Kinasa (鬼無里, Kinasa) is a quiet village located in Nagano City, Nagano Prefecture, Japan. So-called City of the valley (Tani no Miyako), the area stretches along the headstream of Susobana river surrounded by mountains.
City of the Valley
Kinasa (鬼無里, Kinasa) is a quiet village located in Nagano City, Nagano Prefecture, Japan.
Familiarly known as the City of the Valley (Tani no Miyako), the area stretches along the headstream of the Susobana river and is surrounded by mountains.
Kinasa covers an area of 128 square kilometers. Mountain forest accounts for 90% of the area and the remaining 10% is inhabited by roughly 1300 people.
The elevation of the roadside rest area (Tabi no eki Kinasa) is about 678 meters while Okususobana Nature Park, where you can explore the ancient beech forest and skunk cabbage colonies, is 1250 meters.
Thanks to the mountains and clean water and air, we have mountain vegetables in spring and edible wild mushrooms in autumn as well as the fresh seasonal vegetables grown by locals.
You can also enjoy Nagano’s traditional foods, oyaki and soba.
For those who enjoy walking, we offer “footpath” walking trails. Each footpath course takes 2-4 hours. We suggest you get a course map before you start walking. (Unfortunately, there are only a few indicators in English on the map.)
Staying in Kinasa is a great way to see and experience daily life in a Japanese village. We share borders with the well-known tourist destinations of Hakuba and Togakushi. But if you prefer a more peaceful and personal experience to the hustle and bustle, Kinasa is the place to be.
We hope you will savor the magnificent panoramic scenes from every mountain path and the stunning landscape that suddenly appears while traveling down the roads.
If you are interested in the history of the earth, the Okususobana Valley is a must-visit sight! There you can see spectacular strata geometric art. In autumn, colored leaves are pleasing to the eyes. (The road to Okususobana Valley is closed in winter.)
If you’re in Kinasa only for one day be sure to stop by Kinasa Furusato Museum (Kinasa Folk Heritage Museum) where you can learn the history, culture and living of KINASA.
But to really get to know and feel Kinasa, book a Japanese inn (Japanese only), stay with us for a few days and immerse yourself into the City of Valley.
Access
From Nagano Station (Zenkoji exit), please take bus number 74 (destination Kinasa) from bus stop no.7. It takes about 60 min to the last stop Kinasa.
*note: Bus to Togakushi also departs from the same stop. Please be careful not to ride on the wrong bus.
Bus timetable
Lores and tales
We have different local lores about the origin of the name “KINASA”, which means the village without evil spirit.
The ones widely known are the story of Kijo-Momiji and the story of the demons who made the Mt. Ichiya-san to prevent the capital being relocated from Kyoto to here.
There are many other lores and tales here in KINASA.
Tsuchikura Monjudo Temple has a story about the general Yoshinaka Kiso who became famous in the late Heian period of Japanese history.
At the Juuni Shurine, the remain of a mooring post tells us the place used to be a lake bottom.
