As a mountainous prefecture dotted with small towns, an internet search for “things to do in Nagano” can bring up quite a geographical spread. And with ski resorts, onsen towns, historic districts, and even ancient pilgrimages, it’s tempting to want to do them all! The good news is that many of these experiences are just a bus or train away from the capital of Nagano City. While it’s a great idea to base yourself there for easy access to all the fun day-trips and overnight stays, the city itself is much more than just a transit hub. Home to one of Japan’s most beloved temples, it has long been the centre of industry in the area and has many local surprises lying in wait. Read on to see some of the best things to see, do, and eat in the quiet, mountainous city of Nagano!
Zenkoji Temple
Hands down, the most popular thing to do in Nagano for the last 1400 years is to visit Zenkoji Temple. It makes sense, given that the city was built after the temple in order to facilitate all the religious pilgrims visiting the area. These days, Zenkoji’s popularity remains strong, attracting roughly 6 million visitors a year. And as one of the oldest and largest wooden temples in Japan and home to the oldest Buddhist statue in Japan, this National Treasure is on the bucket list of many more besides.
Wandering the temple grounds and the surrounding area invites a sense of nostalgia for a time you never knew. Take it one step further by staying at one of the 39 temple lodging accommodation options, as the ancient pilgrims would have. Here, you can experience sleeping in a beautiful tatami room and also try shojin ryori [Buddhist vegetarian cuisine]. Regardless of where you stay in Nagano, rise before the sun, and you can participate in one of Zenkoji’s interesting morning rituals. Read more about Zenkoji Temple here. 
Keep an eye out for Nagano Olympic memorabilia
Something you’re sure to notice is the Olympic rings all over town. Nagano played host to the 1998 Winter Olympics and you could say they’re super proud of it. If you enjoy scavenger hunts, then spotting and photographing every instance of the coloured rings should keep you entertained all day! If you’d like to see more Olympic memorabilia, you could travel out to the Olympic Museum, which is a 15-minute taxi from Nagano Station.
Make your own Shichimi Togarashi
Even if you’ve never been to Japan before, perhaps you’ve seen or tried “7-spice” at a Japanese restaurant. This colourful tin, ubiquitous around the nation, houses a blend of chilli powder, sesame, Japanese peppers and more. But what you probably didn’t know about the condiment is that it originated in Nagano. Local company Yawataya Isogoro has been making and selling it within the Zenkoji grounds since 1736! Better yet, the ingredients are all locally grown, making it a truly perfect Nagano souvenir. Head to the main store near Zenkoji, where you can pick up a tin, a gift pack or even make your own blend!
Patio Daimon
If you’re into heritage architecture, pop into Patio Daimon – a commercial shopping area with a decidedly nostalgic aesthetic. The shops and restaurants all exist within renovated old warehouses, so it’s nice to wander the courtyard and picture yourself back in time. It’s also home to the oyaki restaurant mentioned below.
Stamp Trail
A great way to see a lot of Nagano city is to participate in the seven lucky gods pilgrimage known as the Shichifukujin Meguri. Pick up a ‘shikishi’ board from the Tourist Information Center and visit the 7 shrines dedicated to Japan’s gods of fortune. Simply make a donation and stamp your board at each place; once complete, you have a wonderful souvenir of a memorable day in Nagano. I can’t think of a better way to see the city, inherit some luck and get a new piece of art for your home. Read more about it here.
Food and drink in Nagano City
Soba
If you can only try one dish in Nagano, make it soba noodles! This is the ultimate local delicacy and has been satisfying appetites for generations. To illustrate just how popular it is, some Japanese guide maps contain an exhaustive list of every soba restaurant in town! In your travels, you may even see chefs making noodles in shop windows.
To eat zaru soba (cold soba), add your condiments (usually shaved leek) to the dipping sauce. (You can also add the wasabi but I like to brush it on my noodles.) Pick up a small amount of noodles with your chopsticks and dip the bottom half into the sauce. This way you can appreciate the flavour of the plain soba followed by the seasoning. Make sure to slurp loudly to thank the chef! The restaurant will often bring you a small jug of sobayu, the water used to boil the noodles; you can pour this into your teacup and drink it, or mix it with the leftover dipping sauce and drink.
Oyaki
Oyaki is another local delicacy, though not as well-known as soba. These fist-sized dumplings are made from blended buckwheat flour and stuffed with local produce like mushrooms, pickles, vegetables or beans. They’re either steamed, pan-fried or grilled and always served hot. They’re the perfect way to sample all of Nagano’s finest produce in one savoury package. You’ll see them everywhere, but for some of the best oyaki in the city, head to Ogawanosho. Their oyaki are cooked over the open flame of an irori sunken hearth, giving them a beautiful smoky flavour. Read more about them here.
Shojin Ryori
Shojin Ryori is the traditional food of Buddhist monks and is often available at Buddhist temples or at the nearby temple lodgings. As the city of Nagano developed around the Buddhist temple of Zenkoji, there are quite a few places to try it. If you stay in the temple lodgings, there is a good chance you will have access to a shojin ryori meal, but make sure to check ahead. One place we recommended is Zenkoji Fuchinobo where you can get shojin ryori for lunch or dinner starting at 3,000 yen. You can view their menu here and note that vegan and Muslim-friendly options are also available. Reservations are required at least one week in advance.
