Joshin'etsukogen National Park

Joshin'etsukogen National Park (上信越高原国立公園 Jōshin'etsu Kōgen Kokuritsu Kōen) is in the Chubu region of Japan; it is the second largest national park in Japan and consists of mountains and highlands that extend across Gunma (old province name 上野 kōzuke), Nagano (信濃 shinano), and Niigata (越後 echigo) prefectures.

A top of Mt. Tanigawa

The nearest town of size is Nagano, easily reached by Shinkansen from Tokyo (79 min). From Nagano Station, the Nagaden Shiga Kogen express bus runs several times a day directly to Shiga Kogen (1 hr 10 min, ¥1600). All buses go up to Hasuike (蓮池), with some continuing on to Oku-Shiga Kogen (奥滋賀高原) or Shirone Kazan (白根火山).

Alternatively, if you miss the direct bus, take the Nagano Dentetsu train from Nagano to Yudanaka (40 min) and continue by bus to Shiga Kogen (20 min, roughly hourly).

On your journey, you might see some of these notable mountain locations: Mt. Asama, Mt. Shirane, Ichinokurasawa, Shibu Pass, Mt. Myoko, Mt. Kurohime, Mt. Togakushi, Mt. Iizuna, or Lake Nojiri.

• 🌍 Jigokudani Yaen-koen (地獄谷野猿公苑), 6845 Yamanouchi-machi, Shimotakai-gun, ☏ +81 269-33-4379. Snow monkeys! See the wild, but not too shy, Japanese Macaques in a hot spring. Adult ¥500, child ¥250. 

• 🌍 Shiga Kogen (志賀高原). Japan's largest ski resort, host of 1998 Nagano Winter Olympic Giant Slalom. With 21 interlinked ski fields and over 70 lifts, it takes days to explore all the runs the area has to offer.