Narai (奈良井) is a post-town in Nagano, Japan. It developed as a stop on the Nakasendo, a trail that connected Tokyo and Kyoto, it was once the wealthiest post-town in the Kiso Valley and was nicknamed "Narai of a Thousand Houses" due to the many houses along its main road. Most of these houses are preserved like they were in the Edo Era and its preserved area is much larger than those found in most other post-towns.

Narai

Understand

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Visitor information centre

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  • 1 Narai-juku Tourist Information Centre, 497-3 Narai, Shiojiri, +81 264 34 3160. 09:00-17:00 daily.

Tourist information site

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The local tourist association has a partly bilingual guide site.

Get in

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By plane

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The nearest airport to Narai is Matsumoto's airport which is roughly an hour a way from the post-town, it only has flights to Fukuoka, Sapporo and Osaka. The nearest international airport is Chubu Centrair International Airport near Nagoya which is roughly four hours away.

Get around

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Map
Map of Narai
  • 1 Kamidonya Shiryokan (上問屋資料館), 379 Narai, +81 264-34-3101. 10:00-17:00, closed at 16:00 in March and Novermber. History museum in a building from the Edo period. It is maintained with the same techniques that were used in the Edo Period. Various tools and document from the area are on display ¥300.
  • 2 Nakamura Residence (中村邸, Nakamura tei), 311 Narai, +81 264-34-2655. 09:00 to 17:00 from April to November, closes at 16:00 from December to March. Home of the former Nakamura family, a family of merchants who used to be one of Narai's richest families during the Edo Period. The house functions as a museum and showcases a traditional Edo Era residence. ¥300.
  • 1 Shizu Shrine Festival (鎮神社まつり, Shizujinja matsuri). August 11th and 12th. Narai's main festival, a musical procession descends from the shrine to Narai station via the main road playing traditional music for the town's residents and its many visitors. Free.

Drink

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Sleep

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Connect

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Go next

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Within the Kiso Valley

  • Magome and Tsumago, two other post-towns in the south of the Kiso Valley. The trail between the towns is one of the most popular trails in Japan.
  • Nagiso, city that administers Tsumago with many Waterfalls.
  • Shiojiri, the northern-most city in the Kiso Valley that administers Narai

Also in Chubu

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