2026 Chino Travel Guide: must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transport & travel experiences (updated in September)

⛩️ Suwa Taisha Kamisha Honmiya | Nagano Since I was in Nagano, I finally visited Suwa Taisha Kamisha Honmiya, a place I’ve been dying to see.🌿 Suwa Taisha is the head shrine of all Suwa Shrines across Japan. It's actually quite unique, made up of four separate shrine complexes: Kamisha Honmiya, Kamisha Maemiya, Shimosha Akimiya, and Shimosha Harumiya. At Kamisha Honmiya, the principal deity enshrined is Takeminakata-no-kami. Its history is incredibly ancient, believed to date all the way back to the "Kuniyuzuri" myth in the Kojiki. The shrine grounds are surrounded by towering trees, giving off a vibe where even the air feels different just by walking around.🌳 _____________________ And when you think of Suwa Taisha, what immediately comes to mind is the famous "Onbashira" (sacred pillars). Four massive fir trees stand at the corners of the shrine grounds, and they are replaced with new ones during the "Onbashira Festival," held every seven years in the years of the Tiger and Monkey. It’s an absolutely thrilling festival where enormous trees, logged from the Yatsugatake Mountains, are dragged entirely by human power...!😳 _____________________ But on this trip, what I found just as enjoyable as the shrine itself was... The row of souvenir shops right near Honmiya!🏮✨ With a lineup of traditional storefronts, simply strolling down the street feels like stepping into a retro tourist town. You’ll find classic Shinshu souvenirs, of course, along with Gohei mochi, soba noodles, and soft-serve ice cream, perfect for a post-shrine visit snack stroll.🍦 They also carry traditional ceramics, folk crafts, and cute sundries, and personally, I had so much fun just browsing this street...! It would be a total waste to just see the shrine and head home, so if you make it to Honmiya, definitely take a walk around the nearby shops.◎ _____________________ If you have extra time, I highly recommend touring all four shrines of Suwa Taisha, not just Honmiya. The vibe is distinct between the Kamisha (Honmiya and Maemiya), and Shimosha (Akimiya and Harumiya), so dedicating a full day to exploring them all sounds like an amazing time.🚗 🚃 Access from the Tokyo Area About 2 hours and 35 minutes from Shinjuku Station via the Chuo Line Limited Express "Azusa." The Suwa area is served by Shimosuwa, Kamisuwa, and Chino Stations; hop off according to your destination. Stretching your legs a bit from Tokyo to spend a holiday enjoying Suwa Taisha and taking a classic Shinshu stroll along the shrine approach is highly recommended.🌿 Kamisha Honmiya

Just unlocked the incredibly gorgeous YATZ GARDEN this summer! 💐 Every casual snap looks absolutely stunning 📸 Everyone on my feed is asking: "Are you sure this isn't Hokkaido?" ✨ 📍 Location: Yatsugatake Farm College, Hara Village & Chino City, Nagano Prefecture ⏰ Open: July 3, 2026 – Mid-October (Free admission!) ✨ Magical Journey Through a Secret Flower Field ✨ This massive 10-hectare flower field is drop-dead gorgeous 😭 Red and white salvias weave together into a romantic sea of flowers Golden-orange marigolds sparkle in the sunshine Plus, the rainbow floral stripes in the "Color Zone" Literally every angle is super photogenic! 🌿 The Magical Plateau Climate · The day-to-night temperature difference hits 15°C+! ❄️→🌞 · A refreshing 8 degrees cooler than Tokyo ⛄️ · Super long daylight hours make the flowers' colors pop even more! (No wonder the photos turn out so dreamy~) Outfit Suggestions 👗: A flowy white dress or a straw hat + floral dress It guarantees that perfect, breezy Japanese aesthetic in every shot! 🌈 Best Photo Spots: 1️⃣ Red & white salvia bushes (with a newly added white variety!) 2️⃣ Golden coast of marigolds 3️⃣ Rainbow-striped "Color Zone" 4️⃣ Panoramic plateau backdrop (super expansive view) 📸 Pro Photo Tips: · The lighting is softest and most flattering between 3–5 PM · Squat down and shoot at eye level with the blooms for a better angle · Don't forget your wide-angle lens for breathtaking sweeping shots! Hurry and save this limited-edition summer romance! 💕

