00:00There's a side of Japan that feels quieter, slower and deeply traditional. A place where ancient
00:06castles stand untouched, snow monkeys soak in hot springs and the mountains stretch endlessly into
00:12the sky. Welcome to Nagano. Just a few hours from Tokyo, Nagano prefecture offers a completely
00:19different experience. One that blends history, nature and culture in a way that feels authentic
00:25and unfiltered. Located in the heart of Japan's main island, Nagano prefecture is a landlocked region
00:31surrounded by towering mountains often referred to as the roof of Japan. It's just a few hours from
00:37Tokyo by train but it feels like a completely different world. Nagano is actually one of the
00:42largest prefectures in Japan by area made up of vast alpine landscapes, rural towns and historic
00:49cities spread across valleys and mountain ranges. In this guide we're exploring some of the best
00:54places in Nagano. From the historic streets of Matsumoto, to the Japanese Alps in Hakuba,
01:00the spiritual heart of Nagano city and a magical onsen town near the famous snow monkeys. Let's get
01:07into it. Our journey starts in Matsumoto, a city that feels like stepping into old Japan. At the
01:14center of it all is the iconic Matsumoto castle, known as the Crow Castle because of its striking
01:20black exterior. It's one of Japan's oldest surviving castles and unlike many others this one is original.
01:27Inside you'll find steep wooden staircases, narrow corridors and panoramic views from the top that
01:33overlook the entire city. It's not polished or modernized and that's exactly what makes it special.
01:39But Matsumoto isn't just about the castle. Just a short walk away you'll find Nakamachi Street lined with
01:45traditional Kura warehouses, white walls and dark wooden accents. This is where you slow down.
01:52Browse local shops, sip coffee in hidden cafes and take in the atmosphere.
01:57And then of course there's the food. Nagano is famous for soba noodles and Matsumoto is one of the
02:03best places to try them. Made from buckwheat that's grown in the region, soba here has a nutty flavor
02:09and a slightly firm texture. Simple but incredibly satisfying. What have we got?
02:15Radish, soba tea and this is hot. That's it. Ginger. And ginger. Okay thank you. And ginger.
02:25Okay we both ordered the hot buckwheat soba noodles with roasted duck in broth. Sounds pretty good.
02:33I'm so excited. Sounds pretty similar to ramen but hey. It's cold outside so we want something hot to eat.
02:41Whether served cold with dipping sauce or in a warm broth, this is a must try experience when visiting
02:47the area. Hakuba. From historic streets to towering peaks we head into the Japanese Alps. Welcome to Hakuba.
02:56Okay we've just arrived in Hakuba. We're in the village. We're heading up to Hakuba Goryu. I hope
03:03I'm saying that correctly. We just checked out the Michinoeki we're going to be sleeping in tonight.
03:07I can't believe that it's free and you're allowed to do this because it's so close to the mountain
03:12and it's so beautiful. Yeah usually you're not allowed to. You get told to move on in other places
03:19but that ramen joint looks sick. There's so many cool buildings and it's like ah just really feels like
03:27you're in the mountains here. There's like a little bit of a swiss influence it feels like. Ah I love
03:32it.
03:32Hakuba is probably best known as a world-class ski destination and it actually hosted events
03:38during the 1998 Winter Olympics. But even outside of winter this place is absolutely incredible.
03:45This is Lila's first time seeing snow. Our second day in Hakuba and it's dumping snow and it's such like
03:54light awesome powdery snow. Do you like it?
04:05I forgot how good this feels. It's so beautiful. It's like just magical and just quiet and peaceful.
04:11I love it. We're just grabbing a coffee at the land station here which is like there's a Starbucks and
04:18there's like this field where you can walk around. We're going to let Lila play around in the snow for
04:23the first time. When you're traveling somewhere like Japan you end up using public wi-fi all the time.
04:29Cafes, hotels and train stations. And it's easy to forget that most of these networks aren't actually
04:34secure. Which means your personal data, things like emails, passwords, even banking info can be exposed
04:40without you realizing. And when we travel we're constantly online. Booking hotels, checking maps
04:46and uploading videos. That's why we use Surfshark. It's a VPN that encrypts your connection and hides
04:52your IP address so your activity stays private even on public wi-fi. It also blocks ads and trackers and
04:59has
04:59features that can alert you if your data gets leaked or help protect against phishing emails.
05:05Plus when certain websites or content are restricted depending on where you are,
05:09Surfshark lets you change your virtual location so you can still access everything as normal.
05:14It's really simple to use and one account covers unlimited devices so everything we travel with is
05:20protected. So if you're planning a trip and relying on public wi-fi like we do it's definitely worth having.
