Achi Village

Achi Village has earned a reputation as one of Japan's top stargazing destinations, thanks to its remote location in the southern Nagano mountains where light pollution is nearly nonexistent. On clear nights, guided star tours take you up by gondola to observe the Milky Way with striking clarity. Beyond the night sky, the village offers rejuvenating hot springs and gentle hiking trails through alpine scenery. Visit in mid-April to early May when roughly 10,000 hanamomo (peach blossom) trees paint the hillsides in vivid pinks and reds.