 1 in the glass wall is equipped with large monitors that enable web conference, and various seats that cater for your working style. Three meeting rooms are best for group discussions. To satisfy your craftsmanship, a 3D printer and mechanical work space are here for you. Mobile vehicles, robots and drones can be tested right outside the door. The Center is …

Late October to November is the time when the Five Mountains of Northern Shinano get dressed in red and yellow. You can overlook Lake Nojiri embedded in the colorful blanket from Mt Madarao, one of the Five Mountains. Naena Waterfall, counted among the 100 best waterfalls in Japan, sees the queue of people holding cameras everyday. Take-home treasures from the forest: sprouting acorns, cobalt blue berries of kusagi (literally “stink wood”), and corral-looking branch of mizuki (dogwood).   Apart from the forest, the soba (buckwheat) fields found throughout Shinanomachi turns into red carpets after being harvested, with only the red stem remaining. Lit up in the sun, the carpets appear as though they are floating out from the scenery. Go …

2019 has started with a bang and huge dumps of fresh snow in Shinano town. These are some recent pictures in and around Shinano. Many people enjoy winter sports during the New Year’s holidays, while others visit the town simply to take photos of the breathtaking winer beauty, and enjoy the warm hospitality of the most beautiful towns in Northern Nagano. Please enjoy the latest photos of Shinano!! Mount Madarao Mount Madarao is the place to be for powder snow lovers. The Mount Madarao ski resort consists of 2 areas, Tangram Ski Circus and Madarao Kogen Ski resort. Both areas have lots of off piste courses and tree run areas.. Kurohime Kogen Snow Park Kurohime Kogen Snow Park is well …

What is your plan for Christmas and New Year’s holidays? Shinano town, located in the north Nagano,  has also been hit by the cold wave this time. The winter of  one of the most snowy area in Japan is about to come without a doubt. Although there are lots of hardships for living in the snowy area, such as snow shoveling and the prevention of the freezing of water pipe, there are  much more fun things in the life of the snowy country! I would like to introduce you those fun things and the beautiful landscapes which you can see only in the cold winter. Deep powder snow! The town for all snow lovers! Tangram Ski Circus, which is located …