Originally, we planned to take a trip on Japan's most beautiful road, the Venus Line. We discovered that this high mountain road passes through many highlands, including Yachiho Highland, Shirakaba Pond Tateshina Highland, Kirigamine Highland, and Kurumayama Highland. After leaving Shirakaba Pond, we planned to head to Kirigamine Highland. In the summer, you can take a cable car to the top of the mountain to enjoy the scenery or hike down. The views are truly stunning. In winter, this place is a skiing paradise, so the cable car we took is actually the same one used for skiing in winter. It was a really special experience. Before taking the cable car, the sky was clear with beautiful blue skies and white clouds, offering an amazing view! We even switched cable cars midway. By the time we reached the top, it started to get foggy, sometimes clear and sometimes foggy! And it gets really cold at the top with the fog and wind. At the summit of Kirigamine, there is a huge round ball, which is a weather station, as well as the Kurumayama Shrine, and an excellent observation deck with great views. Taking the Cable Car at Kirigamine Highland Kitayama, Chino, Nagano 391-0301 Japan

Algae is a renovated old house with a relaxing atmosphere. You can eat dishes made with seasonal vegetables and fruits from Yatsugatake and natural spices 🍽️ ⭐︎Seasonal lunch plate (drink included) ¥1750 ※Extra rice +¥100 Drinks Coffee (Guatemala medium roast) Black tea (Earl Grey) Herb tea Plus ¥100 Cafe au lait Soy au lait Chai Apple juice Homemade plum juice ※Change to iced drink +¥20 The curry was delicious ✨ The pumpkin and cream cheese are recommended by the staff! The lotus root and spice dressing was also crunchy and delicious😊 There were other delicious looking desserts as well🍮 ⭐︎Parfaits made with seasonal fruits Autumn pudding parfait　¥1800 Pear parfait　¥1850 ⭐︎Baked goods Vietnamese pudding made with free-range eggs　¥600 Basque cheesecake　¥500 In summer, the natural ice shaved ice/ché is a popular choice! "algae" 📍7-27 Honmachi Nishi, Chino City, Nagano Prefecture, 391-0003, Japan (10 minutes walk from Chino Station) Business hours: 11:30-17:00 Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays Phone number: 080-8217-1526 (reservations accepted) #100 Travel Style #Nagano Prefecture #Chino #Yatsugatake #Vegetables #Seasonal ingredients #Parfait #Old house cafe

Bakery with a cute elephant logo "Bakery Elephant" You can buy bread aged with wheat from Shinshu 🍞 and baked goods (elephant-shaped cookies 🐘 and cakes, etc.) and eat them in the store 🥐 This time, I bought cinnamon rolls, fried bread, elephant cookies, etc., and also ordered two soup plates of the day 🍞 ⭐︎Today's soup plate ¥900 Includes today's soup, salad, jam, a choice of drink, a choice of bread, and dessert Choose your own plate (half-cut bread/about 6 slices) ・High-hydration bread ・Walnut bread ・Country bread The walnut bread is delicious with fragrant walnuts🍞 The high-hydration bread is fluffy and moist🍞 Both were delicious so I ate them all😋 The jam and cake were also delicious, so this is a recommended set✨ Other sets include: ⭐︎Garlic shrimp and broccoli harissa mayo sandwich set　¥900 ⭐︎Butter toast set　¥500 ⭐︎Croissant sandwich set　¥800 ↑Sets can be ordered until 14:00 (last order 13:30). ⭐︎Cake set　¥500 (last order 15:00) Cake, choice of drink 　※Cakes over ¥300 are +¥100 Reasonably priced and delicious‼ ︎ The atmosphere of the shop is calm and nice✨ There are private rooms and chairs for children, so you can eat and drink with peace of mind even if you bring small children! "Bakery Zousan" 📍256-14 Chinohara, Chino City, Nagano Prefecture, 391-0001, Japan Business hours 9:00~16:00 Closed on Mondays Phone number 0266-75-2970 #100TravelStyle #NaganoPrefecture #Chino #Bakery

