Top Nagano Spring Break

Discover Matsumoto on this full-day tour designed to cover the area’s cultural highlights in one rewarding day. Enter the black-walled Matsumoto Castle, a rare original fortress rich in samurai history, and explore at your own pace. Depart from Nagano (8:00 AM / 8.5 hrs) or Matsumoto (9:30 AM / 6.25 hrs). Visit a 150-year-old miso brewery for a guided visit and onigiri lunch. Enjoy free time at Japan’s largest wasabi farm, with canals, waterwheels, wasabi souvenirs, and optional snacks such as wasabi ice cream. Stop at a countryside winery for a casual tasting of local wines. End at the Ukiyo-e Museum, home to a major woodblock print collection. On Mondays, this museum stop is replaced by Matsumoto City History Village. ・Entry to Matsumoto Castle ・Guided miso brewery visit & onigiri lunch ・Free time at Japan’s largest wasabi farm ・Casual wine tasting at a scenic winery ・Entry to the Japan Ukiyo-e Museum (History Village on Mondays) ・Matsumoto’s cultural highlights in one day

This tour is designed for travelers who want an easy local night out in Nagano without having to choose restaurants on their own. You can choose your starting area, either near Nagano Station or around Gondo and Zenkoji. After meeting your guide, you will share your food and drink preferences, and your guide will take you to two local spots such as izakaya-style restaurants, casual bars, or small eateries. The tour includes a food and drink allowance of JPY 1,500 per person at each venue, for a total of JPY 3,000. If your order goes over this amount, please pay the difference directly at the venue. With help from your guide, you can enjoy Nagano’s local nightlife, try regional flavors, and experience the city in a relaxed and friendly way.

Near the famous Zenkoji Temple, Togakushi Shrine, Nozawa Onsen, and the Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park, Obuse offers a perfect cultural stop before or after your visit! Savor a delicious bowl of ramen featuring locally-made miso (vegan ramen available) before stepping back in time at a 240-year-old miso brewery. Learn traditional miso making techniques and create your own 1kg batch of miso to take home. (Your miso will require several months of fermentation before it's ready to enjoy.) This unforgettable experience is a must for miso lovers and anyone interested in exploring Obuse's rich cultural traditions. We are happy to accommodate earlier or later start times upon request. If you'd like to further customize the itinerary, please let us know! Note: Children under 12 make miso with an adult (child price excludes the miso-making fee).

Discover the charming Iiyama region in Nagano on this immersive day trip. Visit the stunning Mayumi Takahashi Doll Museum and enjoy a traditional Shojin ryori lunch at Daishoji Temple. Experience the art of sake brewing with a guided tour and tasting at Tanakaya Shuzo, where you’ll learn about the intricate process of sake production. This private tour includes hotel pickup, bullet train travel, and an English-speaking licensed guide, ensuring a personalized experience. Perfect for those interested in culture, history, and gastronomy. - Private tour with only your group participating - Hotel pickup and bullet train included for convenience - Sake brewery tour and tasting experience - Traditional Shojin ryori lunch provided (for 4+ guests) - Takahashi Mayumi Doll Museum is closed on Wednesdays, so if you choose Wednesday for your tour date, we will guide you to an alternative location.

Are you a Sake beginner or an expert? This Sake brewery private tour brings you not only to the world of Sake but also exclusive cultural experiences. I will take you to Ichinoya Sake Brewery, established in 1865, which still produces high quality Sake with traditional methods. You will see the house’s brewing process mostly by human hands with limited mechanicals, which is designated as Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in 2024. The tour includes; - Visiting Ichinoya Sake Brewery, discover how Sake is made - Sake tasting - Lunch with local ingredients over Ichinoya’s series of Sake at Wachigai restaurant, whose building is traditional Machiya style build in late Edo period, with great atmosphere - Shopping Sake and other local products It starts at 11:00am and takes about 2~3 hours including lunch. Free after lunch. This tour can take at most 6 people. Tour is held only once a day.

Discover the serene countryside of northern Nagano on this private full-day tour, blending wildlife encounters, art, and culinary experiences. Start with a visit to Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park to see the famous snow monkeys bathing in hot springs. Next, wander through the historic town of Obuse, known for its Edo-period charm and the Hokusai Museum. Conclude your day at a local miso brewery, where you'll delve into Nagano's fermented food culture with a guided tasting experience. This tailored tour promises an authentic taste of Japanese culture, ideal for nature lovers and food enthusiasts alike. - Private pickup and drop-off from your hotel in Nagano - Visit Jigokudani to see snow monkeys in their natural habitat - Explore the charming streets of Obuse and visit art galleries - Enjoy a tasting session at a local miso brewery, sampling various miso types

Explore the magnificent temples and natural wonders of Nagano on a full-day tour and benefit from the undivided attention of a private guide. Visit the famous Zenkoji Temple and Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park, enjoy lunch (own expense) in Obuse Town, then choose a soak in the hot springs at Shibu Onsen.

Explore the rich sake culture of Nagano with a guided tour of Wakabayashi Sake Brewery, known for its Tsukiyoshino brand. Located in the serene Shiodaira Plain, this family-run brewery has been crafting sake since 1896. You'll walk through the brewery and learn about the traditional methods and local ingredients that shape its distinctive flavors. After the tour, indulge in a tasting session featuring five unique sake varieties, with insights on their aromas and textures. This experience includes a refreshing apple juice and the chance to purchase your favorite sake from the brewery shop. - Guided tour of Wakabayashi Sake Brewery in Shiodaira Plain - Taste five selected sake varieties with expert explanations - Learn about the brewing process and local ingredients - Opportunity to purchase your favorite sake directly from the brewery shop

This tour offers a flexible way to experience Nagano’s local food and nightlife across five departure areas: Nagano, Matsumoto, Ueda, Suwa, and Iida. Instead of following a fixed restaurant list, your guide will ask about your preferences and help you choose local places around your selected meeting point. Nagano Prefecture is a collection of distinctive towns, each with its own food culture, local atmosphere, and evening charm. Whether you start from the temple town of Nagano, the castle town of Matsumoto, historic Ueda, lakeside Suwa, or southern Nagano’s Iida, this tour lets you enjoy local food, drinks, and casual conversation close to everyday life. With two stops included, this experience is ideal for travelers who want to discover local izakaya-style dining, regional flavors, and the warm character of Nagano after dark. It is a friendly, highly local evening tour for guests who want more than sightseeing.