Nagano Prefecture (長野県) is a prefecture in central Japan. It is located in the Chubu Region of Honshu. The prefecture is the fourth biggest in Japan, covering 13,585 sq km. It has a population of 2.2 million people (2011 estimate). The prefecture is composed of 14 districts. Nagano City is the prefectural capital.
Nagano is best known as the host of the 1998 Winter Olympics, an event that enabled it to get a Shinkansen bullet train line connecting it to Tokyo. It is a mountainous prefecture, home to nine of the twelve highest mountains of Japan.
Nagano Prefecture is a landlocked prefecture. It shares a border with more prefectures than any other in Japan. It is bordered by Niigata Prefecture to the north, Gunma Prefecture to the northeast, Saitama Prefecture to the east, Yamanashi Prefecture and Shizuoka Prefecture to the southeast, Aichi Prefecture to the south, Gifu Prefecture to the west and Toyaka Prefecture to the northwest.
Going to Nagano Prefecture
Take the Joetsu Shinkansen to Niigata City, then transfer to the Nagano Shinkansen bullet train to reach Nagano City.
Statue of Kanzeon bosatsu in Onishi Park, Nagano Prefecture