Head to Matsumoto to see Japan’s oldest surviving castle tower

In Nagano Prefecture, the city of Matsumoto offers many reasons for travellers to visit during the summer months. It’s home to the extraordinary Matsumoto Castle, a National Treasure dating back to the late 16th century and Japan’s oldest castle with five external stories and six internal floors. Aside from its fascinating architecture, peaceful moat and elegant gardens, the castle has a dynamic programme of events during the summer, including the Matsumoto Castle Taiko Drum Festival, taking place every year on the last weekend of July and featuring rousing displays of high-energy traditional drumming. If the summer heat gets a bit too much, seek some respite at the Matsumoto City Museum of Art with its permanent collection of works by Yayoi Kusama. Born in the city in 1929, Kusama is one of the greatest living Japanese artists, her colourful works often featuring pumpkins and polka dots as much loved by children as they are by adults.

Discover unspoilt panoramas in the Japan Alps in Kamikochi

Kamikochi, in the heart of Nagano’s Northern Japan Alps, may not receive as many international visitors as other national parks in the country, but it offers a wealth of natural attractions for those who make the effort to get to know it. Getting here requires proper planning, and a combination of train and bus as private cars are prohibited within the park, but it’s well worth the extra effort. Forest-covered mountains, shimmering lakes and volcanic peaks all provide a spectacular backdrop for riverside walks, scenic hikes, challenging mountaineering and serious multi-day treks with overnight stays in mountain huts or tents. This is also a place where you might be lucky enough to spot some of Japan’s unusual wildlife. Keep your eyes open for the Japanese macaques that make the park home, often to be seen in the treetops or searching for food at ground level – but do give them a wide berth as they are wild animals and known to be mischievous. Look out also for the kamoshika, or Japanese serow, a deer-like furry bovid, as well as raccoon dogs and foxes. Ornithologists will find plenty to keep them happy, with ptarmigans, tree creepers, warblers and wagtails all making an appearance during the summer months.

A fruitful opportunity to pick your own grapes in Nagano

Japan’s fruit is known around the world for its exceptional quality, flavour and beauty, and in Nagano, visitors have the chance to roll up their sleeves and get out into the fields to pick the ambrosial crops. From June to early August, the Mori no Hatake blueberry orchard opens its doors for all-you-can-eat blueberry picking, the perfect family activity for a summer day. If strawberries are more your thing, head to the Karuizawa Garden Farm in the cool highlands to pick sweet ruby red berries. At Shinshu Fruitsland, trees full of cherries, peaches, grapes and apples are ripe for the picking at different times between June and November. And in early autumn, bunches of jewel-like grapes hang heavy on the vines in Northern Suzaka’s Fruits Line road, where 13 orchards offer opportunities to pick grapes, including different varieties like Delaware, Niagara, Steuben, Nagano Purple and the huge, juicy Kyoho and Shine Muscat. It’s a delicious and fun way to get a good dose of vitamins

An escape in the forest at Okuhida Mozumo

For a truly soothing retreat surrounded by nature, head to Okuhida Mozumo, a traditional inn surrounded by lush woodland just 30 minutes from Kamikochi. Legend has it that the gods would come here to recover from the fatigue of their travels, and today’s traveller will also find a place of calm respite to settle down for a night or two. Rooms embrace traditional ryokan design, with tatami mat floors, paper screens and cosy futons, and come with their own private outdoor onsen baths fed by iron-rich waters from the hotel’s own hot spring source, Yama no Yu. Cuisine is focused on top quality Hida beef, considered to be one of the best in Japan and cooked in various styles, as well as other locally sourced ingredients based on the season. This is the kind of place where once you check in, you’ll wish you were staying longer.