Venus Line Spectacular View Driving Guide
One of Japan's best highland panorama roads
Area A:
Tateshina Kogen ~ Kita-Yatsugatake ~ Lake Megami
See larger map of Venus Line Driving Guide
Lake Tateshina (Altitude: 1250m)
Lake Tateshina was created in May 1952 as a heated agricultural pond and as a tourist resource for the Tateshina Kogen area. The total construction cost was 30 million yen at the time. The lake has an area of 9.4 hectares and a circumference of 1,100 m. The lakeside is surrounded by a forest of Japanese white birch and deciduous pine trees, and if you stand on the southern shore, you can see the clear reflection of Mt. Tateshina and Yokodake on the lake surface. Fishing and boating can be enjoyed from April to November.
[Contacts]
TEL:+81-(0)266-67-2222
Tateshina Tourist Information Center
Kita-Yatsugatake Ropeway
（Altitude: Foot station 1771m / Summit station 2237m）
A large ropeway with a capacity for 100 passengers stretches between Kita-Yokodake and Mt. Shimakareyama, which rise in the northern area of the Yatsugatake mountain range (Kita-Yatsugatake), and takes you from the foot station (altitude: 1771m) to the summit station (2237m) in 7 minutes.
The summit offers a view of Japan's three major alps, and in front of the station is the Tsuboniwa Nature Park, a 100,000-tsubo lava plateau, which is popular for visitors who can easily walk around in 30 to 40 minutes.
The park is home to more than 20 kinds of precious alpine plants, which usually bloom from late June to early August. Ropeway Round-trip fee: Adults 1,900 yen, Child 950 yen.
Kita-Yatsugatake Ropeway Foot station
Flying walk with a height difference of 466m in 7 minutes
Tsuboniwa Nature Park at Summit station
Mt. Shimagare (Altitude: 2403m) seen from Tsuboniwa Nature Park
Mt. Mitsudake (Altitude: 2360m) seen from Tsuboniwa Nature Park
Mt. Amaike (Altitude: 2325m) seen from Tsuboniwa Nature Park
Observatory at "Mountain CAFE 2237" attached to the Summit station
Yatsugatake mountain range (Minami Yatsugatake) seen from the observatory of "Mountain CAFE 2237"
Mt. Yatsugatake's main peak, Akadake (Altitude: 2899m) seen from the observatory of "Mountain CAFE 2237"
Kurumayama ~ Kirigamine ~ Utsukushigahara Plateau seen from the observatory of "Mountain CAFE 2237"
Southern Alps seen from the observatory of "Mountain CAFE 2237"
Central Alps seen from the observatory of "Mountain CAFE 2237"
[Contacts] TEL:+81-(0)266-67-2009
Tateshina Kogen BARAKURA English Garden
An authentic English-style garden supervised by British horticultural researcher Kay Yamada.
The 10,000 sq.m. site is dotted with theme gardens that offer different looks for each season. There is also a café and restaurant.
[Contacts]
TEL: +81-(0)266-77-2019
5047 Kuridaira, Kitayama, Chino city, Nagano Prefecture
・Opening Hours
9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. (April - October) / 9:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (November - March)
※Open everyday (Closed in winter)
・Tickets
Adults: From 400 yen
Child(Ages 15 and under): Free
※Having event/seasonal rates
Tateshina Ai
Private dining room
"Yamami-an"
The dining room "Yamami-an" at Tateshina Ai is also available for meals only.
Enjoy the taste of Shinshu in a private dining room with sunken kotatsu, while feeling the changing of the seasons.
⇒ Meals only
⇒ Day Trip
⇒ Overnight
[Contacts]
TEL:+81-(0)266-67-5030
・Opening hours
Lunch: From 11:30 a.m. Dinner: From 6:00 p.m.(Closed irregularly)
・MENU
Yamami cuisine: From 3,900 yen, Yamami-Kaiseki: From 7,500 yen
※Booking one day in advance
Gohan Dokoro
Tateshina
A hidden dining restaurant nestled in a villa area. They offer healthy dishes and vegetarian options to suit your physical condition. It is recommended to make a reservation in advance as the restaurant is closed irregularly.
[Contacts]
TEL:+81-(0)266-67-4024
156 Takimidaira, Chino-city, Nagano Prefecture
・Opening hours
Lunch: From 11:30 a.m. Dinner: From 5:30 p.m. (Closed irregularly)
・MENU
Seasonal hamburger steak set meal, Fresh shiitake mushroom oden set meal, Sweet shrimp kakiage donburi… 1,350 yen each
Shimosaka Soba
Since its establishment in 1989, the restaurant has been attracting customers from all over the country who come to visit for the charm of its "JYUWARI-SOBA" (buckwheat noodles without any binding agent), which is made from domestic, pesticide-free, homemade flour and ground on a natural millstone. The sweet aroma and strong chewy texture of the buckwheat noodles are unforgettable!
[Contacts]
TEL:+81-(0)266-67-2682
2-112 Tateshina Kogen, Chino-city, Nagano Prefecture
・Opening hours
11:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (Closed irregularly)
・MENU
Seiro: 1600 yen
Big size Seiro: 2200 yen
Soba-gaki 1200 yen
Shiruko: 1000 yen
Lake Megami (Altitude: 1530m)
Lake Megami, located beyond Lake Shirakaba, is an artificial lake that stores water flowing from Mt. Tateshina, known as "Goddes Mountain".
The lake covers an area of 11.8 hectares.
There are several resort hotels and guest houses along the lakeside.
A walk around the area surrounded by nature is also recommended.
Boats can be rented, and canoes and kayaks can be enjoyed at the "Lake Megami Center", which also has a restaurant and a store.
Lake Megami (Altitude: 1530m)
Lake Megami Center
[Contacts] TEL:+81-(0)267-55-6654 Tateshina Shirakaba Kogen Tourism Association
Shinshu Information
Weather
Nagano Prefecture is vertically long, and weather conditions differ largely by area.
Most weather forecasts are based on data observed in Nagano City (North Shinshu), the prefectural capital, so we recommend that you look at the data for each of the 3 areas: North Shinshu, Central Shinshu, and South Shinshu.
※Chino City, where Tateshina Highlands is located, is in the "Central Shinshu" area. The weather in the Central Shinshu and South Shinshu areas is similar to that of the Tokyo and Nagoya areas, with a high percentage of sunny days.
- ●North Shinshu→Areas with many ski resorts such as Hakuba and Nozawa Onsen, including Nagano City
- ●Central Shinshu→Area around Matsumoto City
- ●South Shinshu→Areas south of Shinshu, including Iida City
