Wi-Fi and Travel Information in Nagano, Japan: Your Ultimate Guide

Nagano is a prefecture characterized by vast forests and high altitudes. When visiting, you probably want to check the Wi-Fi situation in advance, since free Wi-Fi spots enable you to stay connected.

We will also introduce our recommended Wi-Fi rental service: "WiFiBOX", so keep scrolling.

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Free public Wi-Fi in Nagano

The types of free public Wi-Fi available in Nagano Prefecture vary by municipality. For example, Nagano City, the capital of the prefecture, has "Nagano City Free Wi-Fi", Matsumoto City, which has the national treasure Matsumoto Castle, has "Matsumoto City Free Wi-Fi", and Karuizawa Town, well known as a summer resort, has "Karuizawa-Free Wi-Fi".

Connection time is 30 minutes for Nagano City Free Wi-Fi, 20 minutes for Matsumoto City Free Wi-Fi, and 60 minutes for Karuizawa-Free Wi-Fi. There is no limit on the number of times you can reconnect.

Now, let's check in detail the SSID of Nagano City Free Wi-Fi provided in Nagano City and how to log in.

The SSID of Nagano City Free Wi-Fi

When connecting to Wi-Fi, you need to select an SSID (network name) to identify the wireless LAN access point. The SSID of Nagano City Free Wi-Fi is as follows:

• Nagano_City_Free_Wi-Fi

When you arrive in Nagano City, look for the above SSID on the Wi-Fi settings screen of your device.

How to log in to Nagano City Free Wi-Fi

The login method for Nagano City Free Wi-Fi differs depending on whether you use the designated app or not. The flow when using the app is as follows:

1. Download the application "Japan Wi-Fi auto-connect"
2. Launch the app and register as a user with your email address or social media account
3. Log in and connect to the internet

The social media available for use are the following:

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Weibo
• LINE

Also, if you do not use the app, log in with the following flow.

1. On your smartphone, select "Nagano_City_Free_Wi-Fi" as the connection ID (SSID)
2. Enter information such as email address in the browser
3. Log in and connect to the internet

Please note that this service is not encrypted. There is a possibility that personal information such as IDs, passwords, credit card numbers, etc. that you have entered may be intercepted. Avoid using it when sharing important information.

Reference(in Japanese): Nagano City "Nagano City Free Wi-Fi", Matsumoto City "Matsumoto City Free Wi-Fi Service", Karuizawa Town "Karuizawa-Free-Wi-Fi"

Other free Wi-Fi services available in Nagano

In addition to "Nagano City Free Wi-Fi", "Matsumoto City Free Wi-Fi" and "Karuizawa-Free-Wi-Fi", there is free Wi-Fi available in cafes, hotels, stations, etc. in Nagano Prefecture. However, just like public Wi-Fi, there are risks such as wiretapping, eavesdropping, and device hijacking.

We will introduce these other free Wi-Fi services available in Nagano.

Cafes

Free Wi-Fi is available at various cafes in Nagano. For example, at Starbucks, which has more than 20 stores in the prefecture, you can use free Wi-Fi by selecting the SSID "at_STARBUCKS_Wi2".

In addition, free Wi-Fi is also available at 10 Komeda Coffee shops and 4 Doutor Coffee shops in the prefecture (as of March 25, 2023). When connecting, select "DOUTOR_FREE_Wi-Fi" for Doutor Coffee and "Komeda_Wi-Fi" for Komeda Coffee.

Hotels

Free Wi-Fi is also available at hotels in Nagano. For example, Hotel Green Plaza Hakuba, where you can enjoy fresh gourmet food and a variety of activities, offers Wi-Fi connection services in all guest rooms, restaurants, and lobbies.

Several hotels in Nagano Prefecture might have no free Wi-Fi, so be sure to check with the front desk or hotel staff before your stay.

Stations

You can use the free Wi-Fi "YAMANOUCHI_FREE_Wi-Fi" in the premises of "Yudanaka Station", where the route bus to the sightseeing spot "Shiga Kogen" leaves. In addition, "ALPICO_FREE_Wi-Fi" is available at "Shin-Shimashima Station", which climbers often visit. To use these services, you need to register your email address or social media account.

"Nagano City Free Wi-Fi" is available at "Nagano Station", a terminal station known as the gateway to the Shinshu area.

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WiFiBOX is recommended for Your Wi-Fi in Nagano.

As mentioned above, tourists in Nagano can use public Wi-Fi or free Wi-Fi provided by cafes, and hotels. However, the drawback of free Wi-Fi is that it is not stable and not the safest thing to use, as the communication speed may be slow depending on the time and location, and there is a risk of a third party intercepting the content of the communication. Depending on the hotel where you stay, free Wi-Fi may not be available in the first place.
If you want to use the Internet comfortably and securely while sightseeing in Nagano, why not rent a portable Wi-Fi router?
In particular, we recommend WiFiBOX, a Wi-Fi rental service that completes every step of the process, from reservation to return, all contactless.

Here are the simple steps to rent a WiFiBOX.

