Things to Do in Shinanomachi, Nagano: Enjoy gourmet food and nature

Summary

This time, a day trip to Shinanomachi in Nagano Prefecture to enjoy local cuisine and nature! Shinanomachi can be reached by train from Tokyo in 2 hours and 20 minutes, so it can be enjoyed as a day trip ✨ The water, vegetables, and rice are delicious, and most importantly, the air is delicious! If you want to enjoy Shinanomachi to the fullest, please refer to this plan.

*Please note that information and prices listed are subject to change.

Travel Itinerary

9:20am Nagano station（長野駅）

The starting point for this trip is Nagano Station! Take the Shinano Railway to Kurohime Station!

Nagano Station is a station of East Japan Railway, Shinano Railway, and Nagano Electric Railway in Nagano City, Nagano Prefecture. It is the starting and ending point for the Hokuriku Shinkansen’s “Asama” trains, and all “Kagayaki” and “Hakutaka” trains stop here for convenient access. There are many business hotels in the vicinity, and the station is also used as a base for sightseeing.

10:00am Kurohime Station（黒姫駅）

Arrive at Kurohime Station in Shinanomachi. If it’s a day trip, a free ticket from Nagano Station to Myokokougenn is a little more economical ✨

Kurohime Station is located in Kashiwabara, Shinanomachi, Kamiminochi-gun, Nagano Prefecture. It takes about 30 minutes to get there from Nagano Station by transferring to the Shinano Railway. There is also information that a free ticket to Myokoukougenn is a little more economical for a day trip from Nagano Station.

10:30am Roadside Station Shinano（道の駅 しなの）

The first stop was a roadside station.You can enjoy local specialties, souvenirs, fresh vegetables, and even meals. This is a roadside station where you can find everything Shinanomachi has to offer!Personally, I’d like to see you try the botaring (A fried dish made with botagosho, a green chili pepper shaped and flavored like a green pepper)! They look just like bell peppers, but they are spicy…

Exterior

Map

There is a souvenir shop, a vegetable shop, and a restaurant.

Souvenir Shop Furusato Observation Hall

Exquisite Maize Soup

They come in packs of 5, 10, etc., so they make perfect souvenirs!

handicraft

Handwritten board that changes monthly

September was a great month for botagosho (A green chili pepper that looks and tastes like a bell pepper)✨

Direct sales shop, Issassa

botagosho

Seasonal Calendar

pumpkin

Maybe because it was before Halloween, there were a lot of them!

maize

I hear people line up for this in the summer…

tomato

Cherry-like appearance and texture!

Restaurant Tenbo

Ticket machine

Menu

Soba noodles seem to be popular!

Interior

Enmei Tea (Decaffeinated blend tea)

All-you-can-drink aromatic and delicious Yunmeicha, a specialty of Shinanomachi.

Terrace Seat

Botaring ¥250

rhubarb

Drinking yogurt ¥250, corn soup ¥250

Roadside Station Shinano is located in Shinanomachi, Nagano Prefecture, on National Route 18. The store sells Shinano-cho specialties, souvenirs, and fresh vegetables, and the restaurant serves meals. Word of mouth recommends the hot and spicy botaru, which look just like green peppers. The yogurt is also popular for its delicious taste. This is a great place for a family outing, as it can be enjoyed even on rainy days.

11:30am Nojiri Lake（野尻湖）

After a light meal, we headed for a walk, which is what Shinanomachi is all about! Nojiri Lake I heard that marine sports are popular in the summer, and I saw sup and boards ✨ Unlike the ocean breeze, I am happy to be exposed to a refreshing breeze that is not sticky!

Map

Nojiri Lake

Nojiri Lake is located in Shinanomachi, Kamiminochi-gun, Nagano Prefecture. There are sightseeing boats and rowboats by the lake, and marine sports can be enjoyed in summer. In winter, wakasagi (smelt) fishing is popular, and visitors can enjoy fishing from a boat. A stroll along the lakeside is also recommended, where you can refresh yourself while feeling the fresh breeze.

12:00pm LAMP Nojiri Lake（LAMP野尻湖）

We came here for lunch at a lodging facility famous for its sauna! You can also get a variety of activities and meals.You should definitely try the burgers, which are especially hearty and excellent!

Exterior

signboard

Slippers with cute lamp design

goods

Stylish sundries

Sauna Goods

Interior

table seating

tatami room

Lunch Menu

NOJIRI burger with fries ¥1,580

Serious Ginger Ale ¥400

It’s homemade ginger ale with ginger meat inside!

