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September 11, 2020
#SNOWMONKEYRESORTSLOCAL: ‘Go To Travel’ Extended to Tokyo as of October 1st 2020
As highlighted in our recent blog article – ‘#SNOWMONKEYRESORTS LOCAL: What is Japan’s ‘Go To Travel’ Campaign?’ – Japanese citizens and foreign residents of Japan are currently eligible for by s...
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August 17, 2020
Explore Central Japan – Using the Tokaido Shinkansen to Reach Nagoya & Beyond!
Running from Tokyo to Osaka, the Tokaido Shinkasen is one Japan’s main shinkansen lines – connecting those to cities to other major destinations including Kyoto and Nagoya. Located in Aichi Prefe...
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August 13, 2020
Using the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Visit Nagano & Central Japan – 50% Discounts Available from August 20th!
With the summer holidays in full swing, it’s a great time to visit Central Japan and escape the intense heat and humidity of the coastal cities. Though also hot during the day, Nagano and Central...
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August 11, 2020
Enjoy Nagano in Summer – Open Spaces, Cool Evenings & Lots to Do!
If you are living in Nagano or headed this way over the next few weeks, it’s a great time to enjoy some of the many attractions and activities on offer in and around the city. Nagano isn’t immune...
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July 28, 2020
#TRAVELTOMORROW: Visit Kanazawa – One of Central Japan’s Most Enjoyable Cities
Sitting in north-west corner of Central Japan, Kanazawa is a popular stop on the route from Tokyo to Kyoto and Osaka. Terminus of the Hokuriku Shinkansen Line running from Tokyo via Nagano, along...
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July 13, 2020
#TRAVELTOMORROW: Eat, Shop, Play – Visit Karuizawa
Nestled high in the mountains between Tokyo and Nagano, Karuizuawa is a small resort town that attracts visitors at all times of year. Notably cooler than Tokyo in summer, beautiful in spring and...
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July 3, 2020
#TRAVELTOMORROW: Clean Green & Healthy – Discover Central Japan
When researching and planning a visit to Japan, understanding the regions and which areas are nearby others, can be a little confusing – particularly for first-time visitors. While some n...
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December 15, 2019
Bright Light in the Winter Night: Combine Your Visit to the Snow Monkeys with a Winter Festival in Nagano
As host of the 1998 Winter Olympics and home to around 80 ski resorts along with the famous hot spring-bathing monkeys of Jigokudani, Nagano is synonymous with winter. Offering abundant snow in clos...
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June 30, 2019
ESCAPE TO THE COUNTRY & ENJOY THE BEST OF JAPAN THIS AUTUMN! BEST DAY TOURS FROM TOKYO DURING THE RUGBY WORLD CUP 2019!
The world will turn its focus to Japan this autumn, as it hosts the Rugby World Cup from September 20th to November 2nd 2019. With 13 host venues spread throughout Japan – from Hokkaido in the nor...
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June 3, 2019
NAGANO’S BEST SPRING/SUMMER TOURS! COMBINE TOURS & CREATE YOUR OWN MULTIDAY PACKAGE!
As Nagano’s No.1 tour operator, Snow Monkey Resorts continues to welcome new and old friends into the region, as more and more people discover the seasonal beauty of Central Japan. There’s never a...
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December 7, 2018
HOTARU-TEI: JAPANESE DINING & LUNCH IN A 160-YEAR-OLD MANSION
Newly opened Japanese restaurant Hotaru-tei in the Kanbayashi Onsen area is the place to go if you're looking for a local food experience in a traditional setting. The restaurant, located only 10 minu...
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November 2, 2018
INTRODUCING OUR NEW 2-DAY SNOW MONKEY TOUR: NAGANO TO TAKAYAMA via MATSUMOTO
Nagano and the surrounding regions that make-up central Japan are a place of natural beauty, typified by high mountain peaks, and deep culture found in its historic towns, temples and castles. Often o...
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September 19, 2018
INTRODUCING OUR NEW SNOW MONKEY WINTER TOUR FROM HAKUBA!
Snow Monkey Resorts is excited to announce our award-winning 1-Day Snow Monkeys, Zenko-ji Temple & Sake Tour is now available to guests based in Hakuba this winter, with a daily shuttle servic...
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September 5, 2018
VISITING ZENKO-JI: ONE OF JAPAN’S MOST ACTIVE & WELCOMING TEMPLES
Nagano’s Zenko-ji Temple is one of the oldest and most important Buddhist complexes in Japan with a near-1400 year history. A place of true religious significance, legend, and myth, Zenko-ji is the he...
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August 22, 2018
NAGANO CITY NIGHTLIFE: AFTER DARK AROUND ZENKO-JI TEMPLE
Most visitors to Nagano will take the time to head up the hill from the station and visit the city’s most famous attraction, Zenko-ji Temple. With a near 1400-year history, the temple embodies a seduc...
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August 16, 2018
STAYING OVERNIGHT AT THE SNOW MONKEY AREA: 9 THINGS TO DO
Many visitors headed to this region see the famous Snow Monkey Park as the primary destination and don't allocate time to explore other sights nearby the park. Given the global fame of the hot spring-...