A stylish Italian restaurant renovated from an old house "cafe&bar Umezo" 🍽️ The downhill slope from the parking lot to the restaurant is surrounded by lots of flowers and greenery, and the view from the terrace seats was great 🌿 Crispy pizza 🍕 Snow crab pasta 🍝 Both are reasonably priced and come with a drink! And they were delicious, so I recommend them ✨ A restaurant where you can relax in a calm atmosphere 😊 "cafe&bar Umezo" 📍3508-1 Toyohira, Chino City, Nagano Prefecture, 391-0213 Japan Opening hours 11:00~22:00 (L.O. 21:00) Closed Wednesdays #100's Travel Style #Nagano Prefecture #Chino #Old house renovation #Italian

Shirakaba Lake is a large tourist attraction in the area. There are many hotels nearby and there is also an amusement park, which is very suitable for family trips. There is a huge Lawson convenience store where we can get supplies. We bought some simple food and had a picnic by the lake. We can also take a bicycle boat to tour the lake and feed the fish. We unexpectedly discovered that the entire packaging of the fish feed is environmentally friendly and edible. Its packaging is similar to the concept of a biscuit box, so after feeding the fish one by one, the outer shells can be directly broken into pieces and thrown to the fish, so there is no garbage at all and it is super environmentally friendly. Then walk along the overpass to the opposite side where there is a paid amusement park, where you can really have fun all day long. Shirakaba Lake Japan〒391-0301 Nagano, Chino, Kitayama, Shirakabako 3419-3 #Japan #Nagano #Shirakaba Lake #Feed the fish #Amusement park #Most beautiful road #Venus Highway #Good place for parents and children #familytravel

I originally wanted to take a trip to Japan's most beautiful road, the "Venus Line", but I found that the entire mountain road passes through many plateaus, including Yachiho Plateau, Shirakabaike Tateshina Plateau, Kurumayama Plateau and Kirignomine Plateau. After leaving Shirakabaike, we planned to go to Kurumayama Plateau. In summer, you can take a cable car to the top of the mountain to enjoy the scenery, or you can hike down the mountain. The scenery is really beautiful. In winter, this is a ski resort, so the cable car we took was actually the same cable car used for skiing in winter. It was a really special experience. Before taking the cable car, there was blue sky and white clouds, and the view was super beautiful! We also changed cable cars in the middle. When we finally reached the top of the mountain, fog started to rise, sometimes clear and sometimes foggy! And it will be really cold when it is foggy and windy at the top of the mountain. There is a huge sphere on the top of the Kuruma Mountain, which is a weather station. There is also a Kuruma Mountain Shrine and a super good viewing platform with a great view. Because it was foggy and colder at the top of the mountain, we couldn't stay there for long! I had to take some photos quickly and then hurried down the mountain. Sure enough, the fog dissipated after we changed to the second cable car and lowered the altitude. As a result, it started raining when we left the Kurumi Plateau and headed towards the Kirignomine Plateau! #Japan #Kurumayama Plateau #cable car #Shirakaba Pond #Venus Highway #Venus #mostbeautifulroad #Mist Peak #goodplaceforfamily #familytravel

