Japanese city Nagano is in Nagano ken (prefecture), in the middle of Honshu. It is in the Nagano Basin and is the capital of the county. The city was built around the Zenkō Temple, which was built in the 7th century, and dates from the 12th to the 13th century. 

Nagano later grew into a market town and post office on the Hokkoku Road. It is now a major business hub with companies that make food, electricity equipment, and books and magazines. 

As well as being home to Shinshū University, it is a cultural and educational hub. Apples and Chinese yams are grown in the area. The Zenkō Temple, which is one of the most well-known Buddhist shrines in Japan, holds a metal Buddha that is thought to have come from Korea in the sixth century AD as a gift. Pop. (2005) 378,512; (2010) 381,511.