Omachi City, located in the northwest of Nagano Prefecture, is surrounded by nature and is known as the gateway to the Nagano side of the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, a mountain sightseeing route that takes you up to 2,450 meters by changing vehicles. In this article, we will introduce popular cherry blossom spots that you can enjoy when the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route opens.
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Omachi City, Nagano Prefecture, is a mountainous city surrounded by mountains, with an urban area as high as 700 meters above sea level, where you can still feel the culture of the time when it flourished as a post town long ago. Shinano Omachi is characterized by its impressive view of the Northern Alps from the city, proximity to magnificent nature, and the ability to walk around the historic town while feeling nature. It is a small city with a population of just under 30,000, and is often referred to by tourists as ``Shinano Omachi,'' the name of Omachi City's main station. Shinano Omachi is also at the foot of the ``Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route,'' a mountain sightseeing route where you can walk through the world-famous ``Snowy Otani in spring'' and ``Kurobe Dam Sightseeing Water Release'' in summer, and welcomes close to 1 million visitors a year. It is also a city where We also have a large number of visitors visiting the Northern Alps, a series of mountains with an altitude of 3,000m, as well as visitors enjoying water activities, camping, and saunas at Lake Aoki, Lake Nakatsuna, and Lake Kizaki in Shinano Omachi, where the water is beautiful. Masu. Shinano Omachi is located in the northwestern part of Nagano Prefecture, with Nagano City to the east, Toyama Prefecture to the west, Matsumoto City to the south, and Hakuba Village to the north, making it even more convenient to use as a base for your travels. We want people all over the world to know about this city, which has so many charms, such as local foods such as soba, game meat, and wild vegetables that can only be found in areas close to nature, sake, local beer, and coffee made with delicious water, day-trip hot springs, and hot spring inns. I think. We would appreciate it if you could share your attractions with us by using #shinanoomachi. thank you.
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Table of Contents
- What is Omachi City, Nagano Prefecture? How do you get to Omachi City?
- Omachi Area Guide
- Top 5 Cherry Blossom Photo Spots
- Spring weather and clothing in Omachi
What is Omachi City, Nagano Prefecture? How do you get to Omachi City?
This site is easy to understand and highly recommended as it provides information on how to get to Omachi City in Nagano Prefecture, including transfer directions.
Omachi Area Guide
Omachi City is home to many natural fields, making it an ideal city for experiencing the city's abundant nature.
This time, I would like to introduce the charms of Omachi city, divided into five areas.
1. Source area (about 30 minutes on foot from Shinano-Omachi Station)
The clear, cool meltwater from the 3000m-high Northern Alps (Ushiro-Tateyama mountain range) flows everywhere.
Even in summer, the water temperature is low and cool, making it beautiful.
A recommended spot for a casual stop in this area is the area around Omachi Sports Park. You can get relatively close to the river. The riverbed is slippery, so please do not enter the river, but just enjoy the scenery and touch the water.
2. Lake Area (nearest stations: JR Oito Line Inao Station, Uminokuchi Station, Yanaba Station)
Within the city, there are three lakes known as the Nishina Sanko Lakes, each with its own unique characteristics.
Lake Kizaki, a popular spot for activities, Lake Nakatsuna with its beautiful mirror-like water, and Lake Aoki with its clean, highly transparent water are also popular spots for activities.
There is a relaxed atmosphere around the lake.
Even if you don't take part in any activities, you can feel relaxed just by enjoying the scenery and atmosphere.
3. Higashiyama Area (An alluvial fan surrounded by lush countryside to the east of Omachi City)
From the Higashiyama area, you can look down on the entire city of Omachi and look up at the impressive Northern Alps in front of you.
Recommended spots for scenic views of the Northern Alps include Mount Takagari, where you can see the scenery below, Omachi Mountain Museum, and Reishoji Temple.
