Your ski-obsessed friend or partner has booked a winter trip to Nagano, or perhaps you’re adding a couple of days in the mountains to your wider Japan itinerary, and you are wondering what to do other than skiing or snowboarding.
If you imagined spending your time watching the snow fall over a hot chocolate while everyone else skis, that’s not a bad plan. But here’s the thing: around the Myoko-Togakushi Renzan National Park, not skiing isn’t a consolation prize. It’s a completely different way to enjoy winter.
We live here, surrounded by snow-covered mountains, sacred forests, soba villages and onsen towns. Here are some of our favourite ways to experience the season without putting on a pair of skis.
Snowshoe into the Quiet Forest
Our top recommendation for non-skiers is also one of the most magical: strap on a pair of snowshoes and walk into the silent, snow-covered forest.
No previous experience is needed. With a guide to show you the way, you can explore snowy trails, wander between towering trees and discover landscapes that look completely different under a thick blanket of snow. Just bring warm layers and waterproof winter boots.
The wider Shin-Etsu Shizenkyo region has plenty of guided snowshoeing and winter-walking routes.
Our favourite is the Togakushi Snowshoeing Tour, an experience we’d recommend to almost anyone visiting the area. Togakushi is steeped in Japanese mythology, mountain asceticism and ninja lore. On a half-day walk, you can explore the famous avenue of centuries-old cedar trees, the impressive Zuishinmon Gate and nearby snowy forest trails. Longer routes may take you towards frozen ponds and Kagami-ike, with views of the dramatic Togakushi mountains.
Depending on the route, you may also pass the vermilion torii gates of Tenmei Inari Shrine. Our guided tours can be adapted to the group’s pace and conditions, making this a wonderful experience for families and mixed groups of skiers and non-skiers. And if you are staying in Iiyama or Madarao/Tangram area, our snowshoeing tours around Madarao Kogen are a convenient way to explore real yuki-guni (snow country).
Many of our guests tell us it’s one of the highlights of their trip!
Roll Your Own Soba
Northern Nagano is one of Japan’s great soba regions, and Togakushi is especially famous for its buckwheat noodles.
If you love Japanese food, making your own soba is a wonderfully hands-on way to discover the region’s food culture. You’ll mix, knead, roll and cut the buckwheat dough before sitting down to enjoy the noodles you’ve made yourself.
The Togakushi Soba Museum Tonkururin offers soba-making experiences and meals. Its normal operating season excludes much of winter, but a special winter soba-making plan has been announced for the 2026–27 season. Check availability and book ahead rather than assuming sessions run every day.
We can also help you plan a soba-making experience alongside your snowshoeing outing, subject to availability. It’s a lovely way to combine time outdoors with a warm meal and a taste of local culture.
Try Wakasagi Fishing on Lake Nojiri
For something completely different, head to Lake Nojiri for winter wakasagi fishing.
Don’t worry about standing on a frozen lake in the cold. Fishing operators use enclosed boats with heating, toilets and space to fish comfortably indoors. Rods and other equipment can be rented, making this an accessible activity even for first-timers.
The boats normally operate from November through early April, depending on the season, and advance reservations are recommended, particularly on weekends and public holidays.
It’s a fun choice for families, groups of friends, or anyone who fancies a slower day on the water. And if you catch some fish, you may even get to enjoy the results of your efforts later.
Check the Shinano Town tourism website for current operators, seasonal information and booking details.
Discover the Region’s Museums, Shrines and Natural History
When the weather turns particularly cold, Northern Nagano still has plenty to explore indoors.
Myoko-Kogen Visitor Center is an excellent starting point. Located within Myoko-Togakushi Renzan National Park, it offers free exhibitions introducing the region’s landscapes, wildlife, plants and natural environment. It’s also a relaxing place to learn more about the mountains you’ve been admiring from the car. Check the visitor center’s website for opening information and seasonal events.
Issa Memorial Museum in Shinano Town celebrates Kobayashi Issa, one of Japan’s best-known haiku poets, who was born and spent much of his life in the area. His poems about everyday life and the natural world feel particularly fitting in this snowy landscape. Winter visits are generally possible on weekdays, so check the museum’s opening information before setting off.
Nojiriko Naumann Elephant Museum tells the fascinating story of the prehistoric elephant fossils discovered around Lake Nojiri. It’s a good option for curious adults and children alike. Check the museum’s website for current opening hours and any seasonal changes.
And then there’s Togakushi Shrine. Even if you’re not joining a guided snowshoe tour, the snow-covered chusha shrine is easy to access from the parking lot and the small village around is worth experiencing.
