A Spiritual Retreat to Japan’s Wine Country
Central Japan is home to some truly breathtaking, unspoiled landscapes just begging to be explored. As such, it is a mecca for those looking to enjoy the great outdoors, especially Yamanashi Prefecture’s wine country, and the majestic peaks found in Nagano. It is also home to many sacred sites that can help visitors get in touch with Japanese spiritual traditions.
JR East Pass (Nagano, Niigata)
For this course, we recommend utilizing the JR East Pass (Nagano, Niigata) for travel. With this affordable pass, visitors can enjoy unlimited rides on all JR trains in its designated area, including shinkansen bullet trains, as well as the Narita Express and Tokyo Monorail. The pass also allows you to avoid the muss and fuss of purchasing individual tickets; just show your pass to station attendants at JR ticket gates and hop aboard!
Shinjuku Station
Chuo Line Limited Express【JR EAST PASS (Nagano, Niigata area)】
Shinjuku Station – Kofu Station
Bus【Additional fare required】
Kofu Station – Shosenkyoguchi
Walk
Shosenkyoguchi – Shosenkyo Gorge
Shosenkyo Gorge
Grab a sturdy pair of hiking boots and get ready to explore the dazzling leaves and intriguing rock formations of Shosenkyo Gorge, about three hours from Tokyo (Shinjuku) by train and bus.
Walk
Shosenkyo Gorge – Green Line Shosenkyo
Bus【Additional fare required】
Green Line Shosenkyo – Kofu Station
Chuo Line Local【JR EAST PASS (Nagano, Niigata area)】
Kofu Station – Enzan Station
Walk
Enzan Station – Winery
Yamanashi Wine Country
Yamanashi is the most prolific wine region of Japan with over 140 years of growing experience, producing a third of all the wine made domestically. So there’s simply no better place to tour vineyards while tasting the best the country has to offer.
Walk
Winery – Enzan Station
Chuo Line Limited Express【JR EAST PASS (Nagano, Niigata area)】
Enzan Station – Shiojiri Station
Shinano Line Limited Express【JR EAST PASS (Nagano, Niigata area)】
Shiojiri Station – Nagano Station
Walk
Nagano Station – Zenkoji Temple
Zenkoji Temple
Zenkoji Temple
Walk
Zenkoji Temple – Nagano Station
Express Bus【Additional fare required】
Nagano Station – Jigokudani Monkey Park
Jigokudani Yaen-Koen
Although Jigokudani changes dramatically depending on the season, one of the most popular times to visit is winter, when there is a chance to see the monkeys that inhabit the valley soak in a hot spring to warm up!
Express Bus【Additional fare required】
Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park – Nagano Station
Shinano Line Limited Express【JR EAST PASS (Nagano, Niigata area)】
Nagano Station – Matsumoto Station
Walk
Matsumoto Station – Matsumoto Castle Matsumoto Castle
Matsumoto Castle
Only two hours from Tokyo by train lies Matsumoto, home to one of the best-preserved castles in Japan. Matsumoto Castle is a National Treasure of Japan, and one you have to see with your own eyes.
Walk
Matsumoto Castle – Matsumoto Station
Chuo Line Limited Express Azusa【JR EAST PASS (Nagano, Niigata area)】
Matsumoto Station – Shinjuku Station
