20 Parks in Nagano worth your time

Agata-no-mori Park is a historic urban park in Matsumoto, offering green space and cultural heritage.

What it is

• An urban park in Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture.
• Retains facilities of the former Matsumoto High School.
• Area is approximately 61,000 square meters.

What to see

• Himalayan cedars and zelkovas are planted.
• A lawn, a pond, and playground equipment.
• Matsumoto City Agata-no-mori Culture Hall, a wooden structure.
• Culture Hall is a designated Important Cultural Property.

When to go

• Hosts the Craft Fair Matsumoto.

Getting there

• About 1,500 meters from Matsumoto Station.
• About a 20-minute walk from Matsumoto Station.
• Parking is available at the park.

Read more about Agata-no-mori Park

A high-altitude park offering nature, stargazing, and a unique space museum.

What it is

• A nature and culture park in Nagano Prefecture.
• Located at 1300m in the Yatsugatake Central Highlands.
• Offers sports facilities and pet-friendly amenities.

What to see

• Views of Yatsugatake and Tateshina mountains.
• Nature Observation Science Museum with a planetarium.
• Museum exhibits a real Apollo training spacecraft.
• Museum displays 1569 butterfly specimens and 260 living insects.
• A dog run for pets.
• French Deli & Cafe K Haramura restaurant.

When to go

• After sunset for premier stargazing.
• Summer for the Hara Village Star Festival.

Official site

www.yatsugatake-ncp.com

Read more about Yatsugatake Nature and Culture Park

Free zoo with 60 species, mini train, and play equipment, a 15-minute walk from Iida Station.

What it is

• A zoo in Iida City, Nagano Prefecture.
• Opened on May 5, 1953.
• Keeps about 60 species of birds and mammals.
• Admission is free.

What to see

• Animals from 60 species.
• A mini train called Benkei Yonseigo.
• Children's play equipment like battery cars.
• Located at the south end of an apple tree-lined street.

When to go

• Open 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
• Closed on Mondays.
• Offers night operations a few times a year.

Getting there

• 15-minute walk from Iida Station.
• Parking lot available next to the zoo.

Official site

iidazoo.jp

Read more about Iida City Zoo

This park offers hiking, camping, and skiing in the Northern Japanese Alps, known for its mountain climbing history.

What it is

• National Park in the Northern Japanese Alps.
• Center of European-style alpinism in Japan.
• Mecca for mountain climbers and hikers.

What to see

• Soaring peaks, clear mountain lakes and rivers.
• Sweeping green valleys, secluded hot-spring villages.
• Trails used by mountain ascetics.
• Yellow and green alpine butterflies, rock ptarmigans.
• Komakusa plants with pink and white heart-shaped flowers.
• Deep forests and grass-covered plains.

When to go

• Summer for hiking and camping.
• Winter for skiing and snowshoeing.

Official site

www.env.go.jp

Read more about Chūbu-Sangaku National Park

A large park in Nagano with diverse outdoor activities and a museum nearby.

What it is

• A comprehensive park in Nakano City, Nagano Prefecture.
• Covers an area of 15.48 hectares.
• Managed by Shinshu Nakano Sangyo Kanko Kosha.

What to see

• Greenhouse and insectarium.
• Herb garden and summer bobsleigh.
• Field athletics, lawn ground, and campsite.
• Mallet golf course.
• Hamatsuga Pond for fishing and boating.
• Adjacent Nakano City Museum with a planetarium.

When to go

• Auto campsite closed from November 30 to March 31.

Getting there

• About 10 minutes from Shinshu Nakano IC.

Official site

www.valley.ne.jp

Read more about Kitashinano Country Forest and Cultural Park

Sports park with Olympic history, now a versatile venue for various athletic events.

What it is

• A sports facility and park in Nagano City.
• Managed by Minami Nagano Sports Management Joint Venture.

What to see

• Nagano Olympic Stadium, built for 1998 Olympic ceremonies.
• Stadium now developed as a baseball field.
• General gymnasium with a swimming pool.
• Nagano U Stadium for soccer, rugby, and American football.
• Tennis courts and gateball fields.
• Monument to the relocated Kansuke Shrine site.

When to go

• During baseball games or the Nagano Marathon.
• When AC Nagano Parceiro plays at Nagano U Stadium.

Official site

minaminagano.jp

Read more about Minami Nagano Sports Park

See Japan's largest red panda breeding ground, with free-range exhibits and a dinosaur park.

What it is

• A zoo opened in 1983 for Nagano City's 80th anniversary.
• Operated by the Nagano City Development Public Corporation.
• Known for its free-range animal exhibits.
• Japan's largest breeding ground for red pandas.

What to see

• The Red Panda Forest, ranked 3rd in a 2011 newspaper.
• Highest number of red pandas bred and kept in Japan.
• A red panda named Fūrin, offspring of Fūta.
• Svalbard rock ptarmigan, artificially hatched in 2012.
• A mini-monorail for improved accessibility.
• Chausuyama Park, which includes a dinosaur park.

Official site

www.chausuyama.com

Read more about Nagano Chausuyama Zoo

Historic park commemorating a famous battle, with monuments, a shrine, and a museum.

What it is

• A park managed by Nagano City.
• Believed to be Takeda Shingen's main camp.
• Commemorates the Battles of Kawanakajima.

What to see

• Hachiman Shrine grounds are within the park.
• Two burial mounds for enemy soldiers' heads.
• Monument for Santachi Nanatachi Ato.
• Bronze statue of two generals fighting.
• Nagano City Museum is on site.
• Pond, artificial hills, and an outdoor stage.

Getting there

• Located along the road from Nagano Interchange to Zenkoji.
• Well-connected by regular bus routes.

Official site

www.city.nagano.nagano.jp

Read more about Kawanakajima Kosenjō Historic Park

Alps Park offers a museum, zoo, and bobsled ride with mountain views.

What it is

• An urban park in Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture.
• Expanded to 71 hectares in 2007.
• Also known as Matsumoto Alps Park.

What to see

• Museum of Mountains and Nature, a branch of the city museum.
• Fifth floor of the museum is an observation deck.
• Forest of Small Birds and Animals zoo with monkeys, foxes, and tanuki.
• Alps Dream Coaster, a 995-meter bobsled-type facility.

When to go

• Alps Dream Coaster operates from March to December.
• Museum of Mountains and Nature opened on May 3.

Official site

toybox-net.jp

Read more about AlpsPark

Japan's birthplace of forest bathing, with ancient cypress trees and a historic forest railway.

What it is

• A national forest managed by the Forestry Agency.
• Designated one of the '100 Sceneries with Fragrance' in 2001.
• Designated a 'Forest Therapy Base' in 2006.
• Considered the birthplace of forest bathing in Japan.

What to see

• Natural Kiso cypress trees over 300 years old.
• Vehicles and materials from the Kiso Forest Railway.
• A 2.3 km round trip ride on the Kiso Forest Railway.
• Eight different forest bathing courses.

When to go

• Generally open from Golden Week to early November.

Read more about Akasawa Natural Recreational Forest

Garyū Park is a comprehensive park known for cherry blossoms, a zoo, and beautiful scenery.

What it is

• A comprehensive park in Suzaka City, Nagano Prefecture.
• Designed by Seiroku Honda, who also designed Meiji Jingu.
• Constructed in 1931.
• Selected as one of Japan's Top 100 Cherry Blossom Spots.

What to see

• Approximately 800 cherry trees, mainly Somei Yoshino.
• 150 cherry trees around Ryūga Pond.
• A zoo.
• A museum and an aquarium.

When to go

• Cherry blossom season for viewing.

Getting there

• Near Suzaka Station on the Nagano Electric Railway.

Official site

www.city.suzaka.nagano.jp

Read more about Garyū Park

Shinshu Oshiba Heights is a roadside station with diverse facilities for relaxation and recreation.

What it is

• A park in Minamiminowa Village, Nagano Prefecture.
• Registered as a roadside station on April 25, 2018.
• Opened as Michi-no-eki Oshiba Kogen on July 21, 2018.

What to see

• A direct sales store for agricultural products.
• A therapy road with three courses.
• A mallet golf course with 3 courses and 45 holes.
• A 25m pool and a children's pool with a slide.

When to go

• Oshiba Kogen Festival is held around August.
• Illumination Festival is held around October.

Official site

oshiba-michinoeki.net

Read more about Shinshu Oshiba Heights

A high-altitude botanical garden showcasing 500 species of alpine plants native to Shiga Kogen.

What it is

• A botanical garden in Shiga Kogen.
• Located on the south slope of Mt. Higashitateyama summit area.
• Opened in 1960.
• Covers about 100,000 square meters at 2,030m elevation.

What to see

• 500 species of alpine plants native to Shiga Kogen.

When to go

• Open from July 1st to October 25th.
• Hours are 8:40 to 16:40 daily.

Getting there

• Accessible by Shiga Kogen Ropeway.
• Accessible by Higashitateyama Gondola Lift.

