Otome Falls in Chino — Where Yokoya Gorge Begins With Moving Water
A Short Waterfall Stop Above Lake Suwa Otome Falls, known in Japanese as 乙女滝, sits near the entrance to Yokoya Gorge in Chino, Nagano Prefecture, where the Tateshina highlands begin…
Chino is a highland city in central Nagano Prefecture. It serves as a gateway to Lake Shirakaba, the Kirigamine Highlands, and the wider Suwa area. Chino sits at elevation and has cooler summers than many nearby cities. The area is known for open plateau landscapes and wide mountain views.
This collection focuses on places in and around Chino that are worth visiting. You’ll find guides to lakeside areas, highland viewpoints, scenic drives, and cultural sites. Content also covers seasonal nature spots and practical travel details. Each guide explains access, timing, and how Chino fits into a wider trip through Nagano.
A Short Waterfall Stop Above Lake Suwa Otome Falls, known in Japanese as 乙女滝, sits near the entrance to Yokoya Gorge in Chino, Nagano Prefecture, where the Tateshina highlands begin…
A Shrine That Gradually Pulls You Away From the Lake Basin Set in the southeastern side of Lake Suwa within Nagano Prefecture in Japan’s Chubu Region, Suwa Taisha Kamisha Maemiya…
A Small Forest Pond Above the Suwa Basin Mishaka-ike is a small forest pond in the Tateshina Highlands east of Chino in Nagano Prefecture. The site sits above the Suwa…
A Small Waterfall Hidden Below Mishaka-ike Pond Oshidori Kakushi Falls sits in a forested ravine in the Tateshina Highlands east of Chino in Nagano Prefecture. The waterfall lies below Mishaka-ike…