Nearby Tourism Opportunities - Chuo Alps Kanko Co,Ltd.

Tourist Spots Around Komagane Kogen and Suganodai

Komagane Kogen

around 800m located at the foot of Mt. Komagatake

Just a five-minute drive from the Komagane Interchange on the Chuo Expressway, the unique seasonal views from the lake side are a must-see destination for photography enthusiasts.

Kozen-ji Temple

Kozen-ji Temple is the most famous temple of Komagane Kogen because of the legend of the ghost dog called Hayataro. The temple is also famous for its weeping cherry blossoms that bloom around mid to late April.

Hayataro Onsen Village

The waters of this hot spring community are named after the ghost dog Hayataro legend of Kozen-ji Temple. The spring water, also known as Bijin no yu, or the water of beauty, is colorless and odorless leaving your skin soft and supple. This has earned the hot spring a popular reputation among women. There are also day-use hot spring spa facilities available.

Honbo Shuzo Shinshu Mars Distillery

The distillery is located at the foot of Mt. Komagatake in the Central Alps surrounded by a dense forest. The distillery offers tours of whiskey distilling facilities and storage facilities for unblended whiskey, as well as pot stills which are rarely open to the public.

Yomeishu Komagatake Plant

Yomeishu Komagatake Plant offers popular tours that include visits to the production line and tastings afterwards.

The plant features a cafe and shop, as well as a relaxation space called the “health forest.”

Recommended Local Specialty Foods

Sauce Katsu-don

Sauce Katsu-don features a hearty helping of finely sliced cabbage atop a bed of rice, which is then topped with a thick cut of deep-fried pork-cutlet smothered in secret sauce. This is one of Komagane’s most famous local dishes.

Shinshu Soba

Shinshu Soba is made possible with the pristine snow melt of the Central Alps and cool climate of the Komagane Kogen. The noodles are carefully crafted by soba experts and provide a distinctive flavor unique to Komagane.

Distances and Travel Times from Other Nearby Major tourism Areas

*Travel time is based on drive time using a private vehicle

Zenko-ji Temple

134 km/115 min.

The temple features the unique Shumoku-zukuri style of architecture where the main hall has an elongated prayer hall located in front of the Buddhist hall. It is a representative example of temple architecture from the middle of the Edo period and one of the largest in Eastern Japan.

Matsumoto Castle

70 km/60 min.

Matsumoto Castle was first built as Fukashi Castle in the Eishou era of the the Warring States Period. The five-level, six-story castle building that remains today is the oldest such national treasure in all of Japan.

Karuizawa Town

118 km/130 min.

Karuizawa Town is known as a popular summer getaway destination and it has many vacation homes. It is often bustling with tourists from the Tokyo and Nagoya areas.

Azumino

80 km/70 min.

Azumino is located in a pastoral setting surrounded by the magnificent Northern Alps and by wasabi paddies filled with pristine local waters. The town is filled with history and culture, and it is known for its many traveler’s deities and unique art museums.

Ueda Castle Remains Park

144 km/110 min.

This park is built around the remains of Ueda Castle, which was once the home of the famous Sanada family. The park is filled with flowers and other vegetation, including 1,000 cherry trees and a row of Japanese zelkova said to be 100 years old.

Takatojoshi Park

31 km/30 min.

Takatojoshi Park is one of the most famous places in all of Japan to view cherry blossoms. The park is also used frequently by locals for walks and jogging.

Lake Suwa

49 km/50 min.

Lake Suwa, located in the middle of the Suwa Basin, is the largest lake in Nagano Prefecture located at 759 meters above sea level with a circumference of 15.9 km and surface area of 13.3 km².

Magome-juku

76 km/80 min.

Magome-juku is known as the hometown of noted Japanese author Toson Shimazaki. It was the southernmost station along Kisoji Road. It is located on the border with Mino and open to a hill that is 600m long along the side of a mountain.

Tenryukyo

43 km/40 min.

Tenryukyo is the name of a scenic gorge located along the Tenryu River, featuring huge and uniquely shaped rock cliffs. It is popular for fall foliage and the newly sprouting vegetation of early summer.