Last reviewed: · Prices are approximate and for orientation only.
Overview of Nagano Prefecture (長野県)
Nagano Prefecture (長野県) is located in the Chubu region of Japan, with its prefectural capital at Nagano and primary transport gateway at Nagano Station (Hokuriku Shinkansen) & Matsumoto Station (JR Azusa). Spanning 77 cities, towns, and villages, Nagano is renowned for Original black-walled Matsumoto Castle, Zenko-ji Temple in Nagano, Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park, Nakasendo post towns (Narai-juku, Tsumago, Magome), Kamikochi, and Hakuba/Nozawa Onsen.
| Nagano Prefecture (長野県) Quick Facts | 2026/2027 Travel Reference |
|---|---|
| Region & Capital | Chubu · Capital: Nagano |
| Primary Rail / Transit Hub | Nagano Station (Hokuriku Shinkansen) & Matsumoto Station (JR Azusa) |
| Municipalities Covered | 77 cities, towns, wards & villages |
| Top Sightseeing Bases | Nagano (長野市), Matsumoto (松本市), Ueda (上田市), Iida (飯田市), Saku (佐久市) |
| Best Season to Visit | Spring (Mar–May) & Autumn (Oct–Nov) |
| Signature Regional Food | Shinshu soba (buckwheat noodles), Oyaki (stuffed roasted buckwheat buns), Sanzoku-yaki (crispy garlic fried chicken), Shinshu miso & apples, chestnut sweets in Obuse |
Top Cities, Towns & Sightseeing Bases in Nagano Prefecture
Whether you are basing in the prefectural capital of Nagano or planning regional day trips from Nagano Station (Hokuriku Shinkansen) & Matsumoto Station (JR Azusa), these top municipalities in Nagano Prefecture offer the richest concentration of cultural landmarks, rail links, and dining:
- Nagano (長野市) — Core city (pop. 365,950, 834.81 km²) served by Nagano Station (長野駅) (0.8 km); key local sights include Jōyama Park (1.0 km), Zō Zan (10.3 km), Minagami Yama (10.7 km).
- Matsumoto (松本市) — Core city (pop. 238,776, 978.47 km²) served by Matsumoto Station (松本駅) (1.1 km); key local sights include Asama Onsen, Kamikōchi mountain area, Matsumoto Castle National Treasure Crow Castle (松本城).
- Ueda (上田市) — City (pop. 161,887, 552.00 km²) served by Ueda Station (上田駅) (0.6 km); key local sights include Bessho Onsen, Sanada-shi Yakata, Ueda Castle.
- Iida (飯田市) — City (pop. 107,129, 658.76 km²) served by Iida Station (飯田駅) (0.5 km); key local sights include Tenryū-kyō, Nationally designated place of Scenic Beauty, Tenryū-Okumikawa Quasi-National Park, Kazakoshi Mountain (5.1 km).
- Saku (佐久市) — City (pop. 100,077, 423.99 km²) served by Kitanakagomi Station (北中込駅) (0.7 km); key local sights include Kasuga Onsen, Former Nakagomi School, Saku Balloon Festival.
- Azumino (安曇野市) — City (pop. 97,084, 331.82 km²) served by Toyoshina Station (豊科駅) (0.6 km); key local sights include Jōkyō Gimin Memorial Museum, Hotaka Jinja, Mount Jōnen.
How to get to Nagano Prefecture
1h 22m from Tokyo Station to Nagano on the Hokuriku Shinkansen (65m to Karuizawa), or 2h 35m from Shinjuku to Matsumoto on the JR Limited Express Azusa. Once at Nagano Station (Hokuriku Shinkansen) & Matsumoto Station (JR Azusa), JR regional lines, private commuter railways, and local highway buses connect travelers across all 77 municipalities in Nagano. Use our Shinkansen Fare & Route Calculator and JR Pass Value Helper to compare rail tickets and regional passes.
Signature local food in Nagano
When visiting cities across Nagano, look out for these regional specialties at station restaurants, markets, and local izakaya:
- Shinshu soba (buckwheat noodles) — regional culinary specialty across Nagano Prefecture (長野県).
- Oyaki (stuffed roasted buckwheat buns) — regional culinary specialty across Nagano Prefecture (長野県).
- Sanzoku-yaki (crispy garlic fried chicken) — regional culinary specialty across Nagano Prefecture (長野県).
- Shinshu miso & apples — regional culinary specialty across Nagano Prefecture (長野県).
- chestnut sweets in Obuse — regional culinary specialty across Nagano Prefecture (長野県).
Best time to visit Nagano
April for Matsumoto & Takato Castle blossoms; July–August for Kamikochi & Karuizawa highland hiking; October for Kiso Valley foliage; Dec–Mar for Hakuba, Nozawa & snow monkeys.
