Always a popular side trip from Tokyo, Nagano is renowned as a spot for powdery soft snow for locals, foreigners and tourists to have a quick weekend gliding down the slopes as soon as snowfall begins, especially with it’s many onsen towns in easy reach to enjoy a relaxing soak after a day on the mountains.

Nagano has so much more to offer in all four seasons, so if you have the chance take an extra day or two off and go explore more of what this prefecture has to offer. Formerly known as Shinshu (or Shinano), Nagano belongs to the the Chubu region of Honshu and borders Niigata, Gunma, Saitama, Yamanashi, Shizuoka, Aichi, Gifu and Toyama prefectures.

Midway between Hakuba and Nagano city lies Mt Togakushi, the site of one of Japan’s most sacred spiritual spots. The base of the mountain is home to Togakushi Five Shrines, of which travelers can hike the Togakushi Kodo trail to visit all five shrines; Hokosha, Hinomikosha, Chusha, Kuzuryusha and Okusha.