The Achi Village, where you can view the beautiful stars in the sky, and the Iida area, where you can enjoy Tenryu River boat rides. The area is known for its fruit production, so visitors can enjoy picking a variety of fruits when they are in season.
The Achimura/Iida area offers sightseeing spots such as Nuchigami Hot Springs, Shimokuri no Sato, and Tenryu Gorge; sightseeing events such as the Oneruri Festival, Iida Puppet Festa, and Shimotsuki Festival; and local delicacies such as soba noodles, horse meat dishes, and carp dishes.
The Achi Village/Iida area in the southernmost part of Nagano Prefecture is a region of natural beauty, sandwiched between the rugged Southern and Central Alps, with the Tenryu River flowing through the center. The Tenryu River is known for its high water volume and dynamic, violent current, so much so that it is called the "Violent Tenryu River. Visitors can enjoy thrilling river rafting and other activities.
Achi Village has been recognized by the Ministry of the Environment as "the place where the stars appear to shine brightest," and is becoming increasingly popular as the best place in Japan to view the starry sky. There are also many spots where visitors can actually get in touch with nature, such as the famous hot springs of Nichigami, famous for their beautiful skin, and Shimokuri no Sato, where the original Japanese landscape can be seen. The area is also a treasure trove of fruits, and there are many facilities where visitors can experience fruit picking. We recommend tasting a variety of fruits when they are in season.
A culture of breeding sheep flourished in Toyamagou due to the characteristics of the region surrounded by mountains, and the village had 150 sheep at its peak. Thus, Nagano Prefecture is known as the second biggest kingdom of the Jingisukan cuisine after Hokkaido, and Minamishinshu area (Iida and Shimoina areas) has the most barbeque restaurants per 10,000 people in Japan. There are also other fo...»
There is no ocean in Shinshu area. Thus, fish for sushi, especially salted saba, was very precious. In Izuki in Iida City, sabasushi used to be presented to Izukihachimangu at the autumn festival, sushi became a dish for events and was considered as a "hare" dish, and a unique and valuable culture of sushi was settled in the area. "Saba kaido (Saba street)" which was located between Okazaki and Iz...»
Iida City is a beautiful city in the southern part of Nagano Prefecture, in the region known as Southern Shinshu. It is the southernmost city in Nagano and has developed as the central city of the Ina Valley. Surrounded by the magnificent mountains of the Southern and Central Alps, with the Tenryu River flowing through the city, Iida is blessed with rich natural scenery. Its location has made Iid...»
Moto-Zenkoji Temple is a historic Tendai Buddhist temple in Zakōji, Iida City, Nagano Prefecture. Widely regarded as the birthplace of Zenkoji faith, it is said to be the first place where the principal Buddhist image of the famous Zenkoji Temple in present-day Nagano City was enshrined. With a history stretching back nearly 1,400 years, the temple is an important pilgrimage site connected with t...»
Tenryu Gorge is a spectacular gorge in Iida City, southern Nagano Prefecture, carved over countless years by the powerful Tenryu River. Designated as a Place of Scenic Beauty by the Japanese government, it is also part of the Tenryu-Okumikawa Quasi-National Park and is one of southern Nagano's most impressive natural landscapes. The Tenryu River has long been known as a powerful and sometimes tur...»
Shimoguri no Sato is a beautiful mountain settlement in Kamimura, Iida City, Nagano Prefecture. Perched along mountain ridges at an elevation of approximately 800 to 1,000 meters, the village is known as the “Japanese Tyrol” because of its dramatic mountain scenery and traditional way of life. Houses and cultivated fields appear to cling to slopes reaching a maximum gradient of approximately 38 d...»
Toyama-go is a remote mountain region stretching along the Toyama River, a tributary of the Tenryu River, near the southern edge of Nagano Prefecture. Surrounded by steep mountains and deep valleys, the area has long been known for its rich natural environment, distinctive culture, and traditional way of life. Historically, Toyama-go was associated with the Hatamoto branch of the Toyama clan. Tod...»
