IIDA - Little Kyoto of Southern Nagano
- Tetsuro Goda
- 2月10日
- 読了時間: 2分
City of Iida is currently the fifth populous city in Nagano prefecture, after Nagano, Matsumoto, Ueda and Saku. It is the southernmost city located in the prefecture, along Ina valley which Tenryu river runs through. It is the economical center of Southern Nagano region, especially Iida-Shimoina district.
Quick facts
Total area: 658.66
Population: 93,397 (1 January 2025)
Density: 142 persons/km
Climate
Average temperature(in Celcius): January - 1.0 / April - 11.8 / July - 24.4 / October - 15.0
***Hottest month is August - 25.4 / Coldest month is January. ***
Precipitation(total - mm): January - 63.4 / April - 141.0 / July - 240.1 / October - 163.3
Sakura season
End of March - Middle of April.
One of the best places in Iida to see sakura is Omiya-dori Sakura Park Way.
Tourist attractions
Tenryu gorge - Tenryu line boat ride office, 7115-1 Tatsue, Iida
Otemachi elementary school - 2 Chome-673-1 Otemachi, Iida
***Registered tangible cultural property***
Hatogamine Hachinagu shrine - 1999 Yawatamachi, Iida
Shimoguri no Sato - Tenku no Sato View point, Kamimura, IIda
Tatsumi farm - 628 Tatsue, Iida
***Apple picking available from September.***
Iida City Museum - Otemachi 2-655-7, Iida
Osahime shrine - 2-641 Otemachi, Iida
Motozenkoji temple - 2638 Zakoji, Iida
Tenryu-kyo Ohashi (Tenryu gorge great bridge) - Sorasampo Tenryu-kyo
What to try
Iida yakiniku
Iida is known as a city of yakiniku(Japanese BBQ), the number of yakiniku restaurants are highest per person. Not only beef and pork, horse meat and lamb/mutton are served at these restaurants.
Otaguri - Stewed horse intensines
Entomophagy - Eating insects
Insects were used to be a precious source of protein in landlocked areas in Japan, such as Southern Nagano. Then, still many local restaurants serve dishes made of insects.
Most common insects to be consumed by local inhabitants are Rice-field grasshopper(Inago) and wasp larva(hachinoko). These insects are stir fried with soy sauce and sugar.
Where to stay/dine
Choose from our members. Our members include traditional onsen ryokan inns, rennovated vacation rental and guesthouse, which you can choose according to your budget. Ryokan inns offer half board and therefore you do not worry dining outside.
If you do not have half board at your accommodation, we recommend to have a dinner at yakiniku restaurant or izakaya tavern which offers local specialties.
How to get to Iida
Check this article.
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