Shin'etsu is the combined name for Shinshu, the old name for Nagano prefecture, and Echigo, the old name for Niigata prefecture. This region is known for soba and rice production and heavy annual snowfall.
Official Tourist Website
Festival & Events in Shin'etsu
Hotels/Ryokan/Hostels
Recommended Accommodations by price
- $ Minshuku Toukaen @ Sado Island
- $ Guesthouse Senwa @ Echigo Yuzawa
- $ Comfort Hotel @ Nagano
- $ Agili @ Karuizawa
- $$ Kyu Karuizawa Hotel Otowa No Mori @ Karuizawa
- $$ Oyashirazu Kanko Hotel @ Itoigawa
- $$ Toei Hotel @ Echigo Yuzawa
- $$ Hotel New Station @ Matsumoto
- $$ Richmond Hotel @ Matsumoto
- $$$ The Den Oriental Suwako no Mori Shikitei @ Lake Suwa
- $$$ Kanaguya @ Shibu Onsen
- $$$ Tenku no Shiro Sangitei Honkan @ Iida
- $$$ Ougatou Hotel @ Utsukushigahara
- $$$$ Kannonsama Tonari Kashiwaya Honten @ Bessho Onsen
- $$$$ Sumiyosiya @ Nozawa Onsen
- $$$$ Jinpyokaku Honten @ Kanbayashi Onsen
- $$$$ Ryugon Hotel @ Minami-Uonuma
- Youth Hostels
Trains/Metros/Bus
- Shinkansen/JR Train Planner - Hyperdia
- Railpasses
- All Japan Railpass
- Should you buy a Japan Railpass ?
- Other Regional Railway/Transport Passes
- JR EAST PASS (Nagano, Niigata area)
- JR TOKYO Wide Pass - can go from Tokyo to Karuizawa and Sakudaira or limited for winter only, as far as Gala Yuzawa
- Alpine-Takayama-Matsumoto Area Tourist Pass
- Bus
- Alpico 2 day or 4 day bus pass (JP)2day, 4day - the 4 day has wider access to more areas
- How to take a local bus
- Willer Express Buses between major Japan Cities, Hokkaido only to other spots in Hokkaido
- Photos posted by Deonelene Matteo on taking the bus
- Other Transport
- Car Rental Company - Tocoo, Toyota Rentacar, Nissan Rentacar, JR Hokkaido Rent A Car
- Central Nippon Expressway Pass (CEP)
Places in Nagano + Niigata recommended by Posters (not in order of preference)
a) NW Nagano - Hakuba, Azumino, Matsumoto, Suwa
- Matsumoto Castle
- The Japan Ukiyo-e Museum @ Matsumoto
- Daio Wasabi Farm @ Azumino
- Suwa Shrine
- Kamikochi highlands
- Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route via Omachi
b) SW Nagano - Kiso Valley, Ina, Komagatake, Iida
- Tsumago-juku
- Akasawa Forest Therapy and Logging Railroad @ Kiso
- Kawamoto Kihachiro Puppet Museum @ Iida
- Tenryu River Boat Tour @ Iida
c) NE Nagano - Nagano city, Yamanouchi, Nozawa
- Zenkoji Temple @ Nagano
- Jigokudani Monkey Park @ Yamanouchi
- Hokusai Museum @ Obuse
- Kids’ Ninja Village @ Togakushi
- Shinano Winery Tour @ Shinano
- Lake Nojiri Winter Wakasagi Fishing
d) SE Nagano - Karuizawa, Ueda, Saku
- Shaw Memorial Chapel @ Karuizawa
- Shiraito Falls @ Karuizawa
- Old Karuizawa Main Street
- Teisho-ji @ Saku
- Tatsuoka Star-fort Ruins @ Saku
e) South Niigata - Uonuma, Yuzawa, Myoko, Naeba, Itoigawa
- Yuzawa-kogen Alp-no-sato
- Naoe Kanetsugu Museum @ Minami-Uonuma
- Untoan @ Minami-Uonuma
- Itoigawa UNESCO Global Geopark
- Naena Falls @ Myoko
- Okky Hydroelectric Power Station Museum @ Yuzawa
f) North Niigata - Niigata city, Sado Island, Murakami, Nagaoka
- Tarai-bune Tub Boat @ Sado Island
- Yahiko Maple Park @ Tsubame
- Shibata Castle
- Furumachi Geigi @ Niigata
- Sado Gold Mines @ Sado Island
- Iyoboya Salmon Museum @ Murakami
Food (Affordable)
- Suisya @ Matsumoto (Shinshu soba)
- Menya Agosuke @ Joetsu (Ramen)
- Sado Benkei Pia Bandai branch @ Niigata (Kaiten Sushi)
- Gun-chan Naoestu branch @ Joetsu (Sushi Izakaya)
- Unagi no Matsuka @ Matsumoto (Eel)
- Sekizawa @ Obuse (Shinshu soba)
- Kumajin @ Ueda (Ramen)
- Obusedo @ Obuse (Wagashi/Local Cuisine)
- Nagai Farm @ Karuizawa (Ice Cream)
Food (Splurge)
Shopping
- Nawate Street @ Matsumoto
- Nakamachi Street @ Matsumoto
- Church Street @ Karuizawa
- Ponshu-kan Sake Tasting @ Echigo-Yuzawa station
- Yoshikawa Sake @ Joetsu
- Uonuma no Sato @ Minamiuonuma
- Gondo-dori @ Nagano
Others
- Getting Pocket Wi-fi, SIM
- Weather
- Temperature by Month
- Autumn Leaves in Japan
- Skiing in Niigata (most notably: Myoko-Kogen, Echigo-Yuzawa, Minami-Uonuma, Naeba)
- Skiing in Nagano (most notably: Hakuba, Shiga-Kogen, Nozawa Onsen, Komagane-Kogen)
- Snow & Surf Guide
- Japan Welcome Guide for Muslim traveller
- Sending luggages via Ta-Q-Bin. Steps - Rates
Some Photos:
Matsumoto castle, one of the most iconic Japanese castles.
View from the top of one of the gondolas at Naeba Prince Hotel.
The famous Hakkaisan sake brewery at Minami Uonuma, Niigata.
Wild Sika caught on camera on the road up to Utsukushigahara Plateau
This is how close you can get to the Macaques of Jigokudani Monkey Park.
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