If you’ve arrived by the Shinkansen in Nagano then I can almost guarantee you’d have seen Beck’s even if you don’t remember it. Beck’s is the coffee shop next to the tourist information centre just across from the Shinkansen entry and exit gates.
Beck's Coffee Shop, Nagano, Japan
Central Nagano is relatively small and easily walkable as I was to find out.
I’d searched the internet and found a couple of small craft beer places in Nagano, and I headed out just after 5pm thinking I’d be up for a 15 minute walk or so, but after heading out from my hotel, crossing the road and walking about a minute I was standing just across the road from James Nagano Beer Market!
I headed up the stairs to find a couple of people already enjoying a beer and sat at the bar.
James Nagano Beer Market, Nagano, Japan
As the Shinkansen from Kanazawa pulled into Nagano Station I studied my google map to make sure that I headed in the direction of my hotel. I thought I’d kept track of the turns that I’d taken but proceeded to exit the wrong side of the station. It took be a couple of minutes to get my bearings but I soon saw the signs directing me to Hotel Metropolitan Nagano right next to Nagano Station.
Hotel Metropolitan Nagano, Nagano, Japan