Last week I told you about Akita Prefecture because I lived there for 3 years, from 2001 to 2004. But today I'd like to write about Nagano Prefecture! I moved there in 2004 and was there for more than 2 years, until late 2006. It's a really nice place. It's probably most famous for the Japanese Alps:
Most of Japan's highest mountains are in Nagano, and it also has the Japanese city which is farthest away from any sea or ocean. But these days, most people probably think of the Winter Olympics when they think about Nagano. With Tokyo planning to host the Summer Olympics beginning next month, it's a good time to remember the last time Japan held the Olympics. That was about 23 years ago!!
Japan did very well in those Olympics. Only 5 countries won more gold medals (Canada, the U.S., Russia, Norway, & Germany)! Japanese athletes were especially strong in ski jumping and speed skating that year. Hakuba (白馬), which means "White Horse", is a village in northern Nagano Prefecture that had many events during the Olympics then. It's a very famous ski resort. But I actually lived further south than that. My city was Matsumoto. Do you know what the most popular tourist destination is in Matsumoto??
If you said "Matsumoto Castle", you are correct! I heard that it is the oldest castle in Japan which has never been rebuilt. Other castles are a little bit older, but they were damaged and had to be built again. However, this castle has only had some repairs done over the years from time to time. It has never been completely rebuilt. One of my English students when I lived in Matsumoto was a Japanese man who was a tour guide at Matsumoto Castle. He could explain its history in English to some tourists who visited the city from outside of Japan.
I made many friends when I lived in Nagano Prefecture, and I have a lot of nice memories of my time there!!! If you get a chance someday, please take a trip to this prefecture!!!!
- Peter 
