Nagano Prefecture

Nagano Prefecture is a landlocked prefecture in central Honshu, Japan. Its mountainous landscape includes the Japanese Alps, and its capital is Nagano City.

Matsumoto Castle: A Japanese castle in Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture, whose original keep dates to the late sixteenth century. This National Treasure is one of the prefecture’s most recognizable historic landmarks.
1998 Winter Olympics: The Winter Olympic Games held in Nagano, Japan, from February 7 to 22, 1998. Hosting the Games brought international attention and new infrastructure to the prefecture.
Shinano Province: A former Japanese province occupying much of what is now Nagano Prefecture. The older name Shinshu remains embedded in the prefecture’s regional identity.
Niigata Prefecture: A prefecture on the Sea of Japan coast of central Honshu, north of Nagano Prefecture. The Chikuma River continues into Niigata as the Shinano River.
Jigokudani Monkey Park: A wildlife park in Nagano Prefecture where Japanese macaques are known for bathing in hot springs. Its snow-season macaques make the prefecture’s winter wildlife internationally recognizable.
Skiing in Japan: Recreational and competitive skiing across Japan’s snow-covered mountain regions. Nagano is one of Japan’s principal skiing regions, with resorts drawing domestic and overseas visitors.
Prefectures of Japan: Japan’s primary subnational administrative divisions, governed within the national system. Nagano’s modern boundaries belong to the prefectural system established during Japan’s modernization.
Gifu Prefecture: A landlocked prefecture in central Japan bordering Nagano to the west. Shared mountain terrain connects the two prefectures across the Northern Japanese Alps.
Hakuba Valley: A mountain resort area in Nagano Prefecture with multiple ski resorts in the Northern Japanese Alps. The valley is a major destination for skiing and hosted events during the 1998 Winter Olympics.
Shinshu soba: Buckwheat noodles associated with Nagano Prefecture, historically known as Shinshu. The prefecture’s climate and local traditions have made buckwheat noodles a signature food.

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