Located in center of Honshu, Japan's main island, Nagano is surrounded by numerous mountains over 3,000 m in height, collectively known as "the roof of Japan". Rivers flow between these mountains and rundown into the Sea of Japan. Around 21.4% of the entire prefecture is designated as national parks, and the people take pride in its rich, natural beauty. There is a vast array of unique regional culture on offer in Nagano's many local municipalities.

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Location: 36.38°N, 138.12°E
Area: 13,585 km²
Population: 2,210,000
Climate: Nagano has a typical inland climate, and enjoys around 2,000 hours of sunlight a year. The average annual temperature is around 12°C, and the air is generally quite cool and dry.

Nishina Three Lakes (Omachi City, Nagano Prefecture) Lake Kizaki, Lake Nakatsuna, and Lake Aoki are collectively known as the Nishina Three Lakes. They are the only natural lakes at the foot of the Northern Alps. They offer popular locations for water sports such as windsurfing, as wells as for fishing and camping.	Dosojin (Azumino City, Nagano Prefecture) Dosojin, the deity of rich harvests, health, and fertility, is enshrined in many sacred artifacts scattered throughout the tranquil countryside in this region.

Watermelon Fields (Hata Town, Nagano Prefecture) Hata is famous for its watermelons. These large, sweet, crisp, and juicy watermelons are a much loved local delicacy.	Azumino Art Line (Azumino City, Omachi City, Hakuba Village, Nagano Prefecture) The Azumino Art Line is a course that takes visitors through 16 uniquely individual art museums located in these areas, allowing them to enjoy a rich variety of art at a leisurely pace.

Matsukawa Gorge (Takayama Village, Nagano Prefecture) Matsukawa Gorge is noted for its strikingly beautiful autumn colors (early to late October). There are many waterfalls along the gorge, and scenic hot spring baths, including the Yamada, Goshiki, and Shichimi hot springs, are scattered throughout the area.	Japan Alps Salad Road (Hata Town, Matsumoto City, Azumino City, Nagano Prefecture) This road running through six local municipalities features many vegetable and fruit fields, and other magnificent scenery that varies from season to season.

M-Wave and Hakuba Ski Jump Stadium (Nagano City, Hakuba Village, Nagano Prefecture) Domestic and international sporting events are regularly held at these facilities built for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in 1998.	Saito Kinen Festival Matsumoto (Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture) A widely renowned music festival unlike any other in the world. The festival features the famous conductor, Seiji Ozawa, world-class musicians, and many other participants from all age groups.

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