All 77 cities & municipalities in Nagano Prefecture
Click any city below for its individual travel guide, local landmarks, nearest rail station, food specialties, and 5 closest neighboring stops:
| City (Kanji) | Type / Status | Population | Area | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matsumoto 松本市 | Core city | 238,776 | 978.47 km² | City guide → · Flagship guide |
| Okaya 岡谷市 | City | 53,722 | 85.14 km² | City guide → |
| Suwa 諏訪市 | City | 52,671 | 109.06 km² | City guide → |
| Suzaka 須坂市 | City | 53,097 | 149.84 km² | City guide → |
| Komoro 小諸市 | City | 45,333 | 98.66 km² | City guide → |
| Komagane 駒ヶ根市 | City | 34,696 | 165.92 km² | City guide → |
| Ōmachi 大町市 | City | 31,276 | 564.99 km² | City guide → |
| Iiyama 飯山市 | City | 24,155 | 202.32 km² | City guide → |
| Iida 飯田市 | City | 107,129 | 658.76 km² | City guide → |
| Chino 茅野市 | City | 57,363 | 266.41 km² | City guide → |
| Shiojiri 塩尻市 | City | 67,781 | 290.13 km² | City guide → |
| Nagano 長野市 | Core city | 365,950 | 834.81 km² | City guide → |
| Chikuma 千曲市 | City | 63,305 | 119.84 km² | City guide → |
| Tōmi 東御市 | City | 31,211 | 112.30 km² | City guide → |
| Nakano 中野市 | City | 46,295 | 112.06 km² | City guide → |
| Saku 佐久市 | City | 100,077 | 423.99 km² | City guide → |
| Azumino 安曇野市 | City | 97,084 | 331.82 km² | City guide → · Flagship guide |
| Ueda 上田市 | City | 161,887 | 552.00 km² | City guide → |
| Ina 伊那市 | City | 71,937 | 667.81 km² | City guide → |
| Karuizawa 軽井沢町 | Highland resort town | 21,538 | 156.03 km² | City guide → |
| Hakuba 白馬村 | Alpine ski village | 9,540 | 189.36 km² | City guide → |
| Nozawa Onsen 野沢温泉村 | Onsen & ski village | 3,469 | 57.96 km² | City guide → |
| Yamanouchi (Shibu Onsen & Snow Monkeys) 山ノ内町 | Onsen & highland town | 11,355 | 265.90 km² | City guide → |
| Yasuoka 泰阜村 | Village (村) | 1,781 | 64.59 km² | City guide → |
| Urugi 売木村 | Village (村) | 620 | 43.43 km² | City guide → |
| Toyooka 豊丘村 | Village (村) | 6,971 | 85.2 km² | City guide → |
| Tenryū 天龍村 | Village (村) | 1,563 | 109.44 km² | City guide → |
| Tatsuno 辰野町 | Town (町) | 20,850 | 169.2 km² | City guide → |
| Shinano 信濃町 | Town (町) | 9,238 | 149.3 km² | City guide → |
| Shimojō 下條村 | Village (村) | 4,041 | 38.12 km² | City guide → |
| Sakaki 坂城町 | Town (町) | 15,781 | 53.64 km² | City guide → |
| Sakae 栄村 | Village (村) | 2,157 | 271.66 km² | City guide → |
| Otari 小谷村 | Village (村) | 3,174 | 267.91 km² | City guide → |
| Ōtaki 王滝村 | Village (村) | 868 | 310.82 km² | City guide → |
| Ōkuwa 大桑村 | Village (村) | 4,116 | 234.47 km² | City guide → |
| Neba 根羽村 | Village (村) | 1,041 | 89.97 km² | City guide → |
| Nakagawa 中川村 | Village (村) | 5,190 | 77.05 km² | City guide → |
| Miyota 御代田町 | Town (町) | 15,443 | 58.79 km² | City guide → |
| Miyada 宮田村 | Village (村) | 9,306 | 54.5 km² | City guide → |
| Minamiminowa 南箕輪村 | Village (村) | 15,027 | 40.99 km² | City guide → |
| Minamiaiki 南相木村 | Village (村) | 1,112 | 66.05 km² | City guide → |
| Matsukawa Town 松川町 | Town (町) | 13,835 | 72.79 km² | City guide → |
| Koumi 小海町 | Town (町) | 5,080 | 114.2 km² | City guide → |
| Kawakami 川上村 | Village (村) | 4,196 | 209.61 km² | City guide → |
| Fujimi 富士見町 | Town (町) | 15,232 | 144.76 km² | City guide → |
| Asahi 朝日村 | Village (村) | 4,755 | 70.62 km² | City guide → |
| Anan 阿南町 | Town (町) | 5,142 | 123.07 km² | City guide → |
| Achi 阿智村 | Village (村) | 6,864 | 214.43 km² | City guide → |
| Minamimaki 南牧村 | Village (村) | 3,264 | 133.09 km² | City guide → |
| Kitaaiki 北相木村 | Village (村) | 815 | 56.32 km² | City guide → |
