Karuizawa is an upmarket mountain resort at the foot of the active volcano Mount Asama in Nagano Prefecture. It was first “discovered” and promoted as a mountain resort by Western residents of Japan in the late 1800s.
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Category: Japan Travel
Yudanaka and Shibu Onsen are the two most prominent of more than half a dozen hot springs, clustered together in Yamanouchi Town in northern Nagano Prefecture. The area is most famous for its so called “snow monkeys”, wild Japanese monkeys who are enjoying the naturally hot waters just like the human visitors.
Opened in 1924, Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort in Nagano Prefecture is one of Japan’s oldest ski resorts. But far from being outdated, the resort features modern high speed lifts, two gondolas and long, fast runs. On a clear day you can see the Northern Alps and the Sea of Japan from the top of the mountain.
Nagano City is the capital of Nagano Prefecture and was the site of the Olympic Winter Games 1998. The city evolved as temple town around Zenkoji, Nagano’s most famous attraction and one of Japan’s most popular temples.
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Gero Onsen Sightseeing Guide
In the Edo period, Gero Onsen was referred to as one of Japan’s three best onsen by the Confucian poet Hayashi Razan. While the town may now be quite a bit more urbanized than back then, the waters have retained that special quality, which has made them so famous.
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Furukawa Sightseeing Guide
Furukawa is a small town in the mountains of Gifu Prefecture and the center of the rural municipality of Hida City. Furukawa is located only about 15 train minutes north of the city of Takayama.
The Shirakawa-go and neighboring Gokayama regions line the Shogawa River Valley in the remote mountains that span from Gifu to Toyama Prefectures. Declared a UNESCO world heritage site in 1995, they are famous for their traditional gassho-zukuri farmhouses, some of which are more than 250 years old.
Gujo Hachiman is a small, riverside town in Gifu Prefecture, known for its pristine waterways and its distinctive summer dance festival. The town was founded in the 16th century following the construction of Hachiman Castle.
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Takayama Sightseeing Guide
Takayama is a city in the mountainous Hida region of Gifu Prefecture, which has retained a traditional touch like few other Japanese cities, especially in its beautifully preserved old town.
Iwami Ginzan is a historic silver mine in the mountains of Oda City, Shimane Prefecture. The most prominent silver mine in Japan, it was discovered in the early 16th century and was mined for nearly 400 years.