Nagano Japan
Nagano is a modern Japanese city and a popular gateway to a variety of sightseeing activities, with Nagano skiing being a major attraction during the winter months. Nagano Japan is also well known for the 1998 Winter Olympics, with some of the Nagano ski resorts playing host to many of the events.
Where is Nagano?
Nagano city is located about 233km northwest of
Tokyo in the northern part of the Nagano Prefecture, near the Alps and some of the highest mountains in Japan. See the
Nagano travel page for information on getting to Nagano and then getting to the Nagano ski resorts.
Nagano Ski Resort Access
Nagano city is the gateway to various ski resorts, most within the Nagano Prefecture. Here are some of the major Nagano ski resorts.
Hakuba is a group of ski resorts that are popular with locals and westerners alike. The Hakuba ski areas provide a large expanse of terrain, a degree of nightlife, and a family friendly approach. Hakuba is located 44km west of Nagano and can be accessed via bus (one hour).
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Shiga Kogen is another large Nagano ski resort which is renowned for the long groomed runs, great tree skiing, and good snow quality considering the high elevation. Shiga Kogen is 50km northeast of Nagano city and accessed via a 70 minute bus trip.
Nozawa Onsen ski resort sits above the town of Nozawa Onsen, which provides lots of Japanese historic charm and an abundance of hot springs. Nozawa Onsen is 46km northeast of Nagano city, a 1:20 hour bus ride from Nagano train station.
Myoko Kogen is a group of ski resorts that provide delightful opportunities for powder hounds, whilst the little ski town of
Akakura Onsen provides a little Japanese culture. Myoko Kogen is located one hour north of Nagano city in the Niigata prefecture.
Madarao Mountain Resort is growing in popularity and is located between Nozawa Onsen and Myoko Kogen. Its slopes are interconnected with those of Tangram.
A great way to easily sample multiple Nagano ski resorts and to also get some great cultural experiences, is to join one of the
multi-resort tours below.
The closest ski resort to Nagano City is the little
Iizuna Resort.
Nagano Hotels
Whether you’re just staying for one night in Nagano or doing a stop-over for a few days to take in the Nagano attractions, there are plenty of Nagano hotels and accommodation options to choose from.
For the ultimate convenience, Nagano hotels near the train station include
Hotel Metropolitan ($$$),
Sotetsu Fresh Inn Nagano-Zenkojiguchi ($$), and
Hotel Abest Nagano Ekimae ($$). See the
Nagano accommodation page for more information.
Alternatively you can use the towns of
Yudanaka or
Shibu Onsen as a base to visit many of the Nagano ski resorts. This area features traditional Japanese architecture with cute ryokans and public onsens, and is about as “Japanese” as you can get!
Nagano Activities
Nagano and the surrounding areas offer various activities, many of which highlight the historical richness of Japan.
Nagano things to do include a visit to the Zenko-ji Temple or the former castle town of Matsushiro. The nearby town of Matsumoto features the impressive Matsumoto Castle, and a visit to the
Japanese snow monkeys and the traditional onsen village of Shibu are quintessential activities whilst on a Nagano skiing holiday. See the
Nagano activities page for more information.
Why Ski Nagano?
Nagano is easily accessible from Tokyo, and with the Nagano ski resorts, it doesn’t just need to be all about the skiing and snowboarding. A
ski Japan holiday can also provide cultural immersion and an opportunity to partake in some great sightseeing activities around Nagano. Nagano skiing also has the distinct advantage that there are lots of high quality ski resorts within close proximity of each other, so it’s possible to sample multiple Japan ski resorts in the one holiday.
Other Nagano Prefecture Ski Resorts
There is an abundance of other ski resorts in the Nagano Prefecture that aren't particularly close to the city of Nagano. Examples include: