Azumino

Situated among the picturesque valleys of central Honshu's famous Alps region, Azumino boasts a unique blend of culture, history and natural beauty.

• Azumino Tourist Information Center

  address: Hotaka 5948-3
  Get a number of useful English brochures for Azumino and the larger region.

By train

• From Tokyo: Take the JR Chuo East line from Shinjuku to Matsumoto, then the JR Oito line to Hotaka or the JR Shinonoi line to Akashina (3 hr, ¥6,620 unreserved seat). Alternately, take the Nagano Shinkansen to Nagano, JR Shinonoi line to Akashina (2 hr 30 min, ¥9,390 unreserved seat).
• From Nagoya: Take the JR Chuo West line to Matusmoto, then the JR Oito line to Hotaka (2 hr 15 min, ¥5,670 unreserved seat).
• From Nagano: Take the Shinonoi line from Nagano station to Akashina.

By car

• From Tokyo: Take the Chuo Expressway west to Oyaka Junction then the Nagano Expressway and exit at Toyoshina.
• From Nagoya: Take the Chuo Expressway east to Oyaka Junction then the Nagano Expressway and exit at Toyoshina.
• From Nagano: Take the Nagano Expressway and exit at Toyoshina.

• Hitsujiya Cafe Rent-a-Bicycle

  phone: +81 263-82-3888
  Rent a bicycle.

• Daio Wasabi Farm and Water Mills

  address: Hotaka 3640
  Founded in 1915 and known as the largest wasabi farm in Japan, with a long history and a picturesque setting. The water mills next to the farm can be viewed by taking one of the special raft tours that are available in spring and summer.

• Todoriki Residence

  address: Hotaka Todoriki 2945
  A hunting lodge used by a local lord in the Edo Period.

• Azumino-no-sato

  address: Hotaka 6780
  A cluster of various local cultural establishments including glasswork, photography, a cafe, a soba restaurant and vegetable market.

• Hotaka Shrine

  address: Hotaka 6079
  The god Hokatami-no-Mikoto, the guardian deity of the region, is worshipped here. If you think you have seen plenty of shrines in Japan, this one will still surprise you with its main shrine building which is at least 100m long. Festivals include The Obisha (bow and arrow) Festival on March 17, and the Festival of Floats on the 26th (evening) and 27th September. Hokatami-no-Mikato is famous as the guardian deity of industries and traffic safety on land and sea. You can buy a prayer charm for ¥3000 (motocycles), ¥4000-5000 (regular cars) or ¥6000 (large vehicles).

• Azumino Kisen Hot Air Balloon Rides

  address: Hotaka 4509
  Hot air balloon flights

• Maruyama Confectionary

  address: Hotaka 4357
  Japanese sweets made from local apples, chestnuts, walnuts and so on.

• Kaiundo Sweets

  address: Misatoyutaka 6956
  Japanese and Western sweets.

• Tsuki-no-sakana

  address: Hotaka 4747-1
  Izakaya serving sushi and soba. Try the Azumino sushi roll with Shinshu salmon and mountain potatoes

• Stagione

  phone: +81 263-83-7464
  address: Hotaka Ariake 5280-4
  Italian cuisine with a view of the Alps.

• Pension Mapleleaf

  address: Hotaka Ariake 7717
  A boutique hotel built in Tudor style, with twin rooms, onsen and English-speaking staff.

• Chikuma - Explore the onsens, mountains and temples of this small city straddling the picturesque Chikuma River
• Matsumoto - Check out the famous black castle
• Hakuba - fun in the snow
• Jigokudani Monkey Park — snowbathing monkeys
• Joshinetsu Kogen National Park — home to Shiga Kogen, Japan's largest ski resort
• Ueda - castle ruins and mountain hikes