05:26You can check it out through our link in the description or head to surfshark.com
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05:40In the warmer months, as they call it the green season, Hakuba transforms into a paradise for hiking
05:46and nature. And even more recently downhill mountain biking. Think alpine lakes, scenic ropeways
05:52and endless mountain views. You can take lifts up into the mountains for panoramic views without
06:03needing intense hikes. There's plenty of campsites around and it's extremely cheap to visit. And of
06:09course if you are visiting in winter this becomes one of the best snow destinations in Japan and is
06:15increasingly growing in popularity. Think soft powdery snow, wide open runs and a much more relaxed
06:21atmosphere compared to many bigger resorts in Japan. Oh wow, it's amazing up here. Just caught the gondola up
06:29and the view is incredible. It's like 360 degree views of Hakuba Valley. The weather's not bad,
06:37it's a little bit overcast, but it's not too cold. I'm actually pretty warm and I'm about to hit my
06:43first run
06:45for the day and first run for four years. Yeah, I think it's been four years since I've been on
06:50a snowboard.
06:51Maybe three actually. We'll see how we go. Hakuba is quite unique because within about a 20-minute drive you
06:59can access 10 world-class ski resorts which is absolutely unheard of. And day passes start at only
07:0660 or 70 dollars per day. Hakuba feels extremely peaceful. It's a place to breathe, disconnect and
07:13just take in nature. Next stop, Nagano City. And at the heart of the city is one of Japan's most
07:20important
07:20temples, Zenko-ji Temple. Right, so right now we're in Nagano exploring one of the most famous temples in
07:28Japan. Behind us is the Neomon Gate which is protected by these huge neo-warrior statues which
07:33you can see as you walk in. Built over 1400 years ago, the temple is known for housing one of
07:39the
07:39first Buddhist statues ever brought to Japan. The approach to the temple is just as special as the
07:44temple itself. A long street lined with shops selling local snacks, souvenirs and traditional
07:50sweets. But it does get quite busy especially on weekends. Visitors can even take part in a unique
07:56experience inside the temple walking through a completely dark underground passage in search
08:02of a symbolic key to enlightenment. It's simple, a little bit eerie and surprisingly very memorable.
08:09Nagano City blends spiritual tradition with everyday life and it's a great place to slow down and connect
08:15with Japan's deeper cultural roots while also having access to modern amenities. And finally we head
08:22to one of the most unique experiences in all of Japan, a traditional hot spring town near the famous snow
08:28monkeys. Welcome to Shibu Onsen. This small town feels like it hasn't changed in decades. Narrow streets,
08:37wooden ryokan inns and here you'll see people walking around in what's called yukata which is a
08:42traditional robe that you wear when you're visiting these onsens. Shibu Onsen in particular is known for its
08:49nine public baths. Each one of them has its own character and if you're staying overnight you can
08:54try all of them. It's quiet, atmospheric and deeply relaxing. So cool. It's like it's so quiet and all
09:02you can hear is like running water everywhere and there's people walking around. Except for that car.
09:11There's people walking around in like robes and stuff. There's lots of ryokans here I think they're
09:16cold and onsens and it's freezing at the moment so I think everyone's getting in with yeah hot baths
09:22and it's definitely a day for it. Just a short 10 to 15 minute drive from here is the famous
09:28Yamanouchi
09:29Monkey Park. This is where you'll find wild Japanese macaws also known as snow monkeys soaking
09:34in natural hot springs. It's especially great in winter where the scene feels almost surreal. Snow falling
09:40gently, steam rising and monkeys just relaxing in the water. What do you think? It's pretty cool. I can
09:48imagine like how much more magical it would be with like snow everywhere but it's still pretty awesome.
09:52They're so fluffy. Yeah there's definitely not that much snow around or underground or anything but
09:56there's a lot of monkeys. A lot of people too. Getting there however involves a short walk through the
10:01forest which makes the experience feel even more immersive and once you arrive there are no barriers.
10:06It's just you and nature. It's about a 1.6 kilometer walk well not about it is a 1.6
10:13kilometer walk
10:14to where the actual monkeys are from the entrance. The nature is just incredible here.
10:22It's got like the most diverse flora like you got bamboo but then you've also got like pine trees and
10:34just like everything's like seasonal but it's still like they're still green everywhere as well. It's
10:40beautiful. Nagano is often overlooked but that's exactly what makes it special. From the historic
10:46charm of Matsumoto to the mountains of Hakuba to the spiritual calm of Jenko-ji and the quiet magic of
10:53Shibu Onsen. This is a side of Japan that feels real, untouched, unrushed and unforgettable. So if you're
11:01planning your next trip to Japan don't skip Nagano. You might just find it becomes your favorite part.
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