For a region of Japan blessed with snowcapped mountains and slopes of powder that are affordably priced for skiers and snowboarders, Nagano has far more to offer Australians beyond the peak winter season.
Located on the main island Honshu, 250kms north-west of Tokyo, Nagano which hosted the Winter Olympics in 1998, is a genuine year-round destination thanks to its unique style of cuisine, breathtaking beauty and fascinating historic sites that date back to the Edo Period around 400 years ago.
Many of those sites are spotted along the Nakasendo walking trail, an ancient highway that cuts a meandering 540km path through the heart of Japan’s mountainous region.
“While Nagano is a magnet for its ski slopes and equally interesting snow monkeys that bathe in the thermal pools each winter, its appeal is also at the dinner table where a traditional fare of Shinshu soba noodles is a popular choice,” said Helen Wong, the Australian representative for Nagano Tourism Organization.
“Nagano is said to be the birthplace of these tasty noodles in Japan, the recipe’s history traced back to the Edo period (1603 – 1867).
“It is also home to other hearty buckwheat dishes like oyaki dumplings, while rice dishes are also sought after, the famous gohei mochi rice cake a mouthwatering inclusion.
“The historic significance of the region and the appeal of Nagano’s great outdoors can also be a drawcard during the warmer months,” she said.
With that in mind, the Nagano Tourism Organization is inviting the travel trade and interested holiday seekers to link up to an exclusive webinar – appropriately billed Discover the Beauty and Diversity of Nagano.
It is to take place on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, at noon (Australian Eastern Daylight Time – AEDT). Queensland based trade can link up at 11.00am (Australian Eastern Standard Time – AEST).
The 30-minute webinar will showcase Nagano’s rich natural beauty, its traditional and mouthwatering cuisine and the historic sites found along the Nakasendo ancient highway.
To Register, tap onto:
Discover the Beauty and Diversity of Nagano
Details: Nagano Tourism Organization: Go Nagano (go-nagano.net)