Chino

Chino sits at about 800 meters elevation in the central part of the prefecture and covers a wide area with several mountain ranges. The city is surrounded by three major peaks and forms a gateway to the alpine landscape of the region.

The area belonged to Shinano Province during the Edo period under the administration of the Suwa Domain. The settlement was organized as Eimei village in 1889 and received city status in 1958.

The Suwa Taisha Shrine Complex contains four separate Shinto sanctuaries, representing important religious centers that attract numerous local worshippers throughout the year.

Access is via the Chūō Main Line of the East Japan Railway Company with connections to Tokyo and Nagoya. National Routes 20 and 152 pass through the area and link it to neighboring regions.

The Masumi brewery was founded in 1662 and today produces around 1.8 million bottles of sake per year. It ranks among the leading sake producers in Japan and preserves traditional brewing methods.

Location: Nagano Prefecture

Inception: February 1, 1955

Reference: 202142

Shares border with: Suwa, Saku, Ina, Koumi, Sakuho, Minamimaki, Fujimi, Hara, Tateshina, Nagawa, Hokuto

Website: https://city.chino.lg.jp

GPS coordinates: 35.99553,138.15881

Latest update: December 13, 2025 16:40