The Saihokukan is Nagano City's grand old dame — a heritage hotel dating to 1890 that has hosted Japanese emperors, legendary shogi title matches, and cultural icons from novelist Natsume Soseki to painter Okamoto Taro. During the 1998 Winter Olympics, its ballroom hosted the Imperial tea reception — a first for any private venue in Japan. The hotel's own tagline is disarmingly honest: "not everything is exquisite, but it's a comfortable hotel." A characterful, historically rich base for exploring Nagano City and nearby Zenko-ji temple.
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At Japan’s centre, discover a charming town where mysteries outnumber the temples – and that’s saying something.
