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The original was posted on /r/japantravel by /u/TokyoExplorer27 on 2024-12-10 11:12:10+00:00.

Hello, it’s my second trip to japan, first time going to Nagano. It was only 4 days but I wanted to share my experience with you all because it was a lot better than I expected. I travel solo, originally from Spain.

DAY 1 - Zenkoji Temple. It was very beautiful. The temple grounds are very big and it feels very old and calm even with many people around.On the way to Zenkoji there are many shops and the overall atmosphere is very good. I also ate Oyaki which is typical from nagano.

DAY 2 - Togakushi. The path to the shrine is super beautiful. There were many big cedar trees and it feels like you are in a different world. There is also a Ninja museum that was interesting! I ate soba that day, it was my first time eating soba and it was pretty good.

DAY 3 - Countryside tour. There was some activity called “Picking Pears and Cook Onigiri” tour. A married couple in the countryside are doing it and it was a trully wonderful experience. You can see and pick fruits and vegetables in the farm in the outskirts of Nagano city.

They spoke in English and were very friendly. They live in a reformed warehouse. It’s more than 100 years old. We also had lunch together, we cooked some onigiri together! Some Onigri and vegetable dishes were super good. I never had an experience like that, but it felt very close to what life in the countryside would be in Japan.

I happened to find it by chance, and I don’t think it’s very known, so I would like to share the link if somebody is interested in an experience like this:

DAY 4 - Obuse. I went manly for the Hokusai museum (I love the art), the city is also pretty and quiet. I was a bit tired so it was perfect for the last day. I ate some rice with chestnuts that day, I don’t remember the name, but it was surprisingly good.

Conclusion

Nagano was a perfect escape from more busy locations like Tokyo or Kyoto. There is a lot of nature, even in the city, and getting to know some of the locals and getting closer to the rural life was an incredible experience for me. I guess it’s not for everybody, but as someone who loves japan, I feel very lucky.