The Centre of Japan
Tatsuno Town is located in the centre of Nagano Prefecture and is surrounded by nature. It has been featured on TV as the geographical centre of Japan, and tourists from far and wide visit the site in Tatsuno nicknamed ‘Zero Point’, where 36°0’00″N and 138°0’00″E intersect.
Tatsuno’s Fireflies
Tatsuno’s Firefly Festival is held every June and Matsuo Gorge in Tatsuno boasts the largest number of ‘Genji-botaru’, Japanese fireflies, in Japan.
In 1995, a sister city agreement was concluded between Tatsuno and Waitomo District in New Zealand, as Waitomo is well-known for its Tsuchi-botaru (glowworms), while Tatsuno nurtures Genji-botaru (Japanese fireflies). In 2020, Tatsuno and Waitomo held an online ceremony to celebrate the 25th anniversary of their sister city agreement.
Tatsuno’s Jaishi
Jaishi, which can be translated as ‘snake rock’, is a rare rock that consists of diorite with consistent components of quartz in its cracks. This type of rock is called Jaishi because its long white striped pattern resembles a giant snake when found lying on riverbeds.
Tatsuno’s Shidare-guri
There is an area in Tatsuno where approximately 1,000 Shidare-guri, weeping chestnut trees, grow natively and heterogeneously and provides superb views throughout the four seasons. It has been said that the branches of these trees droop downwards after being sat on by the mythical creature Tengu. The snow-covered landscape seen during the winter seasons is particularly beautiful. The park in the trees’ surrounding area has camping and barbecue facilities, making it an excellent location to enjoy spending time with family and friends.
Tatsuno’s Local Sake
Yoake Mae, meaning ‘before dawn’ in Japanese, is a sake produced by a local sake producer in Tatsuno and is characterised by its rich aroma and exhilarating sharp taste. The sake is brewed using pristine water from the nearby Mt Kiritouyama, which has an altitude of 810 metres, and renowned sake rice varieties Miyamanishiki and Kinmonnishiki from Nagano Prefecture and Yamadanishiki from Hyogo Prefecture. Yoake Mae has been highly acclaimed in international competitions.
Please come and visit Tatsuno to enjoy its rich natural scenery and delicious food.
