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You may have heard of Nozawa Onsen, which was one of the venues of the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics, or the snow monkeys that enjoy the onsen in Yamanouchi Town. However, did you know that Iiyama City is within a 30-minitue drive from both locations?

On top of being a transportation hub of the northern-most part of Nagano Prefecture, Iiyama City is also a winter wonderland itself with many winter and cultural activities available. Below, I will provide some ideas on how you can spend your holiday in Iiyama City through a 3-Day/2-Night itinerary that uses public transportation.

Day 1:
Traditional Crafts and History of Iiyama

In the past, many farmers would make crafts as a side job during the cold winter. In Iiyama City, some examples of crafts include the Onuma broom, rice-straw handicrafts, and Uchiyama Japanese paper. On day one, you would be able to make some traditional crafts near Iiyama Station before making your way to your accommodation.

Arrive in Iiyama mid-morning by shinkansen from Tokyo, and store your luggage at Iiyama Station. Afterwards, head to Iiyama Handicraft Paper Studio, which is a 10-minute walk from Iiyama Station, to make your very own Uchiyama Japanese paper.

Iiyama Handicraft Paper Studio

Uchiyama Japanese paper is a certified Traditional Craft of Japan, and it is characterized by its whiteness and sturdiness. Design your own washi by participating in a washi-making workshop lead by Hirata-san! The workshop is fun, and Hirata-san will also briefly explain how the raw material, paper mulberry (kozo), is pre-treated using snow by request.    

It only costs 210 yen for making a postcard-sized washi, and 520 yen for a colored washi! Please visit this website for more information about the workshop.

Museum Complex

While waiting for your washi to dry off, make your way to the nearby museum complex, and spend some time to learn about the traditional craft, art and history of Iiyama City at Iiyama City Art Museum, Iiyama City Museum of Traditional Arts (inside the Art Museum), and Iiyama Furusato Hall.

*You can buy a 3-museum combo ticket, or if you plan to visit the Mayumi Takahashi Museum of Doll Art at a later date, the 4-museum combo ticket offers a better deal than separately buying admission tickets. The 4-museum combo ticket allows you to visit all 4 museums once within six months upon purchasing the ticket.

Lunch: Japanese Food in Downtown Iiyama

After picking up your washi paper, walk to the shopping street in Downtown Iiyama for a mouth-watering lunch! You can enjoy soba (buckwheat noodles), eel, sushi, and more! I highly recommend the eel, because it is so good that people come all the way from outside Nagano Prefecture to savor it – from neighboring Niigata, Tokyo, Saitama, you name it. However, soba is also a good choice if you are hesitant in trying the eel.

Here is the link to a filtered list of restaurants for your reference.

Metal Engraving Workshop

Iiyama City is famous for producing another certified Traditional Craft of Japan, Iiyama Buddhist altar, where many traditional crafts are involved during the production process. Metal engraving is one of the many processes, hence nurturing certified Masters of Traditional Craft like Mitsui-san.

After lunch, head to Mitsui Kanagu Studio, which is a 5-minute walk from Iiyama Station, for a metal engraving workshop from 13:30 to 15:30.

You can choose to engrave a square plate, an incense holder, bracelets, or other items for the workshop, and the beauty is you can take home your finished piece right away! Please click here to sign up for the workshop.Please note that bookings must be made at least 3 days in advance.

Accommodation: Mori-no-Ie

Mori-no-Ie features many snow-hut like cabins, which is perfect for those looking for a private and laidback vacation. It is also the perfect place for those who are interested in winter activities other than skiing, as it provides many unique options.

Take the mid-afternoon train that departs Iiyama Station at 15:54 and arrive at Togarinozawa-onsen Station at 16:05, where a shuttle bus to Mori-no-Ie will be waiting for you outside. (Shuttle bus service from Togarinozawa-onsen Station is available by request when booking for accommodation.)

