Nagano, the host of the 1998 Winter Olympics, is an outdoor sports paradise highly sought after by skiing and snowboarding enthusiasts. Dubbed the 'Roof of Japan', Nagano boasts the highest mountain in the country. Tsumago-juku and Narai-juku are like remote villages straight out of a samurai film, having preserved their local culture intact for centuries. The lively festivals, the imposing black walls of Matsumoto Castle, and the rustic, serene hot spring towns with a mountainous leisure atmosphere have also been perfectly preserved. Karuizawa offers a relaxed cosmopolitan ambience and a variety of uniquely designed villa buildings.