Official site

shigakogen.co.jp

Read more about Higashitateyama Alpine Botanical Garden

Ippongi Park is a rose garden and cultural site, perfect for a relaxing hour.

What it is

• Opened in 1984 for citizen relaxation.
• Also known as Rose Park.
• Features a large collection of roses.
• Includes a relocated historic school building.

What to see

• 850 types and 3500 stocks of roses.
• Former Nakano Elementary School building.
• Shinshu Nakano Copperplate Print Museum.
• Playground equipment and a large lawn.

When to go

• Nakano Rose Festival: late May to mid-June.
• Museum is open March to November, 9 AM to 5 PM.

Official site

ipk-rose.com

Read more about Ippongi Park

Toriidaira Yamabiko Park offers panoramic views of Lake Suwa and mountains from a high-altitude setting.

What it is

• A general park in Okaya City, Nagano Prefecture.
• Located in a mountainous area at 950m to 1,020m altitude.
• Partially opened in 1983, completed in 1987.
• Selected as one of the '100 Best Urban Parks in Japan' in 1989.

What to see

• Views of Lake Suwa, Okaya City, Shimosuwa Town, and Suwa City.
• Distant views of the Yatsugatake mountain range.
• Views of Mt. Tateshina and Mt. Kai Komagatake.
• Five recreation zones within the 30-hectare park.

Official site

yamabiko.okaya-park.com

Read more about Toriidaira Yamabiko Park

A large city park surrounding Matsumoto Airport, offering sports facilities and a walking course.

What it is

• A city park spanning Matsumoto and Shiojiri cities.
• Owned by Nagano Prefecture, managed by TOY BOX.
• Opened in September 1977, nicknamed Shinshu Sky Park.

What to see

• Many sports facilities, including an athletic stadium.
• Stadium has a capacity of 20,500 people.
• Yamabiko Dome is an indoor multi-purpose gymnasium.
• A 10km walking course surrounds the airport.

Getting there

• About 9 km from Matsumoto Station.

Official site

shinshu-skypark.net

Read more about Matsumotodaira Park

Takatō Castle Site Park is a historic site famed for its 1,500 cherry trees, a top blossom viewing spot.

What it is

• A park developed around Takatō Castle ruins.
• The castle was known as Kabutoyama Castle.
• It fell in 1582.
• Former samurai planted cherry trees in 1876.

What to see

• 1,500 Takato Kohigan cherry trees.
• Takatōkaku, completed in 1936.
• Takato Kohigan cherry trees are a natural monument.

When to go

• During the Takatō Castle Site Park Cherry Blossom Festival.
• It is one of Japan's Top 100 Cherry Blossom Spots.

Address

長野県伊那市高遠町東高遠 Map

Official site

www.inacity.jp

Read more about Takatō Castle Site Park

Wakasato Park is a modern urban park in Nagano City, offering green space and cultural facilities.

What it is

• A prefectural urban park, 5.8 hectares in size.
• Opened in 1983 on a former agricultural research station.
• Officially named Nagano Prefectural Wakasato Park.

What to see

• A central plaza for relaxation.
• Nagano Prefectural Library is located here.
• Two Hitotsubatago trees, also called Nanjamonja.
• Insparc Wakasato, a multi-purpose rental space.

Getting there

• 10 minutes walk from Nagano Station East Exit.

Read more about Wakasato Park

Tōmi Tyūō Park offers sports, recreation, and cherry blossoms, perfect for families and outdoor enthusiasts.

What it is

• A general park in Tōmi City, Nagano Prefecture.
• Also known as Shibafu Park.
• Formerly called Tōbu Chūō Park.

What to see

• A lawn area in the center of the park.
• Various artworks placed throughout the park.
• Athletic equipment and a long roller slide.

When to go

• Known as a cherry blossom viewing spot.
• Hosts the Tōmi City Children's Festival.
• Hosts the Kyohō no Ōkoku Festival.

Read more about Tōmi Tyūō Park

Miharashi Farm offers hands-on agricultural experiences, local produce, and scenic views of the Southern Alps.

What it is

• An agricultural park in Ina, Nagano Prefecture.
• Also known as Habiro Agricultural Park.

What to see

• Hot spring facilities and a market.
• Views of Ina City and the Southern Alps.
• Mountain bike course, C.A.B Trail.

When to go

• Harvest strawberries, asparagus, blueberries, and apples seasonally.

Getting there

• By car from Ina IC.
• By bus from Ina-shi Station.

Read more about Miharashi Farm