Night Snowshoeing Tour

After checking in and settling down inside your cabin, join a snowshoeing tour from 17:30 to 19:00 for an exciting adventure. Enhance your five senses and pay attention to the surroundings while walking on the snow, as you will be able to see and feel things that are only available in the dark. Beginners are also welcome because an experienced guide will teach you the basics of snowshoeing and lead the way to the best course of the night.

Dinner: Shabu-shabu Hot Pot

After a nighttime exercise, enjoy a warm meal inside the comfort of your cabin. Savor delicious local vegetables, award-winning local rice, Iiyama’s local pork “Miyuki Pork,” and Nagano’s premium beef. What else beats a bubbling hot pot inside a cozy cabin on a cold winter night?

The shabu-shabu dinner is only available as part of an accommodation plan. Please use the following link to book this specific dinner + accommodation plan.

Shabu-shabu Dinner + 1 Night Stay in a Cabin

Day 2: A Full Day of Winter Activities

On day two, you will explore the wonders of snow, and learn how Iiyama locals enjoy the winter (hint: onsen + good food)!

Mori-no-Ie Program: Snow Play

Enjoy a leisurely morning, then join one of Mori-no-Ie’s in-house programs. I highly recommend the “Snow Play” program because the instructor will teach you how to make snowmen, snow statues, and even a mini kamakura (Japanese igloo)! You can also borrow sleighs and try tobogganing. The pros will share all their tips with you to make it a fun and memorable experience!

Lunch: Restaurant Kamakura Village

I hope you made a mini kamakura in the morning because you will get to see an actual one next! Restaurant Kamakura Village is a popular tourist spot in Iiyama during winter because visitors can enjoy a local hot pot inside one of the twenty kamakura. Please refer to this website for details such as hours and reservation: Restaurant Kamakura Village

*The recommended lunch time for this model course is at 13:15. 

Visitors who weren’t able to book the hot pot lunch can also enter the Kamakura Village for 300 yen to take photos and enter a specific kamakura that anyone can go in. For those who need food to fill up their empty stomachs, there is a rest area where visitors can have light meals sold by the adjacent stall.

*Typically, visitors are responsible for arranging their own transportation to and from Restaurant Kamakura Village. However, special shuttle service can be arranged upon request (subject to availability) for guests staying overnight at Mori-no-Ie.

Yutaki Onsen

Good news if you have sore muscles from playing too hard in the morning, as you will head to Yutaki Onsen, a local onsen (hot spring), to warm up your body and relax those stiff muscles.

You will need to take a shower in the indoor bath first before dipping into the onsen, and make sure to head to the outdoor bath for THE Japanese onsen atmosphere! It is a good idea to bring towels from Mori-no-Ie, or you can buy a towel at Yutaki Onsen and bring it home as a souvenir. Enjoy your dip!

*Special shuttle service can be arranged upon request (subject to availability) for guests staying overnight at Mori-no-Ie.

Dinner: Yutaki Onsen

After a relaxing bath, get a heartful dinner at the dining area inside Yutaki Onsen. They have set meals, rice bowls, Japanese curry, ramen, soba, and udon. There are also a la carte dishes for those who are not that hungry after today’s hot pot lunch. End your meal with a purple rice soft serve ice cream, then head back to your cabin by using Mori-no-Ie’s special shuttle service (upon request and subject to availability).

Day 3: Depart Iiyama

Enjoy a relaxing morning, then check out from Mori-no-Ie and continue your trip in Japan. Shuttle bus services to Togarinozawa-onsen Station is available from 9:00, and it is by request at check-in.

Togarinozawa-onsen Station Departure Time:      9:54

Iiyama Station Arrival Time:                        10:06

Connecting Shinkansen (to Kanazawa):      10:28

Connecting Shinkansen (to Toyko):           10:33

*The JR ticket machines at Iiyama Station will be very crowded. Please buy tickets beforehand or leave extra time for lining up.