Travelog: Nature & Hiking in Nagano | The ALPICO GROUP Official Website offers useful travel information on Nagano Prefecture

A Must-Visit World Heritage Site! The Historical Village of Shirakawa-go

Hidden amid the mountains and forests of Nagano’s neighboring prefectures Gifu and Toyama, you will find a unique remnant of Japanese history: The Historical Villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama. Designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, these villages should definitely be on your must-visit list when travelling through Japan!

Mar 06, 2020

Enjoy the Best Food, Drinks and Onsen – Après-Ski (After Ski) in Hakuba

A huge part of any winter vacation is the après-ski (literally “after ski”) part of the trip and we know that some find it even more exciting than the skiing itself. Compared to other popular winter destinations, Japan has a pretty unique après-ski culture. Rather than going to a bar, most Japanese prefer relaxing their bodies at an onsen (hot spring). While you’re here, we highly recommend you try it out yourself! But first, let’s introduce you to some places to eat and drink.

Feb 25, 2020

The Ultimate Bucket List Trip – A Visit to Nagano’s Snow Monkeys

Buried within the mountains of Nagano, there is a natural hot spring that has some very peculiar visitors. Instead of humans, you can find red-faced monkeys bathing and relaxing in the warm spring water. This behavior is what makes them so unique as it’s something that has never been seen with any other monkeys. Thanks to this, the Japanese macaques in this area have become world-famous and are commonly known as the snow monkeys of Nagano.

Jan 31, 2020

Exciting Snow Activities and More! – Snow Fun in Hakuba

Do you like the snow and the mountains, but you want to take a break from skiing, or you don’t really like skiing at all? Not to worry, as there are dozens of other snow-related activities available in Hakuba Valley for people of all ages, so both adults and children can enjoy a day out in the snow. Ever wanted to slide down the mountain on a tube or ride a snow mobile? You can!

We’ve listed some of the most popular and exciting winter activities for you to try out in Hakuba!

Jan 14, 2020

An Introduction to Hakuba Valley – Japan’s Ultimate Winter Wonderland

For those who love wintertime and want to enjoy the season by skiing, snowboarding or participating in any other snow-related activities, Japan is the place to be.

Don’t know where to go? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Let me introduce you to Hakuba – one of the largest and best ski resort areas in Japan. From mid-December, all ski resorts in the area have officially opened for the 2019/2020 season, so if you’re still looking for your ultimate winter vacation, then look no further!

Dec 16, 2019

A Day Filled with Ropeway Rides and Stunning Autumn Foliage in the Tsugaike Nature Park

Since recent years, Hakuba has been gaining a lot of attention internationally as a popular ski destination, with it being said that it has some of the best powder snow in Japan. But for those who find themselves here during a season other than winter, don’t worry. There are plenty of wonderful things to do in the Hakuba area during the rest of the year as well!

Nov 21, 2019

Hike through the most amazing autumn scenery in Mount Norikura

Fall has officially started as of the end of September, which means slightly cooler temperatures, lots of pumpkin and sweet potato flavored foods and those beautiful red, orange and yellow-colored autumn leaves. Due to the warm weather in September this year, the color change of the leaves started a little later than usual, but if you go to a high enough place where the temperatures have begun to drop, you’ll find that beautiful and colorful scenery of the fall season. We grabbed our hiking boots and cameras, and jumped on the bus to Mount Norikura, one of the best places in Nagano to see autumn leaves.

Oct 11, 2019

Cruising Lake Suwa and tasting local sakes during a daytrip to the Suwa area!

In the middle of Nagano Prefecture lies the quiet and peaceful Suwa area. The place is famous for its beautiful lake of the same name that’s also featured in the popular animated film “Your Name” (2016). During summertime, firework festivals light up the surface of Lake Suwa and during wintertime there is a chance that the lake completely freezes over. This phenomenon is called omiwatari.

Sep 27, 2019

The Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route is not the only place with a snow wall!

There are probably a lot of people who hear the term “snow wall” and immediately think “Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route”. But there are actually several other places in Japan besides the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route that have snow walls. The snow walls I would like to introduce this time, are the snow walls of Norikura in the Nagano Prefecture.

Aug 19, 2019