Miso
Miso is an ingredient that has garnered an international following, and it just so happens that Nagano is the top miso producer in all the land. Said to be connected to longevity, this paste, made from fermented soybeans, koji grains and salt, is simply delicious. It often forms the base of a soup or is turned into a marinade or sauce. You will definitely see a lot of miso around Nagano, but in the city, you can’t go wrong with Suyakame. This company has been producing miso since 1902 and is a great place to pick up a tub or try their miso soup, grilled rice balls brushed with miso, or—our favourite—miso ice cream!
Sake
Like many prefectures, Nagano produces its own sake. One place of note is Nishinomon-Yoshinoya Sake Brewery, near Zenkoji Temple, which dates back nearly 300 years. This brewery also produces amazake, plum wine and miso soup, so you can sample quite a range. On the subject of alcohol, Nagano also happens to be the leading producer of wine grapes in Japan, so keep an eye out for a local drop when you’re dining out.
Healthy steamed cuisine
Monzensaryo Yayoiza is mentioned in almost every single Nagano guide. And for good reason; they serve “seiro mushi”, a healthy dish of local beef and seasonal vegetables, steamed together in a bamboo box. It’s perfect for those who are noodled out and looking for something a little lighter! You can find it near Zenkoji Temple.
This doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface of all the great things to do in Nagano City. No matter how you end up spending your day, consider ending it at Susobanakyo Hot Spring Uruoi-kan, where you can indulge in natural spring water onsen. And if you’re still hungry for more Nagano treats, check out soba crepes, saka manju (steamed sake yeast bun), koi shaped cakes, and even Nozawana pickles from Nozawa Onsen.
Accessing Nagano
Nagano Station is a JR Shinkansen station, serviced by the Hokuriku Shinkansen Line to/from Tokyo. The fastest Kagayaki services reach Nagano from Tokyo in approximately 80 minutes; the Hakutaka makes more stops and takes around 95 minutes, while the Asama service runs between Tokyo and Nagano only. The one-way fare is approximately ¥8,000–9,000 for a reserved ordinary seat — verify current pricing with our JR Fare Calculator before you travel. Wanderlog
The Hokuriku Shinkansen was extended in March 2024 all the way to Tsuruga in Fukui Prefecture, creating a direct bullet train corridor from Tokyo through Nagano, Toyama, Kanazawa, and into the Kansai region. This makes Nagano an excellent anchor point on a wider itinerary — from Nagano, you can continue west to Kanazawa for a night before heading down to Kyoto or Osaka, all on the JR network. Wanderlog
If you're on a budget, you could also catch a Highway bus from Shinjuku (3 hours 40 min and ¥2,900). From Osaka, the most direct route is still via Shinkansen with a transfer at Nagoya (roughly 4 hours). It's possible to fly as close as Shinshu-Matsumoto Airport and then transfer to the wide-view "Shinano" train (48 min, ¥2,900), which will bring you into Nagano.
All JR Shinkansen services are covered by the Japan Rail Pass — including the Kagayaki, Hakutaka, and Asama on the Hokuriku line.
Best Restaurants Near Nagano Station
With so many incredible local dishes to choose from, it can be overwhelming to know where to start. Here's a curated guide to some of the best restaurants in Nagano, all within easy reach of Nagano Station.
Kusabue — If you only have time for one soba restaurant and can't make the journey out toward Zenkoji, Kusabue is a highly regarded handmade Shinshu soba restaurant located inside the Nagano Station building itself. You can watch the chef prepare the noodles through a glass-fronted workshop right at the entrance — a nice preview of what's coming. It's freshly made, it's delicious, and you can be back on the platform in under an hour.
Ramen Misoya — As mentioned in the miso ramen section above, this is the go-to spot near the station for Shinshu miso ramen. The broth uses a premium miso base, and the thick noodles complement the rich, slightly sweet flavour beautifully. Arrive early or expect to queue, especially at dinnertime.
Tsumugi — For something a little more special, Tsumugi in Patio Daimon serves an elegant kaiseki multi-course meal built around locally grown Nagano produce, heirloom vegetables, and soba flour ground in-house. Reservations are strongly recommended. It's roughly a 20-minute walk from the station, so plan it as a leisurely lunch or dinner rather than a quick stop.
Ogawanosho — Already mentioned in the oyaki section above, but worth repeating here because it really is one of the best restaurants in the city for local flavours. The char-grilled oyaki over an irori sunken hearth is a dining experience as much as a meal. You'll find it in Patio Daimon. There's also a counter at Nagano Station if you just want to grab a couple for the road!
Meijitei — The sauce katsu restaurant in Nagano Station is one of the most visited spots in the building. Meijitei originated as a sauce katsudon specialist in Komagane and brings that signature tangy sauce north to Nagano. Fast, affordable, and very satisfying.
