[For Elementary School Students] Nagano Prefecture Local Quiz! Three-Choice Questions to Enjoy Learning About History and Nature

Nobeyama Station

Among all JR lines, the station located at the highest elevation is Nobeyama Station in Nagano Prefecture. Nobeyama Station is near the Yatsugatake Mountains and sits at an elevation of about 1,345 meters. Vast fields and mountains spread out around it, and the air is crisp and cool. It’s amazing that trains run in such a high place. In 2025, it even became a setting for a Detective Conan movie!

Crow Castle

Matsumoto Castle is a very magnificent castle with an exterior covered in black boards. Because its black appearance looks like a black crow, it is called “Karasu-jō,” or “Crow Castle.” Matsumoto Castle is characterized by its black, powerful presence. It is a very rare castle that remains much as it was in the past and has been designated a National Treasure. It is an important historical building that represents Nagano Prefecture.

Lake Kawaguchi

Lake Kawaguchi is a lake at the foot of Mount Fuji, near the border between Yamanashi and Nagano Prefectures. It is known for its high water clarity and stunning views that reflect Mount Fuji. Around the lake, there are tourist spots and hot springs, and you can enjoy nature-oriented activities such as boating and cycling. In spring, cherry blossoms bloom, and in autumn, the foliage turns vibrant, offering different scenery each season, making it a popular destination for visitors.

wasabi

The Azumino region is known for its pristine water fed by snowmelt from the Northern Alps. Among the vegetables grown using this pure water, wasabi is especially famous. Because wasabi only grows well where cold water flows, Azumino’s spring water is a perfect match. As a traditional Japanese condiment, it is loved both within and outside the prefecture.

Takeda Shrine

Takeda Shrine is dedicated to the famed Sengoku-period warlord Takeda Shingen. Located in Nagano City, it was built to honor Lord Shingen’s bravery and achievements. Within the grounds are materials and statues related to Shingen, allowing visitors to worship while feeling the weight of history. The shrine is also adorned with Takeda Shingen’s family crest and banners, offering an atmosphere reminiscent of the Sengoku era. Every year, many people visit to commemorate his accomplishments, making it an important historical site in Nagano Prefecture.

Northern Alps

The rock ptarmigan is a bird that loves very cold places. It lives high in the mountains where it stays cool even in summer. The Northern Alps are an area in Nagano Prefecture with many very tall mountains, low temperatures, and expanses of rocks and dwarf stone pines. To protect itself from predators, the rock ptarmigan hides among rocky areas and has a body well adapted to the cold. With this kind of natural environment, the Northern Alps are an important place where the rock ptarmigan can live in safety. For this reason, it is carefully protected as a Natural Monument of Japan.

Yukimura Sanada

Sanada Yukimura was a renowned general of the Sengoku period and the lord of Ueda Castle. He is famous for defending the castle with a small force and repelling the massive Tokugawa army twice. A commander distinguished by his wisdom and strategy, he devised innovations not only in battle but also in castle defense. Thanks to his achievements, the Sanada clan was able to maintain strong influence in Ueda, Nagano Prefecture.