Famous for its Onbashira Festival, held once every seven years, Suwa Taisha Shrine is the Ichinomiya (first shrine) of Shinano Province and has 10,000 branch shrines across the country. There are four shrines - Kamisha (Maemiya, Honmiya) to the south of Lake Suwa and Shimosha (Harumiya, Akimiya) to the north - and it is popular to visit all four shrines at once. The "mae" shrine of Kamisha Maemiya was said to have been located "before" Kamisha Honmiya. It is about 10 minutes from Suwa IC and is easily accessible by car. As soon as you pass through the torii gate from the shrine's parking lot, the road starts to go uphill, and the main shrine is on even higher ground. A clear stream (sui-ga) flows to the left of the main shrine, and you can purify your hands in the stream's water. The Onbashira pillars that have been pulled during the Onbashira Festival are erected in the four corners of the main shrine. The sacred tree is over 200 years old and has a diameter of over 1m. Its size and smooth, shiny surface make it overwhelmingly divine. However, the underside of the pillar is thorny. From the forest where it was cut down to Suwa Taisha, it is about 20km for the upper shrine and 12km for the lower shrine, and the sacred tree weighing over 10 tons is transported by hand across rivers and mountains. This is the Onbashira Festival, which is held once every seven years. The marks left by the hauling are clearly visible as thorny marks on the underside. It is a culmination of the strength of the people, and is definitely worth seeing. Suwa Taisha Kamisha Maemiya feels like a shrine carved out into the forest, and I think that out of the four shrines, it is the shrine where you can feel the most close to nature. It is definitely a power spot. Suwa Taisha Kamisha Maemiya: Address: Miyagawa 2030, Chino City, Nagano Prefecture Access: 2.5km (10 minutes) from Suwa IC Seal: 9am-4pm (More than 20 people were lined up because it was Golden Week) #Prayer #Suwa #Suwa Taisha #Shrine

"Kitayokodake" is a mountain in the North Yatsugatake Mountains, located between Sakuho Town and Chino City in Nagano Prefecture. You can easily enjoy the alpine panorama by using the ropeway. There are various ways to enjoy it depending on the season, such as autumn leaves and snowshoeing in winter. It is also popular as an introduction to snowy mountain climbing. #trip2023

1st stop at Choen-ji Temple. A little temple erected in a rural village at the foot of the Yatsugatake. Choen-ji turns into a piece of art in early November. A dazzling autumn foliage corridor ushered us to the main hall, a golden path of Ginko leaves below our feet and the sky ablaze with red Momiji above our heads. 2nd stop. We had our lunch at Shirakaba Resort Ikenotaira FamilyLand. An amusement park in the highlands. Ikenotaira Familyland features many fun attractions, a large hot spring facility, a museum, and an enviable natural environment. We barely had time so we didn't try all the rides 🥺 We went to see the Peter Rabbit by cable car. Last stop. Mishakaike Pond is a scenic spot in Nagano Prefecture which is known for reflecting the seasonal natural scenery like a mirror. Depending on the time of the day it is said to look completely different. It is located deep inside the mountains of Nagano. #celebratewithtrip

Spot: Mishakaike Address: Okutateshina, Toyohira, Chino City, Nagano Prefecture 391-0213 Parking: 30 spaces, free Photo date: September 25, 2022 Mishakaike is a reservoir located in Toyohira, Chino City, Nagano Prefecture. It has an area of ​​about 0.1ha and a depth of about 7m. It is the motif of the famous painting "Green Echoes". The surrounding area is designated as Yatsugatake Chushin Kogen Quasi-National Park, and on March 25, 2010, it was selected as one of the 100 best reservoirs by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. #NaganoTrip #BreathtakingView #CoupleTrip #suneevlog

The scenery is beautiful, and I felt it myself. Welcome to Nagano! This is a great spot to take photos from Kurumayama Mountain. The scenery is amazing, perfect for wedding photos. It's also a great place for skiing in winter, but the spring air is incredibly refreshing. The entrance fee for infants to reach the summit is 800 yen. Adults are 2400 yen, of course, that's a round-trip ticket. It was a wonderful trip!

