Yamanouchi - SAVOR JAPAN

FRUITS GROWN IN THE SHIGA KOGEN HIGHLANDS

Fruit trees growing apples, grapes, peaches, and other fruits are grown under favorable conditions, such as sloping terrain with good sunlight and drainage, as well as a large difference in temperature between day and night. In addition, the mineral-rich melt water from the Shiga Kogen Highlands, which is registered as a UNESCO Eco Park, nurtures these trees and produces sweet and delicious fruit. Enjoy the exquisite fruit produced by the land of the Shiga Kogen Highlands.

SUKAGAWA SOBA NOODLES

Yamanouchi Nagano

Sukagawa, Yamanouchi is located near the entrance to the Kita-Shiga Kogen Highlands, where buckwheat has long been grown and handmade soba noodles are served at celebrations and other occasions. Sukagawa soba, made from 100% local buckwheat flour and using the fibers of oyamabokuchi leaves as a thickener, has a strong texture and is served at soba restaurants and guest houses.Hard-boiled shredded daikon radish is mixed with buckwheat flour dissolved in water. It is called “Hayasoba” (fast buckwheat noodles) because the amount of daikon (radish) is larger than that of buckwheat flour, making it look as if it is cut into buckwheat noodles, and because it can be made in a short period of time. Sakae Village and Sukagawa in Yamanouchi Town are the only places in Nagano where it is made, and it cannot be found outside of the prefecture.

FRUIT-PICKING IN YAMANOUCHI

Yamanouchi Nagano

Yamanouchi is one of the leading producers of fruit in Nagano Prefecture. The clear streams from the Shiga Kogen Highlands and the difference in temperature between the day and night produce sweet and delicious fruit. Depending on the season, you can pick a variety of fruits such as cherries, blueberries, grapes, and apples at farms in the town. You can experience fruit-picking in Yamanouchi at authentic farmhouses, so you can enjoy the freshest market-ready fruits.

SUKAGAWA SOBA NOODLE-MAKING EXPERIENCE

Yamanouchi Nagano

In Yamanouchi, Nagano Prefecture, a town known for its Sukagawa soba (buckwheat noodles), visitors can experience soba noodle-making at soba restaurants and guest houses in the town. The experience begins with grinding locally-grown buckwheat on a millstone. Using the leaves of a type of burdock called oyamabokuchi to thicken the noodles, soba is made in an authentic, old-fashioned way.

A SEA OF CLOUDS AS SEEN FROM THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN REACHED BY ROPEWAY

Yamanouchi Nagano

Ryuo Mountain Resort in Yamanouchi is a resort complex offering glamping, herb gardens, and cafés. Visitors may take the world’s largest 166-seat ropeway to “SORA terrace” at the top of the mountain, where they can enjoy a panoramic view that stretches 1,770 meters above sea level. When conditions are favorable, the entire area can be enveloped in a sea of clouds, offering a fantastic and magical view of the world. The morning sun rising above the sea of clouds is a truly unforgettable sight.

SNOW MONKEYS, POPULAR AMONG FOREIGNERS

Yamanouchi Nagano

The “snow monkey” is known overseas as a emblematic feature of Japan. More specifically, the term refers to “Japanese monkeys soaking in hot springs.” The Jigokudani Onsenkyo, a hot-spring village located in a valley near the Shiga Kogen Highlands in northern Nagano Prefecture, is famous for its snow monkeys. The “Jigoku Dani Yaen-koen” in the hot spring resort is a park where wild Japanese monkeys can be observed. In the winter, they can be seen soaking in the hot springs, earning the park the nickname “Snow Monkey Park” both in Japan and abroad.

SHINSHU BEEF SUKIYAKI

Yamanouchi Nagano

Shinshu beef is a brand of beef cattle raised in Nagano Prefecture and is called “apple-fed beef” because it is raised on feed with apples added. Its meat is characterized by its tenderness, aroma, and excellent marbling. There are many restaurants in Nagano Prefecture that specialize in sukiyaki using this Shinshu beef, and people become to call it sukiyaki in Nagano Prefecture. It is a must-try when you travel to Nagano.

View of the Alps from Shiga Kogen

Yamanouchi Nagano

Shiga Kogen is the largest snow resort in Japan and located in the centre of Joshin’etsu Kogen National Park. ‘Yudanaka Shibu Onsen Resort’ has a large source of hot spring water and a history of 1,300 years. ‘Kitashiga Kogen’ is one of the prominent heavy snowfall areas, where traditional food culture such as haya-soba remains. Experience the attractions that coexist with nature, like globally popular the “Snow Monkey Park.”