Nagano Prefecture

Nagano is the start of Japan's alpine region, with snow-covered peaks, rushing rivers, and wild forests home to Japanese macaques, serows, and Asiatic black bears. Its mountain valleys shelter birdlife and hot spring towns where nature and community meet head-to-head. It's a place where ancient temples, seasonal festivals, and some of the country's most unspoiled wilderness coexist with the help of conservation efforts.