Located on the border between Chino City, Nagano Prefecture and Saku Town (now Sakuho Town) in Minamisaku District, Nagano Prefecture, the mountain has a stately shape with roots. The summit is divided into two peaks, with Shunaradaitenmu enshrined on the northern peak at 2,480m, and a third-class triangulation point at the southern peak at 2,473m. The southern peak has a better view, with the mountains of the Yatsugatake main range overlapping in a straight line, and the long foothills stretching out towards the Suwa side are also magnificent. You can also see the Northern Alps in the distance. #trip2022 #Breathtaking view

Address: 3414 Kurumayama Kogen, Chino City, Nagano Prefecture Atmosphere/Facilities: Elegant/Indoor pool, large bath, open-air bath Recommended points: I went there last fall, and the view and buffet were amazing! They also have accommodation plans for pets☆ Average price: From 20,000 yen Budget per person: From 10,000 yen Evaluation: This is one of the hotels I would recommend to friends and family☆ #trip2022 #Nagano

🌟HYTTER LODGE & CABINS🌟 ⁡ ⁡ A lodging facility consisting of a hot spring lodge and a campsite on the shores of Lake Tateshina☺️ ⁡ The feature of this lodge is that you can enjoy activities in nature while staying in a lodge with a hot spring or a cabin at the campsite✨✨ ⁡ ⁡ It's not a place where everything is prepared for you, but a place where ways to play are invented😂 ⁡ ⁡ You can enjoy it even if you bring a lot of things, even if you don't bring anything like glamping👍 ⁡ ⁡ All items can be rented. ⁡ ⁡ In addition, there is a hot spring that flows directly from the source, ⁡ A cafe where you can enjoy breakfast and coffee, ⁡ Focusing on fresh vegetables from the foot of the Yatsugatake Mountains, ⁡ Private tatami rooms where you can relax with your family or close friends, ⁡ You can spend a relaxing time with the view of Lake Tateshina and the Yatsugatake Mountains, ⁡ 👍 ⁡ ⁡ It was a weekday, ⁡ There were a few groups at the campsite, ⁡ The lodge was fully booked and there was no one in the hot springs 😂 lol ⁡ ⁡ The rain forecast was blown away, and it was sunny all day ☀️ ⁡ ⁡ Do you like camping and barbecues? ⁡ Do you like going somewhere by plane, boat, or bullet train? It's fun ⁡ But... ⁡ Ending the day with a cozy bonfire ⁡ isn't bad either, and it's nice to do it once in a while😏 ⁡ ⁡ Summer is almost over, ⁡ Did you all do a lot of summer-like things❓ ⁡ ⁡ What we call summer-like things varies from person to person, but... ⁡ ⁡ I hate the heat and I like winter, so I want winter to come soon ⁡ That's how I feel🙇‍♂️ ⁡ ⁡ I used to go camping every year, but as I get older ⁡ I don't do the things I used to do anymore😅 ⁡ ⁡ I was able to do something camp-like for the first time in a while ⁡ It was a day when I thought it was nice to do something camp-like once in a while. ⁡ Even though we do barbecues all the time ⁡ we don't do camping very often😂lol #camping #Tateshinayama #hot springs #Yatsugatake #great view #barbecue

Location: Kamisha Honmiya/1 Nakasu Miyayama, Suwa City, Nagano Prefecture Suwa Taisha is a shrine with four precincts around Lake Suwa in Nagano Prefecture. It is the head shrine of all Suwa shrines across the country and is considered one of the oldest shrines in the country. There is a shopping street right in front of the shrine where you can buy local beer and souvenirs. #trip2022#Nagano Prefecture

Location: 3419-3 Kitayama Shirakaba Lake, Chino City, Nagano Prefecture Lake Shirakaba is located at the foot of Mt. Tateshina, the northernmost mountain in the Yatsugatake mountain range, and is a lake with an altitude of about 1,400m and a circumference of about 4km. Nearby are Mt. Kuruma, Mt. Kirigamine, Megami Lake, Lake Tateshina, and Mt. Tateshina. We recommend the local beer Shirakaba-Tateshina and Gohei Mochi, which are only sold locally. #trip2022#Nagano

