The Ina and Komagane areas are blessed with the magnificent natural beauty of the Southern and Central Alps. In summer, when all the alpine plants are at their best, the area around "Senjajishiki Curl" is crowded with climbers.
The Ina-Komagane area offers sightseeing spots such as Senjyobashiki Curl, Hayataro Onsen, and the ruins of Takato Castle, sightseeing events such as Nakao Kabuki, Ina Festival, and Southern Alps Furusato Festival, and local gourmet foods such as soba noodles, lo-men, and sauced pork cutlet bowl.
Located almost in the center of Japan, Ina and Komagane are blessed with the great natural beauty of the Southern and Central Alps. In the Central Alps, there is Japan's representative "Senjyoshiki Curl," where visitors can enjoy activities such as skiing in winter and hiking in summer. The magnificent and beautiful scenery, which can only be seen in the alpine zone at elevations over 2,500 meters above sea level, will provide unforgettable memories. You can also enjoy historical sites such as the ruins of Takato Castle and Castle Ruins Park, which once flourished in the area.
Ina and Komagane areas also offer local delicacies for sightseeing. The headquarters of a company famous for its agar products is located here, and you can enjoy a healthy meal. Ina is also famous for "lo-men," a unique noodle dish made by stewing lamb meat and vegetables. Komagane is also home to a popular local B gourmet dish called sauced pork cutlet rice bowl, which is a must-try.
Romen is a distinctive local noodle dish from the Ina region of Nagano Prefecture. It is made by stir-frying mutton and vegetables with thick, steamed Chinese-style noodles. There are two main styles of Romen. One is prepared with a Chinese-style broth, while the other is closer to sauce-flavored yakisoba, or Japanese stir-fried noodles, with little or no soup. Both styles have a distinctive char...»
"Yubeshi" is a confectionary made with miso, rice powder, udon flour, sugar and walnuts mixed with yuzu juice, kneaded and steamed, and is also called "yubishi." Yuzu is the strongest spices of citruses in Japan against the cold climate, and is cultivated in the wider areas than Onshu citrus, thus yubeshi is made in many areas throughout Japan. In Nagano Prefecture, yuzu is cultivated around the s...»
Ina City lies in the northern part of the Ina Valley in southern Nagano Prefecture. Surrounded by magnificent mountains and shaped by a long history, it is one of the representative cities of the southern Shinshu region. The Akaishi Mountains, or Southern Alps, rise to the east, while the majestic Kiso Mountains, or Central Alps, extend to the west. Between them, the clear waters of the Tenryu Ri...»
Takato Castle Ruins Park is located in Higashi-Takato, Takato Town, Ina City, Nagano Prefecture, on the former site of Takato Castle, a fortress built during Japan's Warring States period. The park is nationally renowned for its spectacular spring cherry blossoms and has been selected as one of Japan's 100 Best Cherry Blossom Viewing Sites. Every spring, the distinctive Takato Kohigan-zakura cher...»
Miharashi Farm is a hands-on agricultural park in Nishiminowa, Ina City, Nagano Prefecture. Also known as Habiro Agricultural Park, it is conveniently located about five minutes by car from the Ina Interchange on the Chuo Expressway, making it an easy destination for visitors exploring southern Nagano. Surrounded by the rich natural environment of the Ina Valley, the park brings together farms, h...»
Mount Senjo rises to an elevation of 3,033 meters on the border between Ina City in Nagano Prefecture and Minami-Alps City in Yamanashi Prefecture. Located within Minami Alps National Park, it is one of the representative peaks of the northern Akaishi Mountains, or Southern Alps. Known for its broad, gentle ridgeline and graceful appearance, Mount Senjo is affectionately called the “Queen of the ...»
Onshoji Temple is a Nichiren Buddhist temple located in Yamamuro, Takato Town, Ina City, Nagano Prefecture. Its mountain name is Myōchōzan. Known for centuries as the “Peony Temple,” Onshoji is especially beautiful from around mid-May to early June, when approximately 2,000 peony plants representing 180 varieties bloom throughout the grounds. The temple becomes filled with the fragrance and color...»
Nakao Kabuki is a traditional form of rural kabuki preserved in the Nakao district of Hase, Ina City, Nagano Prefecture. It was designated an Ina City Intangible Folk Cultural Property on June 24, 1998, and remains an important part of the region's cultural heritage. The tradition is believed to have begun during the middle of the Edo period, when a local resident named Komatsu Asaemon learned th...»
Hokoji Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine located in Nishi-Takato, Takato Town, Ina City, Nagano Prefecture. It has long been revered by the local community and is surrounded by the rich natural landscape of Takato. The shrine is traditionally believed to have been founded in 721, during the Nara period, giving it a history of more than 1,300 years. Located west of the former Takato castle town, ...»
Shintokukan was the domain school of the Takato Domain in Shinano Province, established within Takato Castle in what is now Takato Town, Ina City, Nagano Prefecture. Founded in 1860, during the late Edo period, it operated for only 13 years until the early Meiji period, yet educated and produced many people who went on to play important roles in modern Japan. The survival of a domain school build...»
Bungui Pass is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1,424 meters, located on the border between Ina City and Oshika Village in Shimoina District, Nagano Prefecture. It lies along the historic Akiba Kaido, the road that once connected the region with Akihajinja in present-day Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture. Today, much of this historic route corresponds to National Route 152. For centuries, Bungui P...»
Tsuetsuki Pass is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1,247 meters, located on the border between Ina City and Chino City in Nagano Prefecture. It is recognized as one of the 100 Famous Mountain Passes of Japan. Since ancient times, the pass has served as an important route through the mountains. The ancient Tosan-do, the historic Tsuetsuki Kaido, and later National Route 256 all passed through th...»
