Reasons to Choose Japan
Life in Japan by Specific Areas
Nagano
Summary
With the vast mountains of the Japanese Alps, Nagano Prefecture was the venue for the 1998 Winter Olympics. Many people come from outside the prefecture to enjoy mountain climbing in the summer and winter sports in the winter.

Access
- If arriving by Shinkansen or train
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The other Shinkansen station in the prefecture is Karuizawa Station.
From Tokyo
Tokyo Station
1 hour 40 minutesNagano Station
Famous places / spots recommended by locals

Mishakaike
A pond with a beautiful view that looks like a picture. The scenery reflected on the surface of the water like a mirror is also popular as a photo spot.

Jigokudani Wild Monkey Park
A rare spot in the world where you can see Japanese monkeys entering the hot springs in winter. People from all over the world gather to see this cute figure at a glance.
Foods recommended by locals
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Oyaki
Vegetables such as Nozawana and red bean paste are wrapped in skin and grilled, making it a famous local gourmet food in Nagano Prefecture.
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Shinshu-soba
In Nagano prefecture, there is a vast soba field, and Shinshu soba made from this high-quality soba and the clean water of the Alps is famous. There are famous soba stores all over Nagano prefecture.
Climate (temperature / precipitation)
Nagano Prefecture's complex topography means elevations and temperatures differ by region. The prefecture as a whole is characterized by large temperature differences across the year, with cold-weather gear essential in winter.
Monthly temperature/precipitation

(Source: Japan Meteorological Agency)
Cost of living
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Rent
43,158 yen
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Electricity, gas, and water costs
9,928 yen
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Ramen
(Eating out)683 yen
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White bread (1 kg)
474 yen
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Milk (1ℓ)
218 yen
*Source
- Rent
“Housing and Land Survey: 2023,” Portal Site of Official Statistics of Japan
Average rent per month (excluding free rent) for privately rented apartments/houses (exclusively residential dwelling) with a total floor area of 29m2 or less in each prefectural capital - Electricity, gas, and water costs
“Family Income and Expenditure Survey: 2023,” Portal Site of Official Statistics of Japan
Per capita expenditure calculated as the monthly average of total annual expenditures on utilities (electricity, gas, and water) per household in each prefectural capital, divided by the average number of members in each household - Eating out (Ramen) / White bread (1kg) / Milk (1ℓ)
“Retail Price Survey (Trend Survey): August 2024,” Portal Site of Official Statistics of Japan
Related links
Number of international students by country
China
South Korea
Vietnam
Total number of international students in Japan: 279,274
Total number of international students in Nagano Prefecture: 1,056
Based on 2023 “Annual Survey of International Students in Japan”
List of universities in each area
If an area has nine schools or less with information published in the “School/Major Search” section of the website, the names of the schools are listed in no particular order. If there are 10 or more schools, those schools will not be posted on this page. Click the “Search for School/Major” button and use the search function to see a list of the schools.