Kurumayama Shrine is a shrine located at the summit of Mt. Kurumayama, which is 1,925m above sea level. You can get to the summit by taking a series of lifts, so it's relatively easy to access 🙆‍♀️ The view from the summit is spectacular! ✨ There is a beautiful shrine in a 360-degree panorama, and you can spend the best time there. How to get there: 3413 Kitayama, Chino City, Nagano Prefecture #Nagano #Shrine #KurumayamaShrine #Spectacular view

The Skyliner is an observation lift that connects Kurumayama Plateau and the summit of Kurumayama. To reach the summit, you need to take a series of lifts, the first of which is the 730m-long Kurumayama Skyliner. After getting off the Skyliner, you can transfer to another lift, the Sky Panorama, and arrive at the summit in just 15 minutes. From the summit, you can see the beautiful natural scenery of Nagano. Access: 3413 Kitayama, Chino City, Nagano Prefecture #Nagano #Chino #Kurumayama #Skyliner #Lift #Amazing view #A trip to enjoy spring

Address: 3414 Kitayama, Chino City, Nagano Prefecture Atmosphere/Facilities: Pretty good Recommended points: Rooms that blend into nature, delicious food at the restaurant, banana juice at the breakfast buffet, you can stay in the same room as your pet. #Breathtaking views

I climbed Mount Tengu in Nagano Prefecture! After passing the first observation deck, I climbed a little and the second observation deck came into view. Walking through the forest was very pleasant!! I was able to see a spectacular view that was a little different from the first observation deck! The clouds moved quickly, and I enjoyed watching the changes! Please go and check it out! #Nagano #Mountain climbing #Yatsugatake #Second observation deck

I went on a day trip to climb Mt. Nishitengu in the Yatsugatake Mountains in Nagano Prefecture! Mt. Nishitengu has an elevation of 2646m, making it a mountain that even beginners can climb! The view from the summit was spectacular. I could see the sea of ​​clouds and a little bit of autumn leaves, which refreshed both my body and mind. I recommend that everyone go there too! #Nagano #Mountain climbing #Mt. Nishitengu #Autumn leaves

On the way back from climbing Mt. Yatsugatake and soaking in a hot spring, we stopped by Tateshina Freedom Farm in Haramura! It's like a farm shop! They were selling delicious apples and vegetables from Nagano Prefecture at reasonable prices! I got so excited that I ended up buying too much! #TateshinaFreedomFarmHaramura #vegetables #Nagano #mountaineering #hotsprings

On the way back from climbing Mt. Tengu, we stopped by a hot spring! It is located on the grounds just a few dozen meters from Karasawa Onsen Inn, and after seeing the natural hot spring, we were able to actually bathe in the hot spring, which we were very happy about! The spring temperature is a cold 10°C, so the water is drawn directly from the source and heated to make hot spring water! It was a wonderful hot spring that values ​​nature! #Yatsugatake famous hot springs #climbing #Karasawa Onsen #hot springs

[Nagano] Yatsugatake Karasawa Onsen I went to Karasawa Onsen, a hot spring source that is also featured in Japan's secret hot springs! It was the end of my mountain climbing, so I screamed when I saw it. It seems that about 600 liters of abundant hot spring water flows naturally every minute. It was very mystical. I thought it would be warm because it's a hot spring, but when I touched it, it was very cold. lol I found out later that the spring temperature is 10℃ lol Please go and check it out! There is a hot spring facility on the premises, so you can soak in warm hot spring water! #HotSpring #Nagano #Yatsugatake #KarasawaOnsen #MountainClimbing

I found a mountain hut on the way down from Mt. Tengu! It seems you can order curry and other dishes even if you don't stay at the inn! They sell cute outdoor goods and accessories inside! Please stop by! #mountaineering #mountain hut #nagano

I climbed Mt. Tengu in Nagano Prefecture! On the way back, I found a place called Kuroyuridaira! I also enjoyed the autumn leaves on the mountain. From Kuroyuridaira, I could see Mt. Tengu! The clouds were moving so fast that I couldn't help but take a video! I recommend that everyone go there too! #mountaineering #mttengudake #kuroyuridaira #autumnleaves