Shinshu Nagaya Sakaba — If you'd rather graze your way through the evening over local sake and small plates, Shinshu Nagaya Sakaba is a popular izakaya near the station serving Shinshu soba alongside a wide range of Nagano sake and local wines. The rustic interior hits the right note for a relaxed night out. Both travellers and locals love it, which is always a good sign.
Hakko Monzen — A little further up toward Zenkoji, Hakko Monzen specialises in fusion cuisine made with local fermented ingredients, including Nagano miso, soy sauce, and pickled vegetables. It's a creative, modern take on the region's fermented food tradition, and a great choice if you've already covered the classics.
Nagano vs Nagoya
You would be far from the first person to mix these two up — "Nagano" and "Nagoya" are separated by a single syllable, and they both sit in Japan's mountainous Chubu region. But in terms of what they actually offer a visitor, they're about as different as two Japanese cities can be.
Nagano is a small, quiet city in the Japanese Alps — population around 370,000 — built around its ancient temple, mountain culture and winter sports. It is more popular for its skiing, historic temples, beautiful mountain scenery, and its role as host of the 1998 Winter Olympic Games. The pace is gentle, the food is regional and distinctive, and it works beautifully as a base for day trips to the Snow Monkey Park at Jigokudani, the ski resorts of Hakuba, and the pristine soba country of Togakushi. It's the kind of city that rewards slowing down.
Nagoya is a very different proposition — Japan's fourth largest city by population, a major industrial hub, and home to Toyota's global headquarters. It's bigger, busier, and more urban. Its attractions include a reconstructed Nagoya Castle, the magnificent Atsuta Shrine (one of Japan's holiest), the Toyota Commemorative Museum, and the nearby Ghibli Park, which opened in 2022 and has quickly become one of the most talked-about new attractions in the country. Its food scene is equally distinctive, built around hitsumabushi (broiled eel over rice), miso katsu, and kishimen flat noodles.
In terms of getting there, both cities are on the JR network and fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass. From Tokyo, the Hokuriku Shinkansen reaches Nagano in around 80 minutes, while the Tokaido Shinkansen reaches Nagoya in about 1 hour 40 minutes. From Osaka, Nagoya is the closer and faster option at around 35 minutes on the Tokaido Shinkansen.
The short answer, then? Choose Nagano if you want mountains, temples, traditional Japan, and great food in a peaceful setting. Choose Nagoya if you want a big city, world-class museums, modern attractions like Ghibli Park, and a lively nightlife and food scene. If you have a few extra days, they make an excellent back-to-back combination — Nagoya → Nagano on the Shinkansen is straightforward, and a very enjoyable change of tempo.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the best restaurants in Nagano City?
Nagano has a fantastic dining scene built around its distinctive regional produce. For soba, Kusabue inside Nagano Station and Soba Daizen on the way to Zenkoji are both excellent starting points. Ramen Misoya near the station is one of the most popular spots for Shinshu miso ramen, known for its premium Daiginjo broth. For oyaki dumplings cooked over an open hearth, head to Ogawanosho in Patio Daimon. For an izakaya experience with local sake, Shinshu Nagaya Sakaba near the station is a favourite with both locals and visitors.
2. What food is Nagano City famous for?
Nagano is best known for its soba noodles — widely considered the finest in Japan thanks to the prefecture's ideal growing conditions. Oyaki (stuffed buckwheat dumplings cooked over a hearth), miso in all its forms, sake, and locally grown wine grapes are all regional staples. Sauce katsudon — a pork cutlet with tangy brown sauce — is a popular local comfort food, as is Shinshu miso ramen. For something unique to the temple precincts, try shojin ryori (Buddhist vegetarian cuisine).
3. What is the difference between Nagano and Nagoya?
They sound similar but are very different cities! Nagano is a small alpine city in the Japanese Alps, famous for Zenkoji Temple, the 1998 Winter Olympics, the Snow Monkey Park and some of Japan's best soba. Nagoya is one of Japan's largest cities, known for Nagoya Castle, the Ghibli Park, Toyota's home base, and a distinctive food scene of its own. Both are on the JR network and covered by the Japan Rail Pass; Nagoya is significantly larger, more urban and better connected to Osaka.
4. How do I get from Tokyo to Nagano by Shinkansen?
Take the Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tokyo Station. The fastest Kagayaki services take approximately 80 minutes; the Hakutaka takes around 95 minutes and offers non-reserved seating. The one-way fare is approximately ¥8,000–9,000 for a reserved ordinary seat. All Hokuriku Shinkansen services are covered by the Japan Rail Pass — use our JR Fare Calculator to check current pricing and plan your route.
5. Is Nagano worth visiting beyond Zenkoji Temple?
Absolutely — in fact, the city itself is just the beginning! Nagano makes a brilliant base for some of Japan's most memorable day trips: the Snow Monkey Park at Jigokudani, the atmospheric Togakushi soba village and ninja shrines, the winter resorts of Hakuba, the historic post town of Obuse, and the well-preserved samurai district of Matsumoto (home to one of Japan's five National Treasure castles). And that's before you've started on the food.
