A stargazing ryokan near Yamada Ranch
sunset and stars over Takayama, Nagano

This journal is about the night skies and sunsets around MATSUKAWAKAN. If you are looking for a place to stay in Nagano where you can see the stars, it explains where and when to look.

The daytime side of Yamada Ranch is covered in a separate journal. Here we focus only on the hours from dusk into the night.

The Tenku Sauna at MATSUKAWAKAN sits 1,000m up, and Yamada Ranch sits 1,500m up. This is the high country where you can watch the sunset and the stars.

The Tenku Sauna looks over sunset into the gorge

The Tenku Sauna at MATSUKAWAKAN sits 1,000m up. From its open-air rest space, you look out over the sun setting into the Matsukawa Gorge.

After warming up in the sauna, you can sit outside and watch the sunset slowly. The light over the gorge shifts as the sun goes down.

The sauna is booked by one group at a time, so you have the space to yourselves. For details, see The Tenku Sauna.

After sunset, a night sky ranked third in the world

Once the sun has set, the stars come out. The night sky seen from the Tenku Sauna has been ranked third in the world.

From the open-air rest space, you can look up at the stars overhead. The sky shifts from sunset colours into a field of stars.

The Forest Sauna lights a fire from 20:00 at night

MATSUKAWAKAN also has the Forest Sauna. There are two cabins, a mid-temperature herbal sauna at 85C and a very hot sauna at 110C.

The rest space has benches and reclining chairs around a fire. The fire is lit from 20:00 each night.

The cold bath is 120cm deep, and there are more than ten rest chairs. You can sit by the fire and cool off in the night air.

Yamada Ranch at 1,500m: sunset in summer and autumn

Yamada Ranch sits 1,500m up. It is known as the Tyrol of Shinshu, and it is about fifteen minutes by car from MATSUKAWAKAN.

The tourism association names summer and autumn as the best seasons for the sunset from the ranch. The daytime side is covered in the Yamada Ranch journal.

How to plan a night of stargazing here

MATSUKAWAKAN is about 40 minutes by car from Nagano Station. A free shuttle bus runs between the station and the ryokan.

Check-in is from 15:00 and check-out is by 10:00. To see the night sky, it is best to stay over.

See Access for directions and Rooms for the rooms. Day-use sauna sessions must be booked in advance, and the prices are shown below. Prices are subject to change; please check before you visit.

Takayama Village lies inside a UNESCO Eco Park

The whole of Takayama Village lies inside the Shiga Highlands UNESCO Eco Park. MATSUKAWAKAN sits within this highland setting.

It is a natural highland village, taking in the Matsukawa Gorge and Yamada Ranch. The stars and the sunset can be seen within this setting.

For more of Takayama Village, see A Takayama Village itinerary. It helps you plan the night together with the daytime.

Frequently asked questions