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Perfect Winter Getaway: Nagano and Karuizawa

By on February 14, 2020

Families looking for a holiday retreat away from the deafening noise and crowd of Tokyo, should check out Nagano and Karuizawa.

Surrounded by scenic mountains at viewing distance to the Alps, Nagano has many recreational activities to offer.

From skiing to nature hiking, fun can be had by adults as well as children.  The short traveling time makes it an ideal destination.

Nagano is dubbed as the perfect family getaway for  good reasons.

Entertaining Monkeys

Cute, amusing snow monkeys abound at the ‘valleys of hell’, (the literal English translation of ‘Jigokudani Yaenkoen’ park but not to suggest anything to disturb your peace),  where visiting spectators take pleasure in snapping candid shots of what can sometimes be funny and endearing poses. The Japanese macaques’  human-like gestures makes my children ages 2 and 4 giggle.  Mommy monkeys breastfeeding, diving underwater (holding their breath to get wheat), are just some of the fascinating things my children love to watch.

Although known to survive harsh winter temperatures of up to minus 10 to 15 degrees centigrade,  these snow monkeys love soaking in onsen.  For us, there’s never a visit to Nagano without stopping by the park.

Cultural Immersion

Start with a power breakfast followed by a family hike to the best museum in town.

Kitano Museum of Art

If you love oriental art,  here’s where you will find most of Nagano’s cultural assets from Japanese paintings to sculptures and crafts dating back to the Meiji and Showa eras.  Occasionally, there are famous foreign artists’ masterpieces on exhibit too. Located on a slope leading to a breathtaking landscape garden, this is where you can see some of the fascinating art pieces. It could get a bit boring for young children so make an exit plan once the screaming starts.

Zenko-ji Temple

Destroyed by fire 11 times and rebuilt each time, the temple erected in 1707, is said to be one of Japan’s National Treasure.

Inside the compound are old fascinating buildings important to the history of Japan.  The Sanmon gate along the Nakamise dori was one of two famous gates (the other is Niomon) that underwent restoration in 2007.  Buddhist worshipers line up in the morning to attend a ritual by a priestess who blesses their holy beads.

What makes visitors find this temple interesting are the legends linked to it. Binzuru, a doctor and follower of Buddha, “enlightened one” was on his way to the land of immortals (heaven to the Christians). He was stopped by Buddha and extended his mission as a healer.  Today, people flock to the temple for healing.

The origin of the famous Japanese proverb Ushi ushi ni hikarete Zenkoji mairi  “Led by an ox to Zenko-ji” comes from another legend. An ox apparently ran away with the kimono a greedy woman was washing. The woman chases the ox but instead, led her to Zenko-ji where she falls asleep. The ox briefly appears in her dream revealing to her that the ox was the Buddha. The dream transformed the woman from stingy to a believer.  Today, the Japanese expression means ‘something good happens out of nowhere’.

Relaxation

Forest Bathing at Harunire Terrace

A self-contained complex with nine modern buildings connected by boardwalks,  the place has literally everything you need from decent restaurants and trendy cafes, to shops. The unique ambience welcomes nature’s charm that will make anyone want to take a stroll on the boardwalk (by the riverside) or go for hot chocolate at the cafe.

Keraike Ice Rink

If skating on a frozen pond surrounded by tall snow-covered trees is what it takes to create excitement, the Keraike Ice Rink at Hoshino Resorts in Karuizawa offers the best experience. It is normal to be skeptical about doing anything on a frozen pond but so far my kids love it!

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