Nagano Prefecture, Administrative prefecture in central Honshu, Japan
Nagano Prefecture is an administrative division in central Honshu that stretches across mountainous terrain, encompassing nine of the twelve highest peaks in Japan along with numerous alpine valleys. The landscape shifts between steep mountain slopes, deep forests, and narrow river valleys threaded with small villages and rice paddies.
The region transformed from Shinano Province to Nagano Prefecture in 1871, developing into a major winter sports destination that hosted the 1998 Winter Olympics. The construction of the Shinkansen in the 1990s opened the previously remote mountain valleys to travelers from Tokyo and other cities.
The Zenkoji Temple in Nagano City holds regular Buddhist ceremonies where visitors walk through dark underground passages to find the key to paradise. Local festivals follow the agricultural calendar, with residents maintaining centuries-old rituals that honor the harvest and mountain deities.
The Hokuriku Shinkansen connects the prefecture to Tokyo in 90 minutes, providing direct access to multiple ski resorts and mountain hiking trails. Local buses run between train stations and smaller villages, though schedules are more frequent in winter than in summer.
Jigokudani Monkey Park presents wild Japanese macaques bathing in natural thermal springs throughout winter, surrounded by snow-covered landscapes. The monkeys migrate daily from surrounding forests to the water and return to the trees each evening.
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