Flow of usage and setting

The flow of using and setting up WiFiBOX is as follows:

1. On the official site of WiFiBOX (https://wifibox.telecomsquare.co.jp/en), select your travel destination ("Japan", if you are going to use it in Nagano), select the desired usage period and plan, and tap "Proceed to checkout".
2. If you are using WiFiBOX for the first time, create a new account. Log in if you already have one.
3. Complete the payment procedure with a credit card (Visa, Mastercard, JCB, or American Express) or a debit card.
4. After reserving, you will receive an email with the subject "How to Pick Up Your Wi-Fi Unit". When you are in front of the rental machine, open the "QR code (*) scanning page" from the email, and scan the QR code at the top right of the display on the rental machine.
   (* "QR Code" is a registered trademark of Denso Wave)
5. Tap "Pick-up" on your smartphone, and pull out the Wi-Fi unit from the slot to receive it.
6. Turn on the power of the unit , then on the Wi-Fi setting screen of your device, select the SSID written on the back of the unit, and enter the password to.

Please refer to the following for more detailed usage procedures:
(Link to WiFiBOX quick guide)
https://wifibox.telecomsquare.co.jp/en/pages/guide

Wi-Fi router pickup/return location

As of April 2023, WiFiBOX rental machines are installed at Takamatsu Airport, Narita Airport, Haneda Airport, Kansai Airport, Chubu International Airport, Fukuoka Airport, Tokyo Station etc. It is also now available in Shinjuku and Shibuya Station area.
We recommend you to pick up your Wi-Fi unit at the airport or station you plan to pass when traveling to Nagano.

Please check the following for details on the locations of WiFiBOX

WiFiBOX Location List

About Nagano

When you hear the name "Nagano", it refers to "Nagano Prefecture", located in the central part of Honshu, and "Nagano City", which is the prefectural capital. Nagano is also known as a place where you can enjoy winter sports such as skiing, and it was selected to host the 18th Winter Olympics in 1998.

Nagano is also characterized by the fact that eight prefectures (Niigata Prefecture, Gunma Prefecture, Saitama Prefecture, Yamanashi Prefecture, Shizuoka Prefecture, Aichi Prefecture, Gifu Prefecture, and Toyama Prefecture) are adjacent to it. It has the largest number of neighboring prefectures among all the prefectures, and is also attracting attention as a place with easy access to all three major urban areas of Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya.

Nagano Prefecture has a population of around 2 million people, and an area of approximately 13,500 square kilometers (as of January 1, 2020). It is ranked 4th in terms of area by prefecture.

Since it is surrounded by high mountains, the impact of typhoons and the rainy seasons is relatively small. Also, the prefecture has a large land area and produces a wide variety of agricultural products.

There are various specialty products such as oyaki (stuffed dumpling), nozawana (a type of leafy vegetable), sanzoku-yaki (large fried chicken), and gohei-mochi (a type of rice cake famous in the Chubu region). In addition, there are many local specialties with "Shinshu" in their name, such as "Shinshu soba", "Shinshu salmon", "Shinshu miso", and "Shinshu apples", after the original name of the region.

Reference(in Japanese) : Nagano Prefecture "Location and size of Nagano Prefecture", Nagano Prefectural Tourism Organization "What is Nagano Prefecture?"

What to see in Nagano

Due to the vast land area of Nagano Prefecture, it is unique in that the climate, nature, culture, and other characteristics vary from region to region. Nagano Prefecture can be divided into the following 10 areas.

• Saku area
• Ueda area
• Suwa area
• Kamiina area
• Southern Shinshu area
• Kiso area
• Matsumoto area
• Northern Alps region
• Nagano area
• Hokushin area

For example, the "Hokushin area" is the northernmost region of the prefecture with heavy snowfall; the "Nagano area" is surrounded by mountains on all sides, including Joshinetsu National Park, and the "Matsumoto area" includes Matsumoto City, Utsukushi-ga-hara Plateau, Kamikochi, Norikura Plateau, Azumino and other tourist destinations.

As our recommendation, we will introduce you "Shiga Kogen Plateau" in the Hokushin area, "Togakushi Shrine" and "Zenkoji" in the Nagano area, and "Daio Wasabi Farm" and "Matsumoto Castle" in the Matsumoto area.

Shiga Kogen Plateau

Shiga Kogen Plateau is located in the center of Joshinetsu Kogen National Park in the northeastern part of Nagano Prefecture, and is a resort area with 18 large and small ski resorts. The highest altitude of its ski resort is 2,307m, and you can enjoy a panorama of nature and superb views.

There are five areas in Shiga Kogen: the Okushiga Kogen area, Yakebitaiyama area, Central area, Kumanoyu area, and Yokoteyama/Shibutoge area. Each area has different attractions and features, such as the diverse course layout in the Yakebitaiyama area and the highest elevation in Japan in the Yokoteyama and Shibutoge areas.

The appeal of Shiga Kogen is that you can enjoy it in seasons other than winter. Since it is dotted with wetlands and lakes formed by volcanic activities, you can enjoy alpine flora in summer and fall foliage in fall.

Another attraction is that Shiga Kogen has eight hot springs. There are famous hot springs such as "Hoppo Onsen," named for the sound of steam, and "Kumanoyu Onsen," where a wounded bear cub is said to have healed its wounds.