Shirabiso Highland is a spectacular mountain plateau in Kamimura, Iida City, Nagano Prefecture, located at an elevation of approximately 1,918 meters. Its name comes from the shirabiso fir, an evergreen conifer belonging to the fir family that grows naturally in the high mountains. Stretching across the mountains facing the majestic peaks of the Southern Alps, the highland is known as a mountain ...»
Iida City Zoo is a municipal zoo located in Iida City, southern Nagano Prefecture. Opened on May 5, 1953, it has long been loved by local residents and visitors alike. The zoo stands at the southern end of Iida's famous Apple Tree-lined Street, making it easy to visit while exploring the city center. Admission is free, yet visitors can encounter a wide variety of animals and enjoy opportunities t...»
Iida City Museum is a municipal cultural complex in Iida, Nagano Prefecture, combining the functions of both an art museum and a natural and cultural history museum. With its broad collection spanning the natural sciences, humanities, and fine arts, the museum introduces the distinctive natural environment, history, and culture of the Ina Valley. Rather than serving simply as a place to view exhi...»
Iida City Kawamoto Kihachiro Puppet Museum is a unique museum dedicated to the art of puppetry in the center of Iida, Nagano Prefecture. It showcases the remarkable puppets created by Kihachiro Kawamoto, one of Japan's leading puppet animation artists, and introduces visitors to the artistic appeal and cultural heritage of Japanese puppetry. With its connection to both traditional puppetry and an...»
Iida Apple Tree-lined Street is a beautiful avenue of apple trees in the center of Iida, Nagano Prefecture. The trees stretch for approximately 400 meters and have become one of the city's most recognizable landmarks. Created as part of Iida's recovery after a devastating fire, the avenue has come to symbolize reconstruction, hope, and community spirit. In spring, delicate white apple blossoms li...»
Kazakoshi Mountain is a 1,535-meter-high mountain rising west of central Iida in Nagano Prefecture. It is recognized as one of the 100 Famous Mountains of Shinshu and the New 100 Famous Flower Mountains of Japan. Located on the eastern fringe of the Central Alps, its distinctive profile can be seen from many parts of Iida City. For centuries, Kazakoshi Mountain has been revered as a sacred mounta...»
Sora Sanpo Tenryukyo is an elevated pedestrian walkway built beneath the roadway of the Tenryukyo Bridge on the San-En-Nanshin Expressway in Iida, Nagano Prefecture. The bridge is approximately 280 meters long and 80 meters high, and the walkway opened in 2019. Located above the famous Tenryukyo Gorge, Sora Sanpo offers visitors a completely different perspective on the dramatic scenery carved by...»
Otaguri is a traditional local dish from the Ina Valley in southern Nagano Prefecture, made by slowly simmering horse intestines until tender. Particularly popular in the cities of Ina and Iida, this distinctive regional specialty can be found not only in local homes but also at izakaya pubs and casual restaurants. With its rich flavor and unique texture, Otaguri is especially popular as a dish t...»
Kaizenji Temple is a historic temple of the Myoshinji school of the Rinzai Zen tradition, located in Kamikawaji, Iida, Nagano Prefecture. Its mountain name is Jushuzan, and the temple's principal Buddhist image is Shō-Kannon Bosatsu, the Bodhisattva of Compassion. Surrounded by trees and quiet countryside, Kaizenji offers a peaceful atmosphere where visitors can experience both the spiritual char...»
Risshakuji Temple is a historic temple of the Koyasan Shingon Buddhist tradition located in Tatsuishi, Iida, Nagano Prefecture. Its mountain name is Senzuzan, and it is the first temple on the Ina Saigoku 33-Kannon Pilgrimage. For centuries, the temple has been deeply revered by local residents, who affectionately call its principal Kannon image the “Persimmon Kannon.” Traditionally believed to h...»
Komyoji Temple is a historic temple of the Chizan school of Shingon Buddhism located in Kume, Iida, Nagano Prefecture. Its mountain name is Engyozan, and the temple's principal object of worship is Kannon, the Bodhisattva of Compassion. For centuries, Komyoji has been revered as a place to pray for safe childbirth and the blessing of children. Set quietly among the hills, the temple combines a de...»
