Ina City is located in the southern part of Nagano Prefecture, at the heart of the Ina Valley, and is renowned as 'the best cherry blossom spot under the sun'. The 1,500 'Takato Kohigan cherry trees' (blooming in early April) at Takato Castle Ruins Park create a breathtakingly beautiful pink landscape, with night-time illuminations. From the summit of Kasugayama Castle Ruins, visitors can overlook the cityscape, surrounded by cherry blossoms and azaleas. The Ina Valley is embraced by mountains, making it ideal for hiking. Gastronomy is represented by Shinshu soba (handmade, freshly prepared, firm and smooth), while Ina pork dishes, venison curry, highland vegetables, processed grape products, and Japanese sweets are full of local flavours.