When planning a stay in Chikuma, it’s worth looking beyond any one theme: the city’s cultural heritage includes the ancient Mori Shogunzuka Kofun and historic districts. The Obasute rice terraces, viewpoints, and regional river cuisine offer further, very different perspectives.
Kofun and history in Chikuma
The Mori Shogunzuka Kofun is an early Kofun-period keyhole-shaped burial mound. Its stone chamber is about 100 meters long. Together with three surrounding tombs, the kofun is part of the Hanishina Kofun Group, which is designated as a national historic site. The tomb is believed to be the resting place of a ruler who governed the area around the 4th century.
The Mori Shogunzuka Kofun Museum displays the stone chamber, excavated grave goods, and haniwa. The exhibits include originals and models, and videos provide additional information. If you’re planning a visit to the museum, check the current opening hours in advance.
Another chapter of the city’s history can be found in Inariyama: the area around Machiyashiki was designated a national preservation district for groups of traditional buildings on December 10, 2014. As for Arato Castle, its construction is traditionally dated to 1524 and attributed to the Yamada clan, a branch of the Murakami clan. From the observation tower in Arato Castle Historic Park, you can look out over the Chikuma River. The view takes in areas from around Sakaki and northern Ueda in the south to the southern part of Nagano in the north.
Obasute: rice terraces and viewpoints
About 1,500 rice terraces stretch across the slopes of the Obasute area at elevations of 460 to 560 meters. From there, you can look out over the Chikuma River and the broad basin of the Zenkoji Plain. The terraces and plain are also visible from JR Obasute Station. This means you can experience the landscape from more than one named viewpoint.
The Uwadai Viewpoint offers a different perspective on the landscape, with a panorama of apricot blossoms known as “100,000 trees at a glance.” The rice terraces and the blossom panorama represent different landscape themes within the city.
River cuisine and activities
Tsukeba huts along the riverbank serve travelers freshly caught, freshly grilled fish. This tradition is limited to a specific area, with Chikuma City at its center. It extends east to Sakaki and part of eastern Ueda, and north to the Matsushiro area of Nagano City. Tsukeba thus connects river cuisine with a clearly defined regional tradition.
A park on the banks of the Chikuma River offers families a place to stroll; mallet golf is also played there. The Anzu no Sato Agri Park offers a flower garden and a mandarin orange grove inside a greenhouse. Its main strawberry-picking season runs from December to June. If you’re planning to pick strawberries, check availability in advance.
In the Obasute rice terrace region, the “Rent a Tanada” program offers experience and preservation courses. Participants can plant, harvest, and thresh rice. While the terraces showcase the cultural landscape, the courses focus on individual steps in rice cultivation.
Bus service in the wider area
In the wider region around Chikuma, the “Obasute Tanada–Onsen” sightseeing bus runs on Sundays and public holidays from April to November. If you’re planning to use the service, check the current timetable in advance.
Discover more destinations: Yamanouchi, Nagiso, Komagane, Azumino, Shimotakai District, Kamitakai District, Iida, Chino.
For the regional travel overview: Nagano Prefecture.
