Obuse
Obuse (小布施) is a town in Nagano Prefecture.
Understand
Obuse is famous as the home of the Hokusai Museum. It houses works by the Edo-era woodblock artist Katsushika Hokusai, well known for his Thirty-Six Views of Mt Fuji. He lived in Obuse when in his 70s, and produced many brush paintings during that time.
Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a bilingual guide site.
Get in
Take the Nagano Dentetsu railway from Nagano station to Obuse station (24 minutes/¥750 by limited express, 33 minutes/¥650 by local train).
Get around
The old town area is very compact and flat, and easy to walk around.
See
- 🌍 Hokusai Museum (北斎館), 485 Obuse (In the centre of the restored town area, next to the bus parking area), ☏ +81 26-247-5206. Apr-Oct: 09:00-17:00, Nov-Mar: 09:30-16:30, closed on December 31 and January 1.. Displays works of the Edo-era artist Katsushika Hokusai. Adults ¥500; students ¥300.
Eat
🌍 San-Poo-Loh Restaurant and Terrace (小布施堂傘風楼), 500 Obuse Machi (Opposite the Hokusai Museum), ☏ +81 26-247-1113. 07:30-21:00. Temporarily Closed for COVID19. An elegant restaurant and coffee shop in the heart of Obuse. Italian food and fresh bread. Excellent service, delicious coffee, and delightful decor. Coffee ¥400; cappuccino ¥450; coffee and cake sets from ¥600.
Go next
- Chikuma - take the Shinano railway south from Nagano City to Chikuma or Togura stations and explore the onsens, mountains and temples of this small city straddling the picturesque Chikuma River
- Yamanouchi - home of the famous hot-spring soaking snow monkeys.
- Joshinetsu Kogen National Park - which includes Shiga Kogen, Japan's largest ski resort, host of 1998 Nagano Winter Olympic Giant Slalom, with 21 interlinked ski fields and over 70 lifts.
- Matsumoto - home of the famous black castle, whose gardens and views are a delight in spring and autumn
- Kiso Valley - through which winds the historic Nakasendo (Mountain Road) with numerous historic and beautifully restored villages
- Hakuba - some of the best ski fields in Japan and great summer hiking along the spectacular northern Alps
- Azumino - Spice up your life with a visit to one of Japan's most famous wasabi farms
- Nagano - Take a pilgrimage to Zenkoji Temple