Highlights for Obuse and Suzaka from Nagano City
Joined 2019
You can visit some lovely places near Nagano Station, such as Obuse and Suzaka.
Obuse is a small but pleasant town where Hokusai, the ukiyoe woodblock print artist known for "The Great Wave," lived in his later years. Entering the Museum and eating delicious chestnut sweets will bring back good memories.
Suzaka is famous for its warehouses, which give a good atmosphere and are now used as stores and museums. Garyu Park also provides a beautiful sight in each of the four seasons.
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
Nagano Station or your Accomodation
Nagano Station of Nagano Dentetsu Line
At 9:53 a.m., an express train will depart from the Nagano Station of Nagano Dentetsu LIne for Yudanaka Station.
Therefore, we should meet around 9:30 a.m. and board the train after a brief meeting.
Obuse Town
10:16 Train arrives at Obuse Station.
A: Hokusai Museum: Taste his life and delightful works at the Museum of Hokusai, famous for The Great Wave.
B: Eat sweets: Taste Japanese sweets at Obusedo or Chikufudo, famous for their chestnuts.
C: Ichimura Sake Brewery: If you are more interested in sake than sweets, try the delicious sake here
D: The appearance of Obusedo as you enter through the main entrance is calming.
If you like Obuse Town, take the later Train.
E: Ganshoin Temple: You can see a Hokusai's large ceiling painting there. Taking a cab is necessary.
F: Takai Kozan Memorial Museum: A supporter of Hokusai, a calligrapher and painter.
G: Obuse Museum: You can see Japanese paintings and festival floats.
Lunch
Would you like to try soba noodle or chestnut rice? A Japanese restaurant run by sake brewery is also delicious.
The train to Suzaka departs from Obuse Station at 13:55.
Suzaka City
14:02 Train arrives at Suzaka Station.
Enjoy the streets with warehouses, first.
A: The Former Odagiri Family Residence: an impressive building with four earthen storehouses featuring white plaster-finished clay walls and stone masonry.
B: Festival Floats Exhibition Hall: Suzaka Festival is held in July 21-25. Floats are main features in the festival.
C: Tanaka Honke Museum: visitors can enjoy strolling through the garden in each of the four seasons.
D: Garyu Park: many citizens visit the park and relax throughout the year.
Take the train of 16:12 or 16:39.
Ending Point
Nagano Station
Want to personalize this tour?
This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
Inclusions & Exclusions
guide fee
Please kindly cover my transportation, admission, and meal fees during the tour.
Admission fees for museum are necessary.
If you prefer, my compact car is available for a day with 3,000 yen. (Fees for expressways are excluded.)
And extra tour duration: 1 hour 5,000 yen.
Tour Important Information
*It takes 1 hour and a half for me to come to Nagano City from my home, so please note that I cannot accept a request for a tour of less than 5 hours.
* Please let me know in advance if you have any food allergies or other dietary restrictions.
*If there are less than 3 people, you can get around in my compact car.
In that case, going to a fruit farm in the area is a good idea. (Depends on the time of year).
Cancellation Policy
- Free cancellation - 8 days prior to meeting time
- 50% Refund - 3 to 7 days prior to meeting time
- No Refund - Within 2 day(s) prior to meeting time
Joined 2019
About Tour Guide Keiichi S.
Hello! My name is Keiichi. Please call me Kei.
I was born and raised in Joetsu City, located in the southern part of Niigata prefecture. Joetsu was the former capital city of Echigo Province until the mid 19th century. It has a lot of historic sites and scenic spots, and most of all good people. I love my city very much.
I worked for the Joetsu City office for over thirty years. During my time there, I was in charge of international relations for about ten years. After retiring from the office, I began working as a licensed tour guide. I am very excited to introduce my city to people all over the world.
Reviews
“Comprehensive and personal ”
Kei san was very meticulous in helping us to plan for the tour. He tried to find out about what would be our interests so he can help put it in the tour, and he made suggestions that are so good! We enjoyed the Shoji door making and learning about the shoji paper. The sake brewery was a delight and his explanations about how the city cope with snow, was really interesting. There’s also a little workshop on how to ‘recycle’ cereal/chocolate boxes into little pieces of art, really creative. We had such fun and we are already thinking when do we come back again. Thank you Kei san for your hospitality!
Keiichi S.
Hi, Ms. Shufen, Thank you for your kind impression of the tour. Unfortunately, it rained in the afternoon, so we could not enjoy the scenery. But your daughters looked like they enjoyed checking their breath, which turned white because of the cold temperature. It would be great if the tour helped you understand snowy countries' lifestyles. Woods and papers are essential materials for Japanese buildings and lives. I am glad you've found such aspects in this tour. Best Regards, Kei
“Beautiful day”
Keiichi was very well prepared and surprised us with interesting sights! We were lucky enough to see Geishas. It was a beautiful day! Thank you, keiishi!
Keiichi S.
Thank you very much, Katrin. It was such a wonderful day. It was a warm and fine day. Cherry blossoms began to bloom. The shopping street holds an event on the first Sunday. So, the Geisha girls came, and it was the first time for me to see those Furumachi Geigi girls in person. You were so lucky. Please enjoy the rest of the tour on your cruise ship.
“Snow monkeys were amazing! Obuse town beautiful!”
Keiichi was very friendly and attentive. We had a wonderful time!
Keiichi S.
Dear Mrs. Miriam H., Thank you very much, Miriam. At first, I worried about the weather, since it rained and began to get colder. But that was good for us because snow monkeys hugged each other and got in the hot spring. So, we took good pictures. I am pleased to know that you had a tasty lunch in a cozy restaurant. I hope you have a good time in Kanazawa and Takayama. Kei
$234/ per group
More tours by Keiichi S.
Niigata City One Day Walking Tour
Niigata City is famous for its delicious rice, agricultural products, and fresh fish. This is thanks to the abundance of water that has made it a "city of water.” At the same time, however, people have suffered from floods since the beginning of history and have repeatedly overcome them. In addition, Niigata City today is home to some of the best people in the world of comics and modern dance. Come and taste the breeze of a town with such a unique history and character.
Joetsu City One Day Walking Tour, Takada Area
Interested in historical sites in Japan? How about Joetsu City? Just a short ride from Tokyo (two hours.) Joetsu City is located in Niigata Prefecture, along the Sea of Japan. Takada Area, a famous sightseeing spot in Joetsu, has interesting features: a castle town, a snowy town, and tasty food and sake. By walking along a local town and communicating with local people, you will feel refreshed and energized. I hope to see you soon!
A Day Tour for Snow Monkey and Obuse Town
You will go to Snow Monkey Park and see how wild monkeys live and seem relaxed without minding human beings watching them. There are also some lovely places to visit from Nagano City, such as Obuse Town and Suzaka City. Especially, Obuse is a small but pleasant town where Hokusai, the ukiyoe artist known for "The Great Wave," lived in his later years. Entering the Museum, learning about his life, and eating delicious chestnut sweets will surely bring back good memories.
Other Popular Highlights Tours in Nagano
Matsumoto Castle and its Surroundings
Matsumoto Castle was built about 400 years ago. It has one of the oldest castle towers in Japan, designated as a national treasure. The black and white contrast of the castle with a backdrop of the Japan's northern Alps is really photogenic!! When you stroll the castle town, you come across rows of old houses and also fresh spring waters in every corner.
Karuizawa History Town Walk
Why not explore Karuizawa, a famous upper-market mountain resort welcoming about 8 million visitors a year? You will walk around the Old Town area with a local guide. The destinations include historic lanes and paths, one of the area's famous churches, areas with holiday villas, Karuizawa Ginza Street and more! You will experience a cafe break, which is a must when you come to a resort area.
Snow Monkey and Hokusai One day tour to Nagano
Today Japanese monkeys of Jigokudani Onsen became so famous that many foreign visitors eagerly want to visit to see. In Jigokudani (literally meaning is Hell Valley) monkeys take bath in open-air Onsen(Hot spring) in particular during winter season. Visitors can reach there in 3 hours by taking bullet trains and Nagano Dentetsu railway from Tokyo. Near the snow monkey park, there is a old town of Obuse. Obuse is famous for the works of Hokusai Katsushika. In 1840's Hokusai visited Obuse in his 80's years old and stay there for several years. There is the museum of Hokusai and his patron's housing. You can have lunch in Obuse. There are some restaurants and confectionery shops and Sake breweries. You could have chances to Sake tasting. If you want, you could visit the temple whose ceiling paint is the largest and last work by Hokusai and his daughter. As the temple is located at outskirt of Obuse, you need to take taxi. Leaving Tokyo station at 7:20 in the morning, you would arrive at the park around 10:30. You will have enough time to watch monkeys' life. You will enjoy seeing not only the snow monkeys but the beautiful landscape of Central Japan Mountain. You could be back to your hotel by around 19:00 in Tokyo.