| Sakuho 佐久穂町 | Town (町) | 12,076 | 188.15 km² | City guide → |
| Tateshina 立科町 | Town (町) | 7,806 | 66.87 km² | City guide → |
| Aoki 青木村 | Village (村) | 4,655 | 57.1 km² | City guide → |
| Nagawa 長和町 | Town (町) | 6,783 | 183.86 km² | City guide → |
| Shimosuwa 下諏訪町 | Town (町) | 21,470 | 66.87 km² | City guide → |
| Hara 原村 | Village (村) | 7,875 | 43.26 km² | City guide → |
| Minowa 箕輪町 | Town (町) | 25,262 | 85.91 km² | City guide → |
| Iijima 飯島町 | Town (町) | 9,859 | 86.96 km² | City guide → |
| Takamori 高森町 | Town (町) | 13,521 | 45.36 km² | City guide → |
| Hiraya 平谷村 | Village (村) | 487 | 77.37 km² | City guide → |
| Takagi 喬木村 | Village (村) | 6,728 | 66.61 km² | City guide → |
| Ōshika 大鹿村 | Village (村) | 1,116 | 248.28 km² | City guide → |
| Agematsu 上松町 | Town (町) | 5,067 | 168.42 km² | City guide → |
| Nagiso 南木曽町 | Town (町) | 4,663 | 215.93 km² | City guide → |
| Kiso Village 木祖村 | Village (村) | 3,166 | 140.5 km² | City guide → |
| Kiso Town 木曽町 | Town (町) | 12,307 | 476.03 km² | City guide → |
| Omi 麻績村 | Village (村) | 2,987 | 34.48 km² | City guide → |
| Ikusaka 生坂村 | Village (村) | 1,989 | 39.05 km² | City guide → |
| Yamagata 山形村 | Village (村) | 8,837 | 24.98 km² | City guide → |
| Chikuhoku 筑北村 | Village (村) | 5,093 | 99.47 km² | City guide → |
| Ikeda 池田町 | Town (町) | 10,434 | 40.16 km² | City guide → |
| Matsukawa Village 松川村 | Village (村) | 10,133 | 47.07 km² | City guide → |
| Obuse 小布施町 | Town (町) | 11,373 | 19.12 km² | City guide → |
| Takayama 高山村 | Village (村) | 7,489 | 98.56 km² | City guide → |
| Kijimadaira 木島平村 | Village (村) | 5,044 | 99.32 km² | City guide → |
| Ogawa 小川村 | Village (村) | 2,915 | 58.11 km² | City guide → |
| Iizuna 飯綱町 | Town (町) | 12,028 | 75 km² | City guide → |
Frequently asked questions
What are the best places and cities to visit in Nagano Prefecture (長野県)?
Top highlights across Nagano Prefecture (長野県) in Japan's Chubu region include Original black-walled Matsumoto Castle, Zenko-ji Temple in Nagano, Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park, Nakasendo post towns (Narai-juku, Tsumago, Magome), Kamikochi, and Hakuba/Nozawa Onsen. Major cities and sightseeing bases in Nagano include Nagano (長野市), Matsumoto (松本市), Ueda (上田市), Iida (飯田市), Saku (佐久市).
How do I get to Nagano Prefecture and get around by train?
The primary rail and transit hub for Nagano Prefecture is Nagano Station (Hokuriku Shinkansen) & Matsumoto Station (JR Azusa) (prefectural capital: Nagano). 1h 22m from Tokyo Station to Nagano on the Hokuriku Shinkansen (65m to Karuizawa), or 2h 35m from Shinjuku to Matsumoto on the JR Limited Express Azusa. Compare bullet-train fares with our Shinkansen Fare Calculator and JR Pass Calculator.
What local food and regional dishes is Nagano Prefecture famous for?
Signature regional specialties across Nagano Prefecture (長野県) include Shinshu soba (buckwheat noodles), Oyaki (stuffed roasted buckwheat buns), Sanzoku-yaki (crispy garlic fried chicken), Shinshu miso & apples, chestnut sweets in Obuse—served at station restaurants around Nagano Station (Hokuriku Shinkansen) & Matsumoto Station (JR Azusa), local morning markets, and izakaya in Nagano and Matsumoto.
When is the best time of year to visit Nagano Prefecture?
April for Matsumoto & Takato Castle blossoms; July–August for Kamikochi & Karuizawa highland hiking; October for Kiso Valley foliage; Dec–Mar for Hakuba, Nozawa & snow monkeys. Check month-by-month weather, cherry blossom windows, and autumn foliage dates in our Japan Seasonal Calendar.