Spend a Cultural Day in Obuse: Art, Chestnuts and Japanese Town Life
If you’d like to take a break from the mountains and experience a different side of Nagano, Obuse is one of our favourite cultural day trips. This small, attractive town is known for its traditional streets, art museums, local sake and, above all, its chestnut sweets. It’s a wonderful place to slow down, wander between galleries and cafés, and discover a side of rural Japan that feels a world away from the ski resorts. Explore Obuse’s official visitor guide.
The town’s biggest cultural attraction is the Hokusai Museum, dedicated to Katsushika Hokusai, the celebrated ukiyo-e artist behind The Great Wave off Kanagawa. Hokusai visited Obuse several times late in his life, leaving behind an impressive artistic legacy. The museum displays his paintings, woodblock prints and elaborately decorated festival floats. Art lovers can also visit the nearby Takai Kozan Memorial Museum, which explores the life of the local merchant and patron who welcomed Hokusai to the town.
For another remarkable work by the artist, head to Ganshoin Temple, a little outside the town centre. Look up at its ceiling to see Hokusai’s enormous phoenix painting, Happō Nirami Hōō-zu, created when he was around 89 years old. The temple is especially atmospheric in winter, although access and opening hours should be checked before visiting.
Obuse also has a lively contemporary art scene, with smaller museums, galleries and changing exhibitions. The Obuse Museum and Nakajima Chinami Gallery showcases Japanese painting and local artists, while the surrounding streets invite you to explore independent shops, traditional buildings and peaceful little gardens. The compact town centre is easy to explore on foot, so there’s no need to rush between attractions.
And then, of course, there’s the food. Obuse has cultivated chestnuts for centuries, and local restaurants and confectioners have turned them into an art form of their own. Look out for chestnut rice, Mont Blanc desserts, chestnut yokan and chestnut-flavoured ice cream. The town also has excellent soba restaurants, cafés tucked into traditional buildings, and historic sake breweries such as Masuichi-Ichimura and Matsubaya, where you can discover another part of Nagano’s food culture. For ideas on where to find the best chestnut desserts, see this guide from Go! NAGANO.
Our suggestion: give Obuse a full day rather than trying to squeeze it between other activities. Spend the morning visiting a museum or two, enjoy a leisurely lunch, and leave the afternoon for galleries, local shops, sake or a coffee and chestnut dessert. It’s a particularly good option for couples, families and anyone who wants to balance snowy mountain adventures with art, food and a little Japanese history.
Say Hi to the Snow Monkeys
Some of Japan’s best-known winter residents aren’t skiers either.
At Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park, Japanese macaques gather around a hot spring pool, creating one of the country’s most iconic winter wildlife experiences. Watching them groom, play and relax against a snowy mountain backdrop is a memorable experience, especially for families.
Bear in mind that Jigokudani is a separate excursion from the Madarao-Myoko area, so allow enough time for the journey and the walk to the park.
Wild macaques also live in the wider region, but sightings on other areas are never guaranteed. For a reliable wildlife-viewing experience, the established park is the better choice. Always follow local guidance and observe the animals without feeding or disturbing them.
Warm Up in a Local Onsen
No winter trip to Japan feels complete without an onsen visit.
After a morning walking through the snow or exploring the area, soaking in a hot spring is one of the simplest pleasures of the season. The wider region has plenty of hot-spring towns and baths to explore, from the traditional atmosphere of Nozawa Onsen or Yudanaka villages, to the scattered hot-springs of the Myoko area.
It’s also an easy way for non-skiers to enjoy the mountain holiday at their own pace while the rest of the group spends another day on the slopes.
A Perfect Winter Day Without Skis
Need an itinerary? Here’s one of our favourite ways to spend a winter day around Northern Nagano:
- Morning: Join our Togakushi snowshoeing tour and explore the sacred cedar forest and snowy trails.
- Lunch: Enjoy Togakushi soba, or arrange a hands-on soba-making experience if a winter session is available.
- Afternoon: Head to the Myoko-Kogen Visitor Center for its free exhibitions and mountain views, or explore one of the area’s museums if it’s open.
- Evening: Finish with a relaxing onsen visit and a comforting dinner.
Prefer a more active day? Swap the museum visit for wakasagi fishing on Lake Nojiri. Travelling with children? A guided snowshoe walk followed by a warm meal is a great way to experience the snow together without making the day too demanding.
That’s the beauty of Northern Nagano: you don’t have to ski to enjoy a fantastic winter holiday.
For more ideas, explore our Myoko and Madarao guide. Whether you’re travelling with skiers or planning a winter trip without skiing at all, we’d love to help you make the most of the area.
Get in touch at outdoor@lacolinaretreat.jp or through our contact page. Tell us what you enjoy, and we’ll help you build a Northern Nagano winter itinerary that goes well beyond the slopes.