The Sauna

shower block

And water.

sauna

glamping

Natural water bath

Activity Rental Items

This is a “revitalize” …

LAMP Nojiriko Lake, located in Shinanomachi, Kamiminochi-gun, Nagano Prefecture, is a lakeside lodging facility. This facility offers a variety of activities and dining options in addition to its famous sauna. In particular, the hearty and exquisite hamburgers are a must-try.

2:00pm Naena Waterfall（苗名滝）

Next, we will go to the mountains again to be healed by nature!This waterfall is located on the border of Nagano and Niigata Prefectures.It is also called “Hell Falls” because it makes so much noise!

signboard

Scenery along the way

Smaller waterfall found on the way

Suspension bridge 1

The promenade is well maintained.

Main waterfall!

Naena Waterfall is located in Myoko City, Niigata Prefecture. Located on the border with Nagano Prefecture, it is also called “hell Falls” because of its loud noise. The surrounding area is lush with trees, offering visitors a relaxing natural experience. According to word of mouth, many people want to visit again next time, and some said they were impressed by the beauty of nature.

3:00pm centotto gelato（チェントットジェラート）

A little tired from walking the mountain path at the waterfall, I took a break with something sweet.This store offers gelato made from seasonal local vegetables and fruits!The “rhubarb” and “enmei tea” that can only be found here are highly recommended! The restaurant also has a resort-like atmosphere, giving you a taste of the extraordinary ✨

Ninokura Marche

Exterior

Exterior

gelato

Drink Menu

Gelato Menu

Hand-baked corn can be added!

Interior

Triple ¥550

Enmei tea, corn, and rhubarb!

centotto gelato” is a gelato specialty store located in Kashiwabara, Shinano-cho, Kamiizunai-gun, Nagano Prefecture. Here you can enjoy gelato made from seasonal local vegetables and fruits. It is the perfect place to take a break with something sweet when you are a little tired from walking along the mountain path at the waterfall. Flavors that can only be found here, such as “rhubarb” and “enmeicha” are especially recommended. The interior of the store has a resort-like atmosphere, giving you a taste of something out of the ordinary. Please visit us.

4:00pm Shinshu Shinanomachi Healing Forest（信州信濃町 癒しの森）

Having replenished our energy with gelato, we strolled back in! Today is a day for greenery.The Mishakaike Pond course is surrounded by greenery, and the negative ions make you feel rejuvenated!

scenery

Cute Post

Map

Entrance

I feel like an explorer!

Mishakaike Pond

Shinshu Shinanomachi Healing Forest, located in Shinanomachi, Shinshu, is a place where hiking can be enjoyed. Particularly recommended is the Mishakaike Pond Course, which takes visitors around Oshikaike pond, surrounded by the natural beauty of the forests and grasslands of the Kurohime kogen. The promenade is well maintained and offers hikers a variety of difficulty levels. The course has a quiet environment with small waterfalls, a murmuring river, and chirping birds. Visitors can also enjoy the Kurohime Fairy Tale Museum and Fairy Tale Forest Gallery as well as refreshments as a rest stop.

6:00pm Town bar Tamaki（町酒場 たまき）

At the end of the trip, we went to a tavern in town for dinner.A wide selection of sake from the Shinanomachi area is available, and the food is excellent!The owner’s knowledge of sake is incredible, so if you like sake, you should definitely go ✨ This time, we ordered mainly from Shinanomachi ingredients, but the other dishes are absolutely delicious as well.

Exterior

Interior

Drink Menu

cooking

Menu

Japanese rice wine

Asahi Super Dry draft beer ¥640

Appetizer (not spicy Mabo tofu)

Meat miso pepperss ¥500

Nozawana (turnip greens mustard leaves) Tempura ¥440

Kasuzuke (pickle food in sake lees or sweet sake lees) from black cod ¥780

Togakushi Jumai Daiginjo ¥550

Japanese omelette ¥550

Eshin Junmai Daiginjo ¥600

19 Grotta Azzurra ¥900

Kurohime Kogen Yogurt Sake Straight ¥640

Japanese-style cured ham ¥660

Town bar Tamaki is an izakaya located in Furuma, Shinanomachi, Kamiminochi-gun, Nagano Prefecture. It offers a wide selection of Japanese sake from the Shinanomachi area, and the food is excellent. The owner has a wealth of knowledge about sake, making this a must-visit restaurant for sake lovers. Although most of the dishes are made with Shinanomachi ingredients, the rest of the menu is delicious as well, making this a great spot to visit at the end of your trip.

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