Nagano

Nagano has a history stretching back to the Kamakura period (1185-1333) when it was a temple town centred around Zenko-ji temple. The temple is still Nagano's main attraction with more than 4 million visitors a year.

In the late 1990's the city came to international attention as the host of the 1998 Winter Olympics. As well as a fair amount of debt, the games left a legacy of improved transport, great English tourist information, some wonderful Olympic buildings and a cosmopolitan atmosphere. Nagano station was rebuilt for the Olympics and has two sides: East and Zenko-ji. Take the latter for the city centre and Zenko-ji temple.

Nagano makes a great base for day trips to Matsumoto castle, as well as visiting the pretty town of Obuse, former home of Katsushika Hokusai, the world-famous ukiyo-e woodblock print artist.

Accommodation
Weather & Climate

Recommended Accommodation in Nagano

The following are our favourites from among the western-style hotels and Japanese-style inns of Nagano.

Weather in Nagano

The Climate Guide for Nagano, Japan is perfect for planning your holiday. Monthly weather averages give the best indication of what the weather is usually like for every month of the year including figures for temperature, rainfall and sunshine.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec

Max Daytime Temperature (°C)	0	1	5	13	18	20	24	26	21	15	9	3
Min Night-time Temperature (°C)	-8	-8	-5	1	6	11	15	17	13	5	-1	-5
Hours of Sunshine (Daily)	5	5	6	6	7	5	5	6	4	5	5	5
Hours of Daylight (Daily)	10	11	12	13	14	15	14	14	12	11	10	10
Heat and Humidity Discomfort	None	None	None	None	None	None	None	Low	None	None	None	None
Days with some Rainfall	25	22	21	17	17	20	22	20	20	16	17	22
Monthly Rainfall (mm)	54	56	72	93	116	195	197	168	195	103	73	49
UV Index (Maximum)	2	3	5	7	9	10	10	10	8	5	3	2

Tour Gallery

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Featured trips including Nagano

Self-Guided Adventure

Romantic Road (Classic)
- Tokyo
- Nagano
- Kusatsu
- Minakami
- Lake Chuzenji
- Nikko
- Tokyo
Discover splendid mountain scenery and hot spring towns in this intrepid driving itinerary along the famous Romantic Road.

10 nights: from US$3285 pp (twin share) Read more >

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Self-Guided Adventure

Alpine Adventure: Family Driving Holiday (Classic)
- Tokyo
- Kanazawa
- Noto Peninsula
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- Kusatsu
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Pile into your rental car for an unforgettable family adventure around Japan, including the Japan Alps, and the outdoor adventure mecca of Minakami.

14 nights: from US$18127 (per family) Read more >

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Small Group Tour

Japan Unmasked (IJT Essential)
- Tokyo
- Nagano
- Matsumoto
- Takayama
- Kanazawa
- Hiroshima
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- Tokyo
A fast-paced tour packing in a great variety of destinations, with minimum inclusions allowing for maximum flexibility.

13 nights: US$3978 Read more >

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