Having been to Japan many times prior to this trip, my partner and I thought about visiting places we had not been to yet.  We didn't want to travel too far though and spend a lot of time sitting in a bullet train for an extended period of time.  Hence, the idea of visiting Nagano.  I remember first hearing about this city, more of a town, really back in 2002 when US figure skater Michelle Kwan participated in the Winter Olympics there.

On our way to Tokyo Station from our hotel in Nihonbashi, the driver of the cab we hailed chatted with us a bit and asked us where we were headed so early that morning in December.  We answered Nagano and and all he could say was "BRRR!"  It was cold in Nagano indeed when we arrived.

This is a picture of the street which leads to Nagano's main attraction, the Zenkou-ji Temple.  It was quite touristy.  The street is lined by souvenir stores, galleries, and restaurants.  Nonetheless, it was still beautiful.

Images from Zenkou-ji Temple