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No matter how long you spend planning your trip, there are always some things you don’t realise until you arrive. Here’s what I wish I’d known before I visited Nagano, plus a few other essential tips, that will hopefully make your stay go more smoothly.
Article by Helen Foster. Disclosure: Some links in this post are affiliate links. See our Affiliate Disclosure.
1. Zenko-ji is Surprisingly Interesting
Zenko-ji is the most popular sight in Nagano, but I admit, when researching it, I wasn’t looking forward to my visit. Most of the discussion focused on visiting the main hall and the impressive gate. This sounded interesting and obviously, culturally important, but it didn’t sound like much to get excited about either.
And yep, that’s also how I felt when I arrived on the day, too.
But then I started exploring the sub-temples outside – and I saw this little fella above. His appearance intrigued me, and so I translated the sign beside him – it turns out he’s a stress-reducing jizo, and you could buy tiny versions of him in the shop to keep in your pocket to hold when you felt anxious.
This, plus a few other interesting touches I spotted, rekindled my interest.
That evening in my hotel, I looked at a map of Zenko-ji – and in the grounds, I noticed the words ‘memorial for lost letters’ – erm, what now? Cue me getting up early the next day and exploring Zenko-ji with fresh eyes, reading every sign – and it’s amazing what’s tucked away there.
If you love finding quirky little things in Japan, don’t underestimate Zenko-ji. Find a list of things to look out for in Japlanease’s sister site, Differentville’s guide to Zenko-ji.
2. Some Restaurants Close on Sunday
I explored the Gondo area Saturday evening and planned to go to a different area on Sunday night – but, when I sat down to decide where I fancied eating, most of the places I had written down to try were closed.
As it was, I had a cold, so this worked in my favour as I decided a salad would be a great idea, and I went off to the family restaurant Royal Host near my hotel instead.
But, if you are in Nagano over the weekend, check that the places you want to visit are open all weekend.
3. Gondo Needs Exploring
Talking of Gondo – I had read that this was Nagano’s nightlife area, and I’d already earmarked a visit to the statue above, but what I didn’t realise was how cute the shopping area is.
I’d have liked to have more time to spend there.
Related Read: Top 10 Nagano Sights.
4. Trains Aren’t Always Regular
Nagano is a great jumping-off point for day trips. And, originally, I planned to take one of them to visit both Narai Juku and Matsumoto on the same day.
On the map, this looked like it was a simple matter of going to one on the way back from the other, but the frequency of the trains meant it was impossible to make the timings work.
I therefore had to pick one, and Matsumoto won as it required less travelling. The benefit of this is that now I have to go back to visit Narai Juku (any excuse).
Note: There is now a tour that will take you to both Matsumoto and Narai Juku in one day from Nagano. See more details here.
Related Read: How to Spend One Day in Matsumoto
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5. Allow Enough Time
I spent two nights and two full days in Nagano, and it still wasn’t enough to do everything.
While the Snow Monkeys weren’t bathing when I was there, I would still have liked to visit Shibu Onsen, the town close to their park and try its famous apple pie and that was just one of the many other day trips you can take from Nagano. You could easily spend a week here using the city as a base and not get bored.
Related Read: How Long Should You Spend in Nagano
6. The Snow Monkeys Aren’t Year-Round
If you’re going to Nagano to see the Snow Monkeys, make sure they are in the water. The monkeys only come down to bathe once it gets cold – usually between December and March.
While you might spot them in the Snow Monkey park during other times, if you are here to see them sitting in the hot springs, you should arrive during bathing season.
Also, be aware that the path to the monkeys can be slippery and icy – our guide to visiting the monkeys explains what to prepare for.
7. You Can’t Use Suica Everywhere
This may have changed by the time you visit, as the lines in Nagano are transitioning to accept Suica cards, but just make sure you have cash for things like trains and buses and allow time to buy a ticket just in case the line you need hasn’t caught up yet.
8. There Are Some Quirks About Getting There
The Shinkansen from Tokyo to Nagano is the Hokuriku Shinkansen; this works a little differently from the Tokaido Shinkansen between Tokyo and Osaka or the Sanyo between Osaka and Hakata, which are commonly discussed in Japan planning groups.
For starters, you don’t buy tickets from the Smart Ex app you might have read about. Instead, if you want to buy tickets in advance, you do it via the JR East website. Or, you can buy them on Klook.
You don’t book luggage seats. Again, if you’ve read a lot about taking the Shinkansen in Japan, you might have read that if you have oversized luggage, you need to book special seats. That is also on the Tokaido and Sanyo lines – it doesn’t apply to Hokuriku Shinkansen. Here you can put your luggage above your head, or at a luggage rack in each compartment.
You can’t always jump on the next train. The fastest train to Nagano, the Kagayaki, operates with reserved seats only. You can’t just turn up and jump on in an unreserved car. Book in advance, or, if you’re not keen on being tied to a particular train, take the slightly slower options.
See more in our guide to Shinkansen you must reserve.
Need Extra Planning Help?
Our Japan trip planners can help. You might like our First-Timers Japan Planner, which will help you plan your trip to Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka step-by-step, including tips on everything from picking hotels to sightseeing and dining. Or our super-duper Tokyo Disney Planner makes arranging your park trip MUCH easier. Find them in our Planners store – printable and digital versions are available.
And I think that’s everything I wish I’d known about Nagano before visiting – or, that might be important for your trip. Hopefully, it will help make your trip go more smoothly, but if you do have more questions, head over to my Japan planning Facebook group, where there are over 38k members who might help.
Who Writes This Blog?
My name is Helen Foster, and I’m a journalist and author. My travel articles have appeared in publications including The Australian, Escape, RAC Horizons, Jetstar Magazine, Sainsbury’s Magazine, and more.
I’ve travelled to Japan nine times before – solo and with my partner and visited over 50 towns and cities. My last visit was in April 2026, so everything here is pretty up to date.
