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Nagano Journals

Nagano, Japan - Work Abroad

A January 2001 trip to Nagano by kiwigal

Zenkoji Temple Photo - Nagano, Japan More Photos
Quote: I have been living in Nagano City, Nagano Prefecture now for 6 months. I arrived in the middle of winter when it was very cold! I will be updating this journal with entries about the different sites and things to do in Nagano.
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Nagano, Japan - Work Abroad Best of IgoUgo

Overview

Hakuba Photo - Nagano, Japan
Quote:
Jigokudani Koen - otherwise known as The Monkey Park! This is a world famous park housing Japanese Macaques. See my Monkey Park entry for more details! Zenkoji Temple - This is a famous temple listed as a World Heritage Site. It is located in Nagano City. Please see my Zenkoji entry for more details! Hakuba - Ski Resort and home to the 1998 Winter Olympics. Matsumoto - the second largest city in Nagano Prefecture. A beautiful castle town. Quick Tips: Nagano is not a very high prior...Read More
At Blue Winds Photo - Blue Winds Pension - Hakuba, Nagano, Japan
Quote:
This place has rooms with bunk beds or Japanese futons. The cost was 4500 Yen per person per night. Breakfast was available for another 1000 Yen each. We piled four people into the Japanese style rooms and it was very comfortable. The breakfast was delicious but I think too expensive.

Blue Winds is close to the skifields (Goryu and Hakuba 21), Kurobe Dam, Hakuba Ski Jump Facilities and Onsen (Hot Spring). They have a Tennis Court (for use in summer) and a dining/lounge area.

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on July 12, 2001

Blue Winds Pension - Hakuba
Hakuba Mura, Misorano 2522-2
Nagano, Japan
+81 (0261)724003

Sam's Best of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "Sam's - Asian Dining"

Quote:
Sam's was one of the first restaurants I visited in Nagano. I liked the Indian style music they played in the background. The decor was very South-East Asian to match the cusine.

The tables are equipped with cooking plates so that you can cook your own yakiniku (Korean style BBQ). There are seperate booths for privacy. Very modern facilities and one of the largest dining areas I have seen in Japan (outside of hotels!).

My favourite menu items were Vietnamese Spring Rolls, Ceasar Salad, Fried `Ebi`, Yakiniku and Sams' groovy non-alcoholic coctails.

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on July 12, 2001

Sam's
Nagano O-Dori
Nagano, Japan

Zenkoji Temple Best of IgoUgo

Attraction

Six Bodhisattva  Photo - Zenkoji Temple, Nagano, Japan
Quote:
Dating from 1707, Zenkoji is a designated National Treasure. Zenkoji is an important pilgrim's destination and remains an authentic centre of worship in Japan. One of my favourite things to do in Nagano in the evening is to take a walk through Zenkoji Temple. It is such a peaceful place. There is a pitch black tunnel underneath the Main Hall where you can walk around. It is said that this is the temples "place for enlightenment" and that all people here are equal. There is a key to Paradise that you can feel for whilst in the tunnel. The idea is that you should free yourself of worldly thoughts and engage in self-reflection. You can catch a 100 yen bus from Nagano Station or it is a p...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on July 11, 2001

Zenkoji Temple
Motoyoshi Cho 491
Nagano, Japan

Cherry Blossoms Photo - Cherry Blossom Viewing, Nagano, Japan
Quote:
Cherry Blossom season in Japan is in Spring during the month of April generally (although it varies across the country). I celebrated the coming of Spring, Japanese style, on 15 April 2001 at a hanami (flower viewing) party in Ojoji, Nagano.

To celebrate Hanami you should get a group of people together and bring along a BBQ and some alcohol. Next you have to find a cherry tree that is unoccupied and set up. There are popular Hanami spots all over Japan but any Cherry Tree will do the trick! You should then proceed to get very drunk and have a lot of fun talking and laughing with the locals!

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on July 11, 2001

Cherry Blossom Viewing
Throughout Nagano
Nagano, Japan

Jigokudani Koen Best of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Jigokudani Koen - Monkey Park"

Macaque's Photo - Jigokudani Koen, Nagano, Japan
Quote:
This park is world famous and often referred to as `The Monkey Park`. It has Japanese Macaques (the most northern most monkeys in the world) bathing in a hot-spring in winter to keep warm. The monkey`s seem oblivious to the photographers and tourists that flock to see them. You can walk around very close to the macaques and watch them interact with each other. They have a warden nearby who watches over them and you! He will throw grains around the hot-spring area for the monkeys to forage for. I was able to witness many examples of the monkey behaviour (such as grooming and fighting) that I had studied about. HOW TO GET THERE: Take the Nagano Dentetsu train to Yudanaka Station in Yaman...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on July 11, 2001

Jigokudani Koen

Nagano, Japan

Winter in Nagano Best of IgoUgo

Story/Tip

Lion Statue Photo - Nagano, Japan
Quote:
When I first arrived in Nagano it was the middle of winter and very cold. There was snow everywhere! It is my first time to live in such conditions so it was a real experience for me and so different to what I was used to. I live in a place called Ojoji in the northern part of Nagano up in the hills. There are very narrow roads to get up here and I am sure that it snows here more than in the central city area. Driving a car was an interesting experience. If you are ever planning to drive in Nagano in winter you should know that they do not plough the roads and many roads are not treated with salt or other substances so you end up with very slippery roads. It isn't necessary to use chains a...Read More

About the Writer

kiwigal

kiwigal
Nagano, New Zealand

Nagano Tips & Stories

Winter in Nagano

Popular Nagano Hotels

Holiday Inn Express Nagano
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Zenkoji Temple
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Jigokudani Koen
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