Takato Soba is a traditional way of enjoying soba that originated in Takato, in Ina City, Nagano Prefecture. The culinary tradition was later carried to the Aizu region of Fukushima Prefecture, where it developed its own distinctive style. The story of Takato Soba connects Shinshu and Aizu through centuries of culinary history. A soba tradition that developed in Takato during the Edo period trave...»
Milk Bread is a beloved sweet bread from Nagano Prefecture, particularly associated with the Shinshu region. It consists of a thick, soft, fluffy bread filled generously with smooth white cream. Simple, comforting, and nostalgic, it has been enjoyed since the Showa era and is now often described as one of Shinshu's soul foods. The classic shape is rectangular, although some bakeries make their Mi...»
Minowa Dam is a multipurpose dam built by Nagano Prefecture on the Sawagawa River, a Class A river belonging to the Tenryu River system, in Minowa Town, Kamiina District, Nagano Prefecture. The dam is a 72-meter-high concrete gravity dam constructed for flood control, water resource development, and the supply of tap water. Completed in 1992, Minowa Dam continues to play an important role in prot...»
Mount Jinbagata is a 1,445.35-meter-high mountain in Nakagawa Village, Kamiina District, Nagano Prefecture. It belongs to the Ina Mountains and forms part of the Tenryu-Koshobusuikei Prefectural Natural Park. Known affectionately as the “mountain of the hearts of Nakagawa's residents,” Mount Jinbagata attracts hikers, campers, photographers, and other visitors throughout the year. From the summit...»
The Bee Museum is a rare museum dedicated entirely to bees, located in Nakagawa Village, Kamiina District, Nagano Prefecture. The museum introduces the fascinating relationship between people and these remarkable insects, with a particular focus on the culture and traditions of the Ina Valley. In the Ina Valley, bee larvae have traditionally been eaten as a valuable source of protein. Bees have a...»
Sakado Bridge is a historic road bridge spanning the Tenryu River in Nakagawa Village, Kamiina District, Nagano Prefecture. Designated as a National Important Cultural Property, the elegant bridge is one of the village's most significant cultural landmarks. The bridge forms an important part of the local road network, connecting with National Route 153 and Prefectural Route 18, the Ina-Ikuta-Iida...»
Anforme Nakagawa Village Museum is a unique art museum located in Nakagawa Village, Kamiina District, Nagano Prefecture. It is Japan's only museum specializing in Art Informel, an influential form of postwar abstract art that emerged in Europe. Surrounded by the peaceful mountains and countryside of Nakagawa Village, the museum offers a tranquil setting where art and nature exist side by side. Th...»
Koshibu Dam stands on the border between Matsukawa Town in Shimoina District and Nakagawa Village in Kamiina District, Nagano Prefecture. Built on the Koshibu River, a tributary of the Tenryu River, it is a large concrete arch dam standing 105 meters high. Operated as a multipurpose dam under the direct management of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Koshibu Dam serves ...»
Senjojiki Cirque is a magnificent glacial landform stretching beneath Mount Hoken in the Central Alps, also known as the Kiso Mountains, across Komagane City and Miyata Village in Nagano Prefecture. It is believed to have been formed approximately 17,000 to 19,000 years ago during the last glacial period, when the movement and erosion of glaciers gradually carved the mountain landscape into its d...»
Mount Hoken is a dramatic 2,931-meter peak rising in the Kiso Mountains, also known as the Central Alps, in Nagano Prefecture. Located south of Mount Kisokoma, it is particularly striking when viewed from the Senjojiki Cirque below, where its steep rocky summit rises sharply toward the sky. With its rugged profile and imposing rock walls, Mount Hoken has become one of the most recognizable landsc...»
Kozenji Temple is a distinguished temple of the Tendai school of Buddhism located in Akaho, Komagane City, Nagano Prefecture. Its mountain name is Hosshakusan, and its temple name is Mudoin. The temple's principal object of worship is a sacred, normally hidden statue of Fudo Myoo, the Buddhist deity associated with protection and unwavering determination. Kozenji has long been one of the most imp...»
Omike Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine located in Akaho, Komagane City, Nagano Prefecture. Locally, it is also affectionately known as Bijogamori, meaning “Forest of Beauty.” For centuries, it has been revered as the principal guardian shrine of the local community and has served as an important spiritual center for the people of Komagane. The shrine enshrines three deities: Yamato Takeru no Mi...»
Hayataro Onsen is a hot spring resort located in Komagane City, Nagano Prefecture, amid the beautiful Komagane Highlands with spectacular views of the Central Alps. Although the resort first opened in 1994 and is relatively new compared with many of Japan's historic hot spring towns, its combination of mountain scenery, peaceful surroundings, and gentle waters known for their skin-softening qualit...»
Komagane City Museum is located within the Komagane General Cultural Center in Kamihosakae-machi, Komagane City, Nagano Prefecture. The museum shares its entrance with the Komagane City Library and serves as an important center for learning, cultural activities, and community exchange. Its collections cover a wide range of subjects, including the history, culture, and natural environment of Komag...»
Komagane City is a scenic city in southern Nagano Prefecture, in the southern Shinshu region. The city was established in 1954 and lies between two magnificent mountain ranges: the Central Alps (Kiso Mountains) to the west and the Southern Alps (Akaishi Mountains) to the east. Komagane is known for the beautiful phrase “A city where two Alps are reflected”, an expression that captures its unique ...»