Culture A Tiny Shrine Under a Big Tree Robert Grey Go to Iiyama's remote Karayama neighborhood and there is a surprise for you. Off the side of the main road going through t..
Activities Togakushi's Lake Kagami-ike Robert Grey A little off the beaten path in Nagano City's Togakushi District is the breathtakingly beautiful Kagami-ike, an artificial reservoir..
Food The Best Soba in Togakushi Robert Grey It has been said that Togakushi is the birthplace of soba. So why not go with the best of them all: the centuries-old, family-run..
Activities Creating Soba in Iiyama Robert Grey Combine a soba-making experience with the comfort and hospitality of an overnight stay at a family-run Japanese hot spring inn
Culture Iiyama's Ajisai-dera Robert Grey One of the great things about getting out of Japanese cities is that you will ultimately find some wonderful and little known gems..
Activities Togakushi's 'Lost' Torii Robert Grey When visiting the shrines of Togakushi, you'd be hard pressed to find the first torii gate. Its location is quite off the ..
Culture A Hokusai on the Ceiling Robert Grey Ganshoin Temple, located in northern Nagano's town of Obuse, contains one of the best kept local secrets around -- a large..