Business hours	8：30 AM ～ 5 PM(Shiga Kogen Tourist Association)
Regular holidays	Open all year round (with temporary closure)
Address	Shiga Kogen General Hall 98, 7148 Hirao, Yamanouchi Town, Shimotakai District, Nagano Prefecture

Reference(in Japanese) : Nagano Prefecture "Area Guide Shiga Kogen", Shiga Kogen Tourism Association "Charm of Shiga Kogen"

Togakushi Shrine

Togakushi Shrine consists of five shrines: Okusha, Chusha, Hokosha, Kuzuryusha, and Hinomikosha Shrines, all located at the foot of Mt.Togakushi, a sacred mountain. It has a history of more than 2,000 years since its foundation.

At Togakushi Shrine, the gods who were involved in the "Amano Iwato Opening Ritual", such as Ame no Tadikarao no Mikoto, Ame no Yagokoro Omoikane no Mikoto, etc., are enshrined. "Amano Iwato Opening Ritual" is a myth about the gods who brought back out Amaterasu-Okami (the goddess of the sun), who hid herself in a rock cave.

The Treasure Hall in Chusha of Togakushi Shrine stores and exhibits historical materials related to the Togakushi faith.

Business hours	9：00～17：00
Regular holiday	ー
Address	3506 Togakushi, Nagano City, Nagano Prefecture

Reference(in Japanese) : Togakushi Shrine "History of Togakushi Shrine", Togakushi Tourism Association "Togakushi Shrine"

Zenkoji Temple

Photo provided by "Zenkoji Temple"

Zenkoji Temple in Nagano City is a temple dedicated to Ikko Sanzon Amida Nyorai. It has been worshiped by people for about 1,400 years since its foundation, and there is even a saying, "Visit Zenkoji once in a lifetime."

It is known as a temple that accepts all people because it does not belong to any particular sect. It has attracted attention not only from Japan, but from the world. For example, in 1998, the Zenkoji temple bell was rung at the opening ceremony of the Nagano Winter Olympics, and in 2010, the 14th Dalai Lama visited the temple.

Held every 7 years - the 'Zenko-ji Maedaichi Honzon Gokaicho' or more simply, the 'Gokaicho', celebrates the history and heritage of Zenko-ji with the public display of the 'Maedachi Honzon' - a replica of the hidden statue that is housed in the temple (you can see an imitation of the original).

Business hours	9 AM -4:30 PM (opening hours)
Regular holiday	ー
Address	491 Nagano Motoyoshi-cho, Nagano City, Nagano Prefecture

Reference(in Japanese) : Zenkoji "Introduction"

Daio Wasabi Farm

Daio Wasabi Farm is a wasabi farm that uses the abundant spring water of the Northern Alps. The predecessors spent 20 years cultivating this wasteland, which was originally made up of only gravel.

Here, you can eat dishes using wasabi from the Daio Wasabi Farm at three restaurant. In addition, it is dotted with landscapes and spots that will make you want to take pictures, such as the "Watermill" and "Yume no Kakehashi", meaning "The Bridge of Dream".

Business hours	8 AM - 5 PM (March-November), 9 AM -4 PM(December-February)
Regular holiday	Dec.31〜 Jan.2
Address	3640 Hotaka, Azumino City, Nagano Prefecture

Reference(in Japanese) : Daio Wasabi Farm "Notice"

Matsumoto Castle

Matsumoto Castle is considered to be the oldest existing castle in Japan with five-tiered, six-story castle towers. In 1952, the castle was designated as a national treasure, after Himeji Castle.

The tower of Matsumoto Castle is a "connected complex type" tower that connects the main keep and the small keep with Watariyagura, and combines the Tatsumi Tsukeyagura and the Tsukimi Yagura. The connecting compound castle tower is a characteristic structure unique to Matsumoto Castle.

The black and white appearance of Matsumoto Castle stands out against the lush greenery of the surrounding Alps. Also, in spring, the Komatsunagi cherry blossoms are in full bloom.

Business hours	Business hours 8:30 AM -5 PM (Last admission 4:30 PM) May vary depending on the season
Regular holiday	The end of the year
Address	4-1 Marunouchi, Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture

Reference(in Japanese) : Matsumoto Castle "About National Treasure Matsumoto Castle"

Wrap-up of the internet and Wi-Fi situation in Nagano

In Nagano Prefecture, there are different public Wi-Fi services depending on the municipality. You can connect to "Nagano City Free Wi-Fi" in Nagano City, "Matsumoto City Free Wi-Fi" in Matsumoto City, and "Karuizawa-Free Wi-Fi" in Karuizawa Town.

However, when using public Wi-Fi or free Wi-Fi in cafes, etc., you must consider the possibility of wiretapping, eavesdropping, and device hijacking. Depending on the content of the information, you probably want to consider other ways to connect to the internet other than using the free Wi-Fi.

For that, we recommend WiFiBOX. WiFiBOX is a Wi-Fi rental service with a super simple procedure, from reservation to pick-up and return, without any human contact. If you plan to go on a business or traveling in Nagano, try using this!