There is no secondary transportation. Please use a taxi or other vehicle, or visit on foot. Even the highest mountain, Takagariyama, can be reached in a trekking-like manner. (As it is a low mountain, please bring a bear bell.)
・Omachi Mountain Museum https://www.omachi-sanpaku.com/ 25 minutes walk from Shinano-Omachi Station on the JR Oito Line
・Takagariyama https://kanko-omachi.gr.jp/spot/takagariyama/ 1 hour 30 minutes walk from Shinano-Omachi Station on the JR Oito Line
・Reishoji Temple http://www.reishoji.jp/ 45 minutes walk from Kita-Omachi Station on the JR Oito Line
4. Urban Area
The arcade shopping street connected to Shinano-Omachi Station has a streetscape that gives off the atmosphere of old Japan.
↓We recommend that you use this article as a reference while enjoying your walk around the city.
5. Dam Area
In Omachi City, at the foot of Kurobe Dam, the tallest dam in Japan, there is a place called Takase Valley that is famous for its autumn leaves.
Along the Takase Valley, there are three adjacent dams: Omachi Dam, Nanakura Dam, and Takase Dam.
This area is characterized by its clean, emerald-green lake water. It is said that the emerald green color comes from the mixture of granite widely distributed in the Takase Valley and sulfur flowing from upstream.
Top 5 Cherry Blossom Photo Spots
Due to the difference in altitude, you can enjoy the cherry blossoms little by little until late in the day in Japan.
1. Sunuma's Lone Cherry Tree (City Area)
This is the area where the first cherry blossoms bloom in Omachi City. Usually from mid-April to late April. This is a popular spot where you can take pictures of the impressive Edohigan cherry blossoms with the Northern Alps in the background. It is about a 7-minute walk from Azumi-Kutsukake Station.
2. Civic Forest (Higashiyama area)
In spring, various kinds of cherry blossoms spread across the ground. Also, because it is located on high ground, it is a popular spot where you can enjoy the view of the Northern Alps.
You can also take photos with the entire Northern Alps in view. It's a great place to take a walk and enjoy the view.
Mid-April to late April
It's just under 30 minutes walk from Shinano-Omachi Station. https://kanko-omachi.gr.jp/spot/shiminnomori/
3. Lake Nakatsuna's Oyamazakura (Lake Area)
During the cherry blossom season, the vibrant colors of the sedge cherry blossoms reflected on the water's surface are beautiful, and the spot is bustling with photographers from early in the morning.
It's right in front of Yanaba Station, so it's easy to access. On windless days, the beautiful cherry blossoms are reflected on the water's surface. The surrounding scenery has a nice Japanese countryside feel, so it's a great photo spot for all seasons.
Best time to see the flowers is usually from late April to early May.
Less than 5 minutes walk from Yanaba Station. https://kanko-omachi.gr.jp/spot/nakatsunako/
4. Omachi Onsenkyo
Omachi Onsenkyo is about a 15-minute drive from Ogizawa Station on the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route. There are 12 hot spring accommodation facilities. Before the snow falls, the hot springs are lit up, so it would be even more beautiful to enjoy them together with the cherry blossoms. Enjoy a relaxing stay at the hot spring inn, along with meals made with local ingredients. You can enjoy different types of cherry blossoms at different times.
Mid-April to early May
Omachi Onsenkyo https://www.omachionsen.jp/
5. Lake Aoki
This is a famous photo spot for cherry blossoms, with the snow covering the Hakuba Mountains and a single cherry tree. It is near Hakuba Village, where the Nagano Winter Olympics were held.
Lake Aoki https://kanko-omachi.gr.jp/spot/aokiko/
About a 30-minute walk from Yanaba Station.
Usually from late April to early May
Spring weather and clothing in Omachi
Omachi is at a high altitude, so temperatures can still be low, especially in the mornings and evenings.
Although temperatures can exceed 20 degrees during the day, they can drop to around 0 degrees in the morning and at night, so it's useful to have an extra thin down jacket on hand.
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