Japan Guide
Central Honshū
Accommodation
1 Hotel Kokusai 21 576 Agata-machi 
026/234-1111 
www.kokusai21.co.jp Battling it out with the Saihokukan as Nagano's top hotel, Kokusai 21 has a more contemporary look. Rooms are spacious and well appointed, but slightly dull. It has a good selection of restaurants and great views from its sixteenth-floor bar. Price: ¥15000-20000
2 Hotel Metropolitan Nagano 1346 Minami-Ishido-chō 026/291-7000 www.metro-n.co.jp Good-value upmarket hotel beside the west exit of the JR station, with high-standard Western-style rooms, a stylish lobby and restaurants. Price: ¥15000-20000
3 Oyado Kinenkan 550 Nishi-machi 026/234-2043 
234-6888 Rickety old ryokan, a short walk south of Zenkō-ji. This is a good budget choice with single rooms from as low as ¥3700. The management are welcoming and all the tatami rooms share communal bathrooms. Price: ¥7000-10000
4 Saihokukan Hotel 528-1 Agata-machi 026/235-3333 saihokukan.com This venerable hotel has been in business since 1890, although the current building is of a much more modern vintage. There are economy rooms here (with singles starting as low as ¥6825), but you're better off going for the larger and far more plush regular rooms. Price: ¥10000–30000.
5 Hotel Sunroute Nagano 1-28-3 Minami-Chitose-chō 026/228-2222 www.sunroute.jp Service is polite and standards high at this slightly old-fashioned mid-range hotel opposite the west exit of the JR station. The rooms have tiled en-suite bathrooms, rather than the usual moulded plastic affairs. Price: ¥10000-15000
6 Zenkō-ji Kyōju-in Youth Hostel 479 Motoyoshi-machi 026/232-2768 232-2767 Ideal if you're planning an early morning visit to Zenkō-ji, which is just a minute's walk away. The hostel is housed in an atmospheric old temple building, which the management are understandably very protective of; you'll have to leave your belongings in lockers in the entrance hall before being shown into the large tatami dorms – if it's not busy you might have a whole room to yourself. Price: ¥3500