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February 26, 2018
NAGANO CITY HOTEL RECOMMENDATIONS
There is plenty to discover in and around Nagano City. There's the Zenko-ji temple complex, Matsushiro, Togakushi, Obuse, and the Snow Monkey Park. It is difficult to fit all the sights to see into 1 ...
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February 1, 2018
INTRODUCING SHIGA KOGEN’S ICHINOSE VILLAGE
If you're thinking of heading to Shiga Kogen for your ski/snowboard trip you have multiple accommodation areas to choose from. As Japan's largest resort, Shiga is expansive therefore it's important to...
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January 21, 2018
How To: Introducing the Hokuriku Arch Pass
Japan Rail offers a range of passes to international visitors that offer fantastic convenience and savings. While the full Japan Rail (JR) Pass is well-known and well-used by foreigner travelers in ...
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December 1, 2017
NAGANO FAVORITES: HOTEL KOKUSAI 21
Nagano City has a great many hotels, being the capital of Nagano Prefecture and the capital of the 1998 Olympics. One favourite hotel we'd like to introduce is Hotel Kokusai 21, one of the most high-c...
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September 25, 2017
NAGANO CITY: INTRODUCING THE GONDO DISTRICT
Most people stay close the Nagano Station when visiting Nagano City. We'd like to propose an alternative course. When staying overnight, stay closer to Zenko-ji Temple, Nagano's main attraction, and c...
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September 15, 2017
NAGANO CITY: RESTAURANTS AROUND ZENKO-JI TEMPLE
One of the biggest attractions in Nagano City is the near-1400 year old temple complex of Zenko-ji. As one of the oldest, largest, and most significant Buddhist temples in Japan, visiting Zenko-ji is ...
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NAGANO CITY: RESTAURANTS IN GONDO AREA
One of the most dynamic areas in Nagano City is the entertainment district of Gondo. Most people visiting Nagano City often don't venture any further than the station area, but that's a shame. Gondo h...
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September 12, 2017
TRADITIONAL CRAFT EXPERIENCES, RESTAURANTS & INTERESTING SHOPS ON THE STREET LEADING TO ZENKO-JI TEMPLE
When visiting Nagano City, many people choose to stay around the central precinct surrounding the station. It has the greatest concentration of accommodation, restaurants and bars and of course, i...
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September 9, 2017
BEST VIEWS OVER NAGANO CITY
Nagano City lies in a valley, surrounded by mountains from all sides. If you know the right vantage point, you can see all over the plains of Zenko-ji and surrounding areas like Obuse and even up to t...
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September 1, 2017
Matsushiro Castle Park: Former Stronghold of Nagano’s Samurai Town
Like most modern cities, Nagano grew rapidly through the 20th century, absorbing what were once separate and distinct towns, villages and hamlets. One such areas of the Nagano suburbs is the hist...
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August 29, 2017
1998 Nagano Olympics Pt.1: Facilities in Nagano City
As may if not most visitors heading to the region know, Nagano was the host venue of the 1998 Winter Olympic Games. With its tall mountains, long snow season, and proximity to Tokyo, Nagano was thou...
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August 22, 2017
NAGANO CITY: GET BLESSED AT ZENKO-JI’S BUDDHIST MORNING RITUAL
The morning service, also called "o-asaji" at Zenko-ji Temple, is one of the most interesting activities that you could partake in while you are in Nagano City. What's "o-asaji"?  ...
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May 12, 2017
PHOTOBLOG: THINGS TO SEE/DO IN SHIBU ONSEN
Shibu Onsen is famous for its variety of hot springs and its lovely streets. If you're in the Snow Monkey area for a visit to the Jigokudani Monkeys, don't miss out on a stroll through the picture...
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May 10, 2017
SHIBU ONSEN: TOURING THE 9 HOT SPRINGS
Close to the Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park is a little town called Shibu Onsen. Shibu Onsen is famous for its long history with hot springs (onsen in Japanese). From 600 AC., many Japanese have traveled...
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May 7, 2017
SUMMER ACTIVITIES IN THE SNOW MONKEY AREA
Even though this region is called the Snow Monkey area, we have more than six months without snow. Our Spring, Summer, and Autumn all have their own attractions. In this article we will expand on the ...
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April 8, 2017
CHERRY BLOSSOM SEASON/SITES IN NORTHERN NAGANO
When you ask people to name three things that define Japan they usually name Mount Fuji, geisha, and cherry blossoms. Nagano Prefecture is quite far from Fuji and we would advise you to go to Kyoto to...
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March 16, 2017
Attractions Around Nagano City
Having found your way to this website most likely means that you want to see the snow monkeys. Many people do this as a day trip from Tokyo. They leave Tokyo early in the morning and arrive back to To...
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September 10, 2016
ABOUT THE CITY OF NAGANO
The city of Nagano has a long history and was formally established as a city on April 1, 1897. It was the first established city within Nagano Prefecture and the 43rd city in Japan. Nagano City is loc...
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May 10, 2016
INFORMATION ABOUT ONSEN IN THE AREA
Wanting to enter an onsen, a Japanese hot bath, but feeling insecure about how to? Then please look at the 'How to' article to learn the basics! Here we will introduce you to some of the onsen in t...