Nagano, Nagano

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

**Nagano City**
**長野市**
Image:LocationMapNagano Nagano.png Nagano City's location in Nagano Prefecture, Japan.
Location
Country	Japan
Region	Chūbu
Prefecture	Nagano Prefecture
Physical characteristics
Area	737.86 km²
Population (as of July 1, 2006)
Total	378,059
Location	36°38′55″N, 138°11′34″E
Symbols
Nagano City Hall
Mayor	Shoichi Washizawa
Address	〒〒380-8512 1613 Midori-cho, Nagano City
Phone number	26-226-4911
Official website: Nagano City

Coordinates: 36°38′55″N, 138°11′34″E

Nagano (長野市) is the capital city of Nagano Prefecture, situated in the northern part of the prefecture near the junction of the Chikuma River and the Sai River, on the main island of Honshū, Japan.

As of July 1, 2006, the city has an estimated population of 378,059. The total land area is 737.86 km².

Nagano was the host city to the 1998 Winter Olympics, the 1998 Winter Paralympics and the 2005 Special Olympics World Winter Games, and the first city to host all three of these events.

1 Municipal Timeline
2 Sightseeing
3 Transportation
4 Education
5 External links

[edit] Municipal Timeline

April 1, 1897-The 1st city of Nagano was founded. (Nagano became the first city founded in Nagano Prefecture and the 43rd city in Japan).
October 16, 1966-The current and the 2nd city of Nagano was founded by merging with 8 municipalities including the 1st city it self.
January 1, 2005-The city absorbed the municipalities from Kamiminochi District (Toyono, Togakushi, and Kinasa) and Sarashina District(Ooka).

[edit] Sightseeing

Image:ZenkojiWP.jpg

A million tourists visit Nagano City annually, the gateway to a variety of sightseeing spots. Nagano's most famous attraction is the 7th century Buddhist temple, Zenkō-ji, which overlooks the city. Nagano was originally a small town built around the hilltop temple, the largest wooden building in eastern Japan.

The historic site of the Battles of Kawanakajima has been retained as parkland, with a municipal museum of the history of the Zenkoji plain.

Matsuhiro, the former castle town of the Sanada clan, is located in the southern part of the city. The town retains an historical atmosphere, preserving many old samurai residences, temples, and gardens of the feudal period, including the remains of the castle and mansion of feudal lord Sanada Jumangoku.

Sporting venues built for the Winter Olympics include the M-Wave speed-skating arena (with the world's largest wooden suspension roof), Big Hat arena, and the Aqua Wing Arena.

To north of the city is the village of Iizuna. A popular destination in both summer and winter, it includes an Olympic ski resort, campsite, onsen, 10 ponds, and a mountain slide ride.

Northeast of the city is Japan's largest ski resort, Shiga Kogen, with the nearby Jigokudani Monkey Park, famous for the wild Japanese Snow Monkeys often found bathing in its hot springs.

Just south of the downtown core, in Shinonoi, Mt. Chausu hosts the Nagano Chausuyama Zoo, an outdoor dinosaur park, botanical garden, and a museum of natural history.

[edit] Transportation

The city's main railway hub, Nagano Station, and the smaller Shinonoi Station, were expanded for the 1998 Winter Olympics. The Hokuriku Shinkansen opened in 1997, connecting Nagano to Takasaki, Gunma. Nagano Station also serves the Shinano Tetsudo Line, Shin-etsu Line 2, and Iiyama Line. The JR Chūō Line connects Nagano to the major city of Nagoya in Aichi Prefecture.

The Nagano Dentetsu (Electric) Railway also runs the Nagano Line to major sites around Nagano City and its suburbs.

The city is connected by rail south to Matsumoto via the Shinonoi Line, which terminates at Shinonoi Station.

Buses for Kawanaka-jima Bus and the Nagano Dentetsu Bus Co. service the city, and depart both Nagano Station and the Nagano Bus Terminal just west of the station.

The city's nearest domestic airport is Matsumoto Airport, connected via a 70-minute express bus from Nagano City.