Townapedia
Obuse town-office
Obuse town-office · Bakkai at Japanese Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
小布施 - Obuse (29349819371)
小布施 - Obuse (29349819371) · tsuruta yosuke from Nagano, Japan, CC BY 2.0
Obuse Town Hokusai Hall
Obuse Town Hokusai Hall · Suikotei, CC BY 4.0
Chestnut wood block pavement at Obuse (Scenery)
Chestnut wood block pavement at Obuse (Scenery) · Tawashi2006, CC BY-SA 3.0
Chestnut wood block pavement at Obuse (Pattern)
Chestnut wood block pavement at Obuse (Pattern) · Tawashi2006, CC BY-SA 3.0
Obuse Station 2013
Obuse Station 2013 · Tsukuyone, CC BY-SA 4.0

Obuse, Japan

小布施町

Obuse is a town of 10,660 people in Nagano, Japan, founded in February 1, 1954.