Bun-eiji Temple is a historic temple of the Chizan school of Shingon Buddhism in Iida, Nagano Prefecture. Its mountain name is Nangenzan. Nestled among the green hills in the southern part of Iida, the temple has served as a center of local Buddhist faith for centuries since its foundation during the Kamakura period. The quiet temple grounds preserve numerous historic buildings and cultural treas...»
Roadside Station Shinshu Niino Sengokudaira is located along National Route 151 in Anan, Shimoina District, Nagano Prefecture. Set at an elevation of approximately 800 meters in the highland area known as Sengokudaira, it welcomes travelers with clear mountain air, beautiful scenery, local foods, and the warm hospitality of southern Nagano. The roadside station is known as one of the southern gat...»
Waseda Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine located in the Mishima-Yama area of Oshimojo, Anan, in southern Nagano Prefecture. Situated at an elevation of approximately 560 meters, the shrine has long been deeply revered by local residents and has served as an important spiritual center for the surrounding mountain communities. One of the shrine's most impressive features is a magnificent Japanese ...»
Fudo Falls is one of the most impressive waterfalls in the Ina Valley, located in Takamori Town, Shimoina District, Nagano Prefecture. Selected as one of the 100 Scenic Sites of Nagano's Natural Landscapes, the waterfall lies deep in the mountains at an elevation of approximately 1,100 meters. With a drop of approximately 50 meters and a width of around 10 meters, Fudo Falls has a dramatic scale....»
Ruriji Temple is a historic Tendai Buddhist temple in Takamori Town, Shimoina District, Nagano Prefecture. Its mountain name is Daishozan, and its formal name is Ioin. Founded in 1112 during the Heian period, the temple has more than 900 years of history and has long been an important center of faith and culture in the Ina Valley. The temple's principal Buddhist image is a group of three wooden s...»
Shimoichida School is a historic school building in Takamori Town, Shimoina District, Nagano Prefecture. Designated as a Takamori Town Tangible Cultural Property, it is an important surviving example of school architecture from Japan’s Meiji period (1868–1912). The building is especially notable for its distinctive blend of Western-style architecture and traditional Japanese design. Its unusual a...»
Takenouchi Residence is a historic traditional farmhouse in Yoshida, Takamori Town, Shimoina District, Nagano Prefecture. Built during the Edo period, it was designated a National Important Cultural Property in 1973 and is one of the area's most valuable surviving examples of traditional residential architecture. The house stands on a terrace overlooking the Tenryu River and has been associated w...»
Hirugami Onsen is one of the most famous hot spring resorts in southern Nagano Prefecture. Located in Achi Village, Shimoina District, it is surrounded by the clear waters of the Achi River and beautiful mountain scenery. Although the present hot spring resort has a relatively recent history, the quality of its mineral-rich water, peaceful atmosphere, and convenient location have made it a popula...»
Sonohara is a historic area of Chisato in Achi Village, Shimoina District, Nagano Prefecture. Surrounded by the mountains at the eastern foot of Mount Ena, the area has been celebrated in Japanese literature and poetry for more than a thousand years. Sonohara is particularly famous as a utamakura, a place name traditionally associated with classical Japanese poetry. From ancient times through the...»
Shinano Hiei Kojo-in is a Tendai Buddhist temple located in Sonohara, Chisato, Achi Village, in southern Nagano Prefecture. For centuries, it has been associated with the safety and spiritual well-being of travelers crossing the mountains. The temple enshrines Yakushi Ruriko Nyorai, the Medicine Buddha, and stands in an area rich in history, literature, and natural beauty. The surrounding region ...»
Hanamomo Village and Tsukikawa Onsen is a beautiful mountain area in the Nishichi district of Chisato, Achi Village, in southern Nagano Prefecture. Every spring, approximately 5,000 hanamomo trees burst into bloom across the valley, transforming the landscape into a spectacular display of red, white, and pink blossoms. The area developed around the accommodation facility Noguma-no-Sho Tsukikawa, ...»
Achi Shrine is an ancient Shinto shrine in Achi Village, Shimoina District, Nagano Prefecture. Recognized since ancient times as a Shikinaisha, a shrine listed in the classical Engishiki records, it has a long and distinguished history closely connected with the culture and traditions of the Shinano region. The shrine is dedicated primarily to Ame-no-Yagokoro-Omoikane-no-Mikoto, a deity tradition...»
The Manto-Mongolian Development Peace Memorial Museum is located in Achi Village, Shimoina District, Nagano Prefecture. The museum preserves and presents the history of the Japanese settlement groups that were sent to Manchuria and Inner Mongolia during the period before and during World War II, providing an important place to reflect on history and the value of peace. It is the only privately op...»
The Median Tectonic Line Museum is located in Oshika Village, Shimoina District, Nagano Prefecture. It is Japan's only specialized museum dedicated to the Median Tectonic Line, one of the country's most important geological features. Through actual rock specimens, geological materials, maps, and explanatory exhibits, the museum introduces the enormous fault system that has played a major role in ...»
Atebi-daira Bird Forest is a beautiful natural area in Urugi Village, Shimoina District, Nagano Prefecture. Located within the Tenryu-Okumikawa Quasi-National Park, the forest preserves a rich natural environment on the eastern foothills of Mount Chausuyama. The forest covers approximately 60 hectares and is known for its diverse plant and animal life. With its quiet woodland atmosphere, fresh mo...»
Oshika Kabuki is a remarkable form of local kabuki theater that has been passed down for more than 300 years in Oshika Village, Shimoina District, Nagano Prefecture. It is designated as a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property and represents one of Japan's most distinctive surviving traditions of community theater. During the Edo period, performances of kabuki by ordinary people wer...»
Kashio Onsen is a remarkably unusual hot spring located along the Shio River in Oshika Village, Shimoina District, Nagano Prefecture. Deep in the mountains and far from the sea, it produces naturally salty water with a salt concentration almost comparable to seawater. This extraordinary hot spring has been closely connected with the daily life and culture of the local community for centuries. Sur...»
Fukutokuji Temple is a historic Tendai Buddhist temple located in Okawara Kamikura, Oshika Village, Shimoina District, Nagano Prefecture. The temple's mountain name is Io-zan, and it is particularly renowned for its main hall, which is designated as a National Important Cultural Property. Standing quietly in a secluded mountain setting, Fukutokuji preserves valuable examples of Japanese religious...»
Oyamada Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine located in Hisawa, Shimojo Village, Shimoina District, Nagano Prefecture. It is one of the rare ancient shrines in the region whose name appears in the Engishiki, a tenth-century record of important shrines throughout Japan. Only two shrines in the Shimoina area are counted among these ancient Shikinaisha, making Oyamada Shrine particularly valuable from...»
Muku Hatoju Memorial Library is a public library in Takagi Village, Shimoina District, Nagano Prefecture, with a dedicated memorial museum honoring Muku Hatoju, one of the region’s best-known writers of children’s literature. The library carries on his belief in the power of reading, providing a welcoming place where local residents and visitors can enjoy books, learning, and cultural activities t...»
Shimotsuki Kagura is a traditional folk performing art passed down for generations in Tenryu Village, Shimoina District, Nagano Prefecture. Held during the eleventh month of the traditional Japanese lunar calendar, known as Shimotsuki, these sacred rituals express gratitude to the gods for the year's harvest while praying for peace, good health, and prosperity in the coming year. The name Tenryu ...»
Roadside Station Shinanoji Shimojo “Soba no Shiro” is a popular roadside destination in Shimojo Village, Shimoina District, Nagano Prefecture. Located along National Route 151, it serves as a convenient base for exploring southern Nagano and offers travelers an enjoyable combination of local food, shopping, hands-on experiences, nature, and history. The facility has a distinctive castle-like appe...»
The Great Cedar of Tsukize stands in the Tsukize district of Neba Village, Shimoina District, Nagano Prefecture. One of the largest giant trees in Nagano, it rises approximately 40 meters into the sky and has a trunk circumference of about 13.8 meters. Its age is estimated at more than 1,500 years, with some traditions placing it at approximately 1,800 years old. For centuries, the enormous cedar...»