Nagano Prefecture Travel Guide: Japan’s Hidden Gem 🇯🇵

Go to https://surfshark.com/lloydandmandy or use code LLOYDANDMANDY at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN! There’s a side of Japan that most people never see… A place where ancient castles still stand untouched, snow monkeys soak in natural hot springs, and the mountains stretch endlessly into the sky. In this video, we explore Nagano — one of Japan’s most underrated regions — and honestly, it completely surprised us. From the historic streets of Matsumoto and its iconic black castle, to the snowy peaks of Hakuba, the spiritual calm of Zenko-ji Temple, and the peaceful atmosphere of Shibu Onsen… this felt like a completely different Japan. Quieter. Slower. More authentic. And the craziest part? It’s only a few hours from Tokyo. If you’re planning a trip to Japan and want to experience something beyond the usual tourist spots… don’t skip Nagano. 📍 Locations featured: * Matsumoto Castle & Nakamachi Street * Hakuba Valley (Japanese Alps) * Nagano City & Zenko-ji Temple * Shibu Onsen * Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park We rented our RV from Tokyo-RV Campers - https://tokyo-rv.com Our Favourite Travel Vlog Camera - Insta360GoUltra: https://www.insta360.com/sal/go-ultra?utm_term=INRSGS0QJR0 TRAVEL INSURANCE THAT WE USE AND RECOMMEND: 🏥 Reliable Travel Insurance: https://www.safetywing.com/a/lloydandmandy 💳 Wise travel money card - Click the link for your first transfer fee FREE up to $1000 OR a FREE Travel Card - https://wise.com/invite/dic/amandar1452 💻 Our VPN we use:https://surfshark.deals/LLOYDANDMANDY 🧳 Level8 Luggage use code LM10 for 10% off at checkout - jhttps://www.jdoqocy.com/click-101578418-15212831?url=https%3A%2F%2Fuk.level8cases.com%2F%3Fshpxid%3D20db721d-6bc2-45e3-bf3d-d83bf8049746 🌎 We always book our tours, transfers and activities through GetYourGuide: https://gyg.me/QdNvJdKO 👉 Get Your Sim Local eSIM here: (5% discount): https://tidd.ly/4vhydOe SUPPORT THE CHANNEL: ☕️ Buy Us A Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/lloydandmandy ⏱ TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 A different side of Japan 01:00 Matsumoto Castle 01:49 Nakamachi Street 02:15 Soba noodles 02:41 Hakuba introduction 03:30 Hakuba snow & mountains 05:50 Green season in Hakuba 06:19 Skiing in Hakuba 07:09 Nagano City 07:30 Zenko-ji Temple 08:41 Shibu Onsen 09:24 Snow Monkey Park 10:41 Why Nagano is special #japantravel #nagano #japanvlog #travelguide #hakuba