Climb Towering Peaks, Trek across Ancient Trails, Bathe in Pristine Forests or Cycle through the Countryside

Nagano’s horizons are dominated by the Japanese Alps—a collective name for the Hida mountain range to the north, the Akaishi range to the south and the Kiso range in between. Some of Japan’s tallest mountains, more specifically fourteen of Japan’s twenty-one 3,000-meter-high peaks, are located here.

These mountains have largely shaped the cultures of those living at their feet and protected pockets of pristine natural beauty. They have also been objects of worship, amassing countless followers who climbed their summits as a form of prayer. And more recently, they have become a paradise for mountain climbers, hikers, cyclists and other outdoor enthusiasts.

Whether you want to learn about Japan’s mountain culture, walk the paths of mountain ascetics, hike 3,000-meter peaks or just take in the fresh air, you’re sure to enjoy majestic scenery and an unforgettable experience in the Japanese Alps.

Majestic mountain ranges and lush valleys are the perfect backdrop to any adventure in the outdoors. Climb to the tops of the peaks of the alps for breathtaking views above it all. Retreat into the forest and reinvigorate your senses. Cycle through pastoral landscapes of rice paddies and kominka farmhouses or ride through grassy highlands that seem to touch the sky. And after a long day outdoors, relax in a hot spring bath and let your fatigue melt away.

Established in the beginning of the Edo Period around the beginning of the 17th century, the Nakasendo Trail connected the former capital of Kyoto to the new capital of Edo. Government officials, samurai and merchants would travel along the trail, stopping at one of the 69 post-towns along the way to rest on their two-week-long journey.

Some of these post-towns look just as they did during their heyday, such as Magome-juku, Tsumago-juku and Narai-juku in and around the Kiso Valley. Walking through streets of old wooden inns lit by paper lanterns and ascending cobblestone paths through cedar forests, you’ll feel as if you’ve slipped back in time to another era.

Walk Spiritual Trails and Visit the Haunts of Mountain Ascetics

Since antiquity, mountains and volcanos have been revered for their majestic beauty, natural bounties and destructive power. Shinto shrines often mark the base of these holy mountains, and smaller wayside shrines can be found an almost any peak around the Alps.

Mountain ascetics made pilgrimages to these lofty peaks to escape the secular world and seek enlightenment, and ancient trails, such as the Ontake Kodo and Togakushi Kodo Trails, remain to this day.