Culture and Attractions
- Theater Venues
- Nagano City Arts Center
- Must-See Landmarks
- Zenko-ji Temple (7th century National Treasure)
- Museums & Art Venues
- Nagano Prefectural Art Museum; Hokusai Museum (in nearby Obuse)
- Historical Sites
- Matsushiro Castle Ruins; Sanada Treasures Museum
- Religious Sites
- Zenko-ji Temple; Togakushi Shrine (lower, middle, upper)
- Annual Events
- Nagano Lantern Festival (Feb); Binzuru Festival (August)
- Cultural Districts
- Matsushiro (Old Samurai Town); Monzen (Temple town)
- Local Markets
- Gondo Arcade Market; Zenkoji Omotesando Farmers Market
- Music Scene
- Nagano Club Junk Box (live music venue)
- Street Art
- Murals in Gondo Arcade and temporary exhibits at Nagano Art Museum
- Cooking Classes
- Soba-making at Togakushi Soba Museum (¥2,500)
- Art Galleries
- Gallery Mon-zen; Galenoz Art Space
- Historic Buildings
- The Fujiya Gohon (historic hotel/restaurant)
- Local Heritage
- Shinshu appuru (apples) and Shichimi Togarashi (seven-spice blend)
Essentials
- City
- Nagano City, Nagano Prefecture, Japan
- Population
- 370,000
- Internet Speed
- 95 Mbps average (Fiber common in most rentals)
- Currency & Banking
- 1 JPY ≈ 0.0066 USD, 1 USD ≈ 151 JPY. Cash is essential but cards are gaining ground.
- Tap Water
- Drinkable, high-quality mountain water
- Power
- 100V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type A/B sockets (Flat two-pin)
- SIM Card
- Ubigi (eSIM), Sakura Mobile, and Mobal (long-term)
- Banking for Expats
- Japan Post Bank (Yucho), Sony Bank, Wise, and Revolut
- Accommodation
- Airbnb, Booking.com, and local guesthouses like 1166 Backpackers
- Cashless Friendly
- Moderate; major stores accept Suica/Pasmo and PayPay
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb and Koda-wari apartments (approx. ¥85,000/month)
- Budget Accommodation
- 1166 Backpackers (¥3,500/night), Mash Café & Bed (¥4,000/night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Zenko-ji Temple area (traditional) or near Nagano Station (convenience)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Monzen-machi (heritage district with cafes) or Midori-cho
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- GAKU-NAGANO (¥2,000/day) near the station; Forest Nagano (¥1,500/day)
- Best Cafe for Work
- Starbucks Midori Nagano (Station); Foret Coffee near Zenko-ji
- Networking Events
- Nagano Developers Group (Meetup.com); Shinshu Startup Bar
- Social Events for Expats
- The Cheap&Cheerful English Pub events; Nagano International Friendship Club
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- JapanTaxi (GO App); Uber is limited to taxi hailing
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Nagano City B-Cycle (¥165 per 30 mins) with various docking stations
- Best Beach Nearby
- Joetsu City (Niigata), approx. 1.5 hours by train (Hokuriku Shinkansen)
- Top Regional Airline
- Fuji Dream Airlines (FDA) via Matsumoto Airport
- Top International Airline
- JAL, ANA (via Tokyo Narita/Haneda)
- Highway Access
- Joshin-etsu Expressway and Nagano Expressway
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Nagano Station (JR East, JR Central, Shinano Railway)
- Public Transport Passes
- Nagano Snow Resort Pass (¥5,000 for 2 days); Kururu IC Card (local bus)
- Regional Travel
- Hokuriku Shinkansen (1.5 hrs to Tokyo), Limited Express Shinano (3 hrs to Nagoya)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Nagano Red Cross Hospital (Nisseki); Shinshu University Hospital
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Yogamarché; LAVA Yoga Nagano (¥16,800/monthly unlimited)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Anytime Fitness Nagano Chuo (¥7,480/month); Joyfit24
- Laundry Services
- Coin Laundry Pierrot (various locations, ¥400-¥1,000 per load)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- UberEats, Demae-can
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Shinshu Soba (buckwheat noodles) at Uzuraya; Oyaki dumplings
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Nishi-no-mon Yoshinoya (Soba and Tofu dishes); Cafe Volt
- Best Dessert Spots
- St. Cousair (Cider and jams); Beni-ya (traditional sweets)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Tsuruya Supermarket; Don Quijote Nagano
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon.co.jp, Rakuten, Mercari
- Grocery Delivery
- Aeon Net Super; Ito-Yokado delivery
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Gondo Shopping Arcade and the alleys around Nagano Station
- Local Brewery
- Shiga Kogen Beer (Tamamura Honten); Hakuba Brewing Company
- Wine Bars
- Nagano Wine & Sake Bar (Midori Center); Cave d'Occi
- Street Food Stalls
- Nakamise-dori (approach to Zenko-ji) for Oyaki and soft serve
- Popular International Cuisine
- India Garden (Indian); Pizzeria Castagna (Italian)
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Togakushi Forest; Jigokudani Monkey Park (1 hr away)
- National Parks Nearby
- Joshin'etsu-kogen National Park; Chubu-Sangaku National Park
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Sai River Path; Togakushi Kodo (ancient pilgrimage trail)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Joyama Park; Arashiyama Viewpoint
- Birdwatching Locations
- Togakushi Forest Reserve Birdline
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Iizuna Highland Campsite (standard camping fees apply)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Yamato Transport (Kuroneko); Sagawa Express
- Tech Repair Services
- PC Depot Nagano; Apple authorized repair center inside Midori
- Table Tennis Spots
- Nagano City Gymnasium (¥200 per session)
- Language Classes
- Nagano Japanese Language School; Private tutors at GAKU-NAGANO
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Nagano Prefectural Library (Free Wi-Fi, modern study desks)
- Community Centers
- Nagano City Lifelong Learning Center
- Gaming Lounges
- A-Cho (Arcade center); Esports Cafe sites near station
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Pachinko New Tokyo (Pachinko is the only legal gaming alternative)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. ¥350,000 per m² (e.g., 30 m² = ¥10,500,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. ¥200,000 per m² (e.g., 30 m² = ¥6,000,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. ¥400,000 per m² (e.g., 50 m² = ¥20,000,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. ¥250,000 per m² (e.g., 50 m² = ¥12,500,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. ¥380,000 per m² (e.g., 75 m² = ¥28,500,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. ¥220,000 per m² (e.g., 75 m² = ¥16,500,000)
- Corporate Tax
- Approx. 30.6% (effective rate including local taxes)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 20.42% (or 15.315% if treaty applicable)
- Tax System
- Worldwide income for permanent residents; Non-permanent residents taxed on local income
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 45% (plus 10% local inhabitant tax)
- VAT
- 10% (standard consumption tax)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, comprehensive anti-tax haven rules
- Property Tax
- 1.4% Fixed Assets Tax plus 0.3% City Planning Tax
- Property Transaction Tax
- Approx. 3-4% (Real Estate Acquisition Tax)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- New Digital Nomad Visa (6 months) allows stay but doesn't exempt tax on local income if exceeding 183 days.