Minowa Town - Official Web Site -

Japanese version is here.

The Southern Alps rise in the east and the Central Alps in the west. Between these mountain ranges - this "rooftop" of Japan - the Tenryu River serenely flows. The water and the green landscape shimmer in the light. Throughout the year, the seasons reveal themselves in vivid splendour, providing gentle comfort to the hearts and minds of visitors. Here in the northern part of the Ina Valley, visitors encounter the quintessential Japanese "hometown" - Minowa.

Introduction

Minowa is located in the central region of Nagano Prefecture, and provides a model example of a landscape that descends in terraces to the valley floor.
The more than 26,000 people of Minowa live surrounded by abundant nature, with the Akaishi Mountains in the east, the many peaks of the Central Alps in the West, and the Tenryu River flowing from north to south in the central part of town.
Its proximity to Suwa City, Ina City, Takato Town, and Tatsuno Town, and its location on the Chuo Expressway, on national road no. 153, and on the JR Iida Line, make Minowa an ideal area to live.
As well, because an extremely high proportion of the residents of Minowa are foreign, the town can be said to be international.


Mount Senjo.	Flow of river.	Night view.

Sightseeing and Culture

Minowa Dam, Momiji Lake, and the autumnal change of the momiji (maple tree) leaves

Minowa Dam controls the waters of the Sawa River, a mountain stream. 10,000 maples were planted around the lake by the dam, and in late autumn the trees reflect beautifully in the blue water.
The upper stream of the Sawa River is a very good place for fishing, and so many people enjoy spending a quiet holiday there.

Picture of Momiji Lake.

The Nagata Area of Minowa

Residents and visitors enjoy a variety of outdoor sports and leisure activities at Nagata Shizen Koen (Nagata Nature Park), located at the foot of Minowa's Central Alps. Day trips to the facilities of Nagata Onsen (a natural hot spring) are possible, as well as overnight stays at the Nagato So, the onsen hotel.


Picture of Nagata Nature Park.	Picture of Nagata Hot Spring.

Red Soba (buckwheat) Fields

While the flowers of soba in Japan are typically white, the seeds of soba with red flowers were once brought to this area from the Himalayas and are now growing in a wide 4.2-hectare field. From the middle of September to early October, these unusual red soba flowers are in full bloom.

A field of flowering red soba.

Other


View from the Kayano Heights plateau. Kayano Heights, Kayano mountain cottages.	Edohigan cherry blossoms.	Shinshuu Ina Plum Tree Garden.


Furuta puppets. Furuta puppet performance.	Dancing with lion masks. Dance of the lion masks in the Nakazone neigborhood of Minowa.	Statue of Nyorai at Muryoji Temple. Statue of sitting Nyorai at Muryoji Temple.

Getting to Minowa Town

Minowa Town is located in the central part of Nagano Prefecture. When approaching by the Chuo Expressway, the trip takes four hours from Kyoto, and two and a half hours from Tokyo and Nagoya.

By rail it takes two and a half hours on the Chuoto Line from Shinjuku, and three hours on the Chuosai Line from Nagoya.

Minowa Town Office

10298 Nakaminowa
Minowa-machi, Kamiina-gun
Nagano-ken, 399-4695

Tel.: 0265-79-3111
E-mail: minowa@town.minowa.nagano.jp

Information from Minowa Town Office

　The Minowa Town has implemented Children's medical examination and vaccination.

　　　Please click here for 2010 schedule(PDF file).

　Please look at this guide book if you are moving in Nagano.

　　Newcomer's Guidebook

Japanese version is here.