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Nagano City Four Seasons Festival, Event, Flower Calender and Gourmet (Souvenir)

Nagano Binzuru (Nagano city residents festival)

There are various kinds of festivals such as traditional performances succeed for a long time and modern festivals for all residents in Nagano City (Nagano-shi).

Nagano City Events Schedule

Date

Event name and contents

Place
January 6th
Zenkoji Obinzuru mawashi (Festival of St.Binzuru)

This festival is held at Hondo, the main hall in Zenkoji temple in the evening. Visitors tap the worn figure of Binzuru with a ladle they received in the festival and hope their own aches and pains will be alleviated.

 Zenkoji Temple
February 3rd
Nagano Setsubun ceremony (Service to expel Demons)

A bean-throwing ceremony is held by all the priests of Zenkoji temple. Also participating, will be some famous people who were born in a year with the same sign of Eto.

 Zenkoji Temple
The fourth Saturday and Sunday of February
Iizuna Kogen Winter Festival

Various events and free ski school, half price lift ticket and so forth.

 Iizuna Kogen
March 8th
Kirihara Warakoma (straw horse)

Kirihara used to be a famous and historical pasture area which was owned by the Imperial Court. Many fine horses were offered to the Imperial Court. People offer the Warakoma which is the shape of fine horse with some steamed red beans rice and money. This is offered to the Kiriharamaki Shrine in the festival.

 Kiriharamaki Shrine
May 5th
A Dinosaur festival

Some events are held such as a kids sumo wrestling tournament and a roar contest.

 Mt.Chausu Dinosaur park
May 5th
Hana Matsuri (Buddha's birthday festival)

People celebrate Buddha's birthday with some events. Children wearing their Sunday best visit the temple to pray for their long life and future happiness (It is called Chigogyoretsu.).

 Zenkoji Temple
The third Sunday of May
Nagano city residents health festival

Various sports events such as athletics for the residents.

 Around Nagano athletic park
From late in July to early in August
Nagano Tanabata festival (Star festival)

The arcade will be very crowded with people enjoying the colorful bamboo branches hung with colorful decorations. Many events, including the Tanabata decoration contest and Miss Tanabata contest.

 Around Gondo area
The first Saturday of August
Nagano Binzuru (Nagano city residents festival)

The Sound of people's shouting "Sore" and tapping rice scoops echoes in the summer night sky. This is one of the biggest summer festivals with traditional Japanese music.

 Chuo Street and Showa Avenue
The day after Nagano Binzuru Nikoniko fireworks celebration West side park of Nagano prefectural hall
August 10th
Iizuna fire festival

It is the entering ceremony called Yamairi of Mt.Iizuna which is the holy mountain for disciples. Fireworks, synthesizer and laser rays under the mysterious stage effects cover Daizahoshi pond. People can enjoy the sounds and lights of the fantasy show.

 Iizuna Kogen Daizahoshi pond
The middle of August
Iizuna jazz concert

A large number of people gather and enjoy the music festival at Iizuna Kogen in summer. Some top musicians play for the people every summer.

 Iizuna Kogen
From the middle to late in August
Nagano Aspen music festival

This festival was originally the well known music festival of Aspen, Colorado State, U.S.A. The world's top musicians give some lessons to top Japanese amateur musicians according to the instrument's type. An orchestra perform a classical concert.

 Arcadia concerto hall and others in Iizuna Kogen Nagano residents hall, etc.
The fourth weekend of September
Sanada festival

Various events such as Sanada Jyumangoku procession, marching band, photograph contest and picture exhibition are held.

 Matsushiro town
The weekend around October 10th
Shinshu home town boast festival

People from cities and towns in Nagano prefecture exhibit their special products and sell them. The center stage has the shows of the folk entertainments and others.

 Around Jyoyama park
November 23 rd
Ebisuko(Festival in honor of Ebisu) and fireworks festival

Nagano city was originally built in front of Zenkoji temple. A large market sale is conducted in this arcade, in addition to a big fireworks festival around Tanbajima bridge. Many people enjoy these festivities.

 Nagano city

Flower Calender

A large number of tourists from the inside and the outside of Nagano prefecture visit Nagano city to enjoy watching many kinds of flowers and trees.

Plum blossoms
 Around Jyoyama park Early to the middle of April
Apricot blossoms
 Mori in Koshoku city Early to the middle of April
Cherry blossoms
 Matsushiro ruins of the castle Around Jyoyama park The middle of April The middle of April
Jindai cherry blossoms
 Imoi (This tree is the age of a tree 1200 years or more. ) Late in April
Peach blossoms
 Kawanakajima, Shinonoi Late in April to early in May
Apple blossoms
 Ojyochi,Akanuma Late in April to the middle of May
Skunk-cabbage blossoms
 Iizuna Kogen The middle of April to the middle of May
Tulip
 Mori in Koshoku city, Kurashina The middle to late in April
Azalea
 Iizuna Kogen Late in May to the middle of June

Nagano City Gourmet (Souvenir)

Apples
 Kitashinano around Nagano city is Known for its fresh apples. The area along the Apple line on the north of Nagano city is especially one of the most famous places. It's crowded with lots of people who enjoy plucking apples in Fall.
Soba
 Soba, Nagano city Togakushi, next to Nagano city, is famous for delicious soba. There are many restaurants where you can enjoy the taste of real soba in Nagano city.
Nagaimo (Yam)
 The area along Chikuma river in Matsushiro is a production area for Nagaimo. Tororojiru (grated yam) is a healthy food which includes the digestive enzyme; diastase. This is a very popular dish in Japan, due to its much favored taste.
Miso (bean paste)
 Shinshumiso is the most popular one of its type in Japan. The smell of the Miso soup represents the smell of shinshu's natural environment.
Kuri (Chestnut)
 Kuri (Chestnut), Nagano city Obuse is a town which is known for its chestnuts. Chestnut cakes and Okowa (steamed rice and chestnut) from Obuse are very famous in Japan. You can taste them in Nagano city, too. They are very popular for souvenirs.
Matsushiroyaki (pottery)
 Matsushiro style pottery originates from Matsushiro, the former castle town of Sanada. Its simple, heavy feeling and green line is the peculiarity of Matsushiro ware.
Oyaki
 Oyaki are baked cakes which have different flavours according to the ingredients. Seasonal vegetables, wild plants, Nozawana and An (bean jam) with original flour are some of the ingredients which are used. These Oyaki are the original food in Shinshu.
Apricot
 Apricot is also one of the representative fruits in Shinshu. Dried apricot, apricot jam and apricot cakes are available.
Original sake
 Shinshu is well known not only for its scenic beauty, but also for its exclellent sake. (Sake is a Japanese alcoholic beverage brewed from rice. It has no color and is as clear as water.) The techniques of skilled workmen produce the mild taste of original sake. This process utilises excellent water and rice.