Shimoguri no Sato

Shimoguri Village is located at an altitude of 800 to 1,100 meters on the east slope of Kamimura, Iida City, Nagano, overlooking the Southern Alps.
The steep hills with a maximum slope of 38 degrees are dotted with houses and farmland. It is called the "Tirol of Japan" for its beautiful scenery.

In 2009, Shimoguri was selected as one of the 100 best villages in Japan, and in the autumn of the same year, the residents built the "Sky Village Viewpoint," an observatory where visitors can get a bird's eye view of the village.

There is also a local guide group called the Shimoguri Village Guides Association. The local guides walk you around the village and tell an interesting detailed story of Shimoguri's nature, livelihood, food, and the Frost Moon Festival. The tour is available for groups and individuals, and costs 3,000 yen per guide (2 hours per tour, up to 20 people, reservation required at least 14 days in advance).

Also, stop by the nearby soba restaurant Hanbatei (closed from December to early April), which serves dishes made from Shimoguri's seasonal foods, and the Kamimura Agricultural Produce Market, which sells agricultural products and specialties from the Shimoguri area.

Even though the village of Shimoguri has been attracting many tourists in recent years, it is still a place where locals keep their own lives, so please respect their space.