Food & Cultural Walking Tour around Zenkoji temple in Nagano
Overview
Available languages
3 hours
Mobile ticket
Discover the Soul of Nagano through Zenkoji Temple’s History, Local Culture, and Delicious Cuisine
Duration: 3 hours
Location: Nagano City, Zenkoji Temple & Surrounding Areas
Type: Walking Tour
✨ Tour Highlights ✨
1️⃣ Zenkoji Temple Exploration ️
Step into one of Japan’s most historic and spiritual sites!
Discover the ancient beauty of Zenkoji Temple, one of Japan’s oldest and most revered Buddhist temples.
Marvel at the intricate wooden architecture and learn about its significance in Japanese Buddhism.
2️⃣ Hidden Stories & Local Legends
Walk through the temple grounds and nearby streets as your guide shares fascinating stories and local lore.
3️⃣ Delicious Food Tastings
Oyaki Dumplings
Traditional Japanese Sweets
Sake Tasting
4️⃣ Explore Nakamise Street ️
5️⃣ Interactive Cultural Experiences
Try your hand at traditional activities, like fortune-telling, and learn about Japanese customs.
Book Your Tour Today!
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Walking shoes are recommended
Minimum alcahol drinking age is 20 years. So we offer another drink for under 20.
In case of late arrival, the tour cannot be extended.
o8Experience is a locally based tour company offering private and small-group experiences across Nagano and surrounding regions. From food and culture to nature and history, we create meaningful journeys tailored to curious travelers. Visit o8Experience to discover more.
Not suitable for person who needs gluten free food.
This tour generally requires 2 or more guests to operate. For solo travelers, feel free to contact us before booking to confirm availability.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Meet Up At: infront of Starbucks at Nagano station. We will explore the greater part of Zenkoji temple town where is an old and residential area. We will visit 2 - 3 local shops to try authentic Japanese bites and sweets. ⇨ Stop At: Oyaki House Taste Nagano's special product "Oyaki", which is Japanese stuffed dumplings and from local village called "Ogawa". Oyaki is cooked in irori, which is a traditional Japanese sunken hearth and you can have it near by cozy & warm bonfire. ⇨ Walking High Street to Zenkoji Temple You can look around some Nagano’s local products for souvenir on the high street and see 1400 years history of National treasure temple. ⇨ Sake Tasting You can try to taste variety of Sake with nibbles like soy source beans and some Japanese pickles. Also you can have Nagano’s miso soup. ⇨ Walking on back street. As we walk on back street, you will see local shrines, local shops and neighborhood of Nagano city. ⇨ Arrival at Matcha Tea Place You have Matcha tea in Japanese style room and also very nice Japanese sweet. ⇨ Pop in local shop on back street. You can pop in local shop to see Nagano’s local products. Tour Concludes *The time depends on the group
Sample Menu
dessert
Matcha tea & sweets
main
Oyaki (Japanese Stuffed Dumplings)
What‘s Included
2 Oyaki(Japanese Stuffed Dumplings)
High quality photographs taken throughout the experience to be shared with you after the tour
Sake Tasting
Matcha Tea & Sweets
Extra drinks and food (available to purchase)
Meal for infant
Transportation fee to meeting point
There are no mandatory in-destination costs.
Options
Nagano's Food & Cultural Walking Tours
Reviews
57 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Enjoyable tour
Debra L,,Oct 11, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Our guide's name was Masa and he was very informative. He took us to places that we would never have found by ourselves. We tasted oyaki, a traditional food that we probably wouldn't have tried had we been on our own. Masa took us to the Zenkoji Temple and explained about the Shinto religion. On our way back we had a sake tasting and tried matcha icecream. I would highly recommend this tour.
Interesting overview tour of Nagano
shawnad83,,Oct 10, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Fun and interesting tour of Nagano. In addition to going to the temple, we went to a shrine, had a few food tastings and saw some traditional shops and homes. We also walked by the are where they helps the Olympic medal ceremonies. The guide was informative and funny. The temple is beautiful and we really enjoyed trying oyaki, the dumpling famous for the area.
We loved visiting Nagano!!
jackieo7,,Oct 7, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We spent the day with Masa from o8 Experience and had a wonderful time! This is truly what we wanted to experience - from a local person’s perspective. Everything is so walkable and close to our hotel, too. We learned about family traditions when visiting the temple to daily life with a special visit to a shrine. It helped us understand the Japanese people’s thoughts on family, life, and prosperity. Walking around the grounds of the Zenkoji temple was amazing! It’s a treasure here in Nagano. We also stopped by a local shop for Oyaki dumplings. Delicious and interesting to see them make a traditional farmer’s meal. We also had the best matcha ice cream for a treat after lunch. Nagano has such a chill vibe and is completely different from other busier cities. It’s definitely worth the visit.
Oyaki and matcha ice cream… the best of Nagano summer
435jacintas,,Jul 19, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Thanks Masa and Riku for making our families summer tour of Nagano so easy, interesting, delicious, and fun. We really appreciate your enthusiasm, hospitality and excellent photos!
Nice tour.
jpmooy,,May 19, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00Nice tour with guide who speaks good English. Few snacks for a food tour. The sake tasting was very nice.
Wonderful tour to get to know Nagano quickly!
Karen A,,Apr 22, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00We had a wonderful walking tour with Kasumi and her protege, Tak. We spent a quiet Monday morning walking around the temple areas, the shops, and we had a sake and uzike tastings. Kasumi was very knowledgeable about Nagano, and showed us secret laneways and gave us tips for further sights to see, that we would never have done, without going on this tour. I highly recommend this tour - it really made Nagano come to life for us, and my daughters now have Nagano as their favourite city in Japan!
A great walk - and talk! - around Nagano city
PaulV1536,,Mar 15, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Right off the bat I knew this was gonna be good. Masa is not only very knowledgable but also a very warm and welcoming human being (with a good sense of humour) and for me, it's very important to have a good connection. Especially since this was essentially a solo tour. The time flew by like it was nothing. I highly recommend this tour if you plan in exploring Zenkoji temple. Also, you really need to taste oyaki dumplings, they are renown in the region and rightly so. If I ever go back to Nagano (and I will), I will go on one if Masa's tours again.
✨Best of both worlds! Tourist attraction w/ local access to special places🥟🍵🍡✨
Megan G,,Feb 18, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00I booked this tour at the last minute and ended up being the only one! Masa-san was lovely, gracious and kind with his time as I took pictures and explored. I highly recommend this tour if you are looking to add an element of unique/local flair to the tourist must-do. You'll see the Zenkoji temple and try the local delicacies, but with a friendly local who knows all the best places to tuck in for the perfect bite. Don't miss this one when you are in Nagano!
Enjoyable insight of Nagano
Sightsee20194685383,,Feb 2, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had Masa as our guide and he was excellent. He provided a lot of interesting and useful information on Nagano and Japan especially on its food and culture. The Oyaki dumplings and the dorayaki were delicious. The sake tasting was enjoyable. Our visit to Zenkoji temple was really interesting. Masa also sent us some memorable photos which we greatly appreciate.
A fun cultural tour through Nagano
D7065CCchrism,,Dec 30, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Masa was a fantastic guide. Very friendly and knowledgeable. We had an amazing day and cultural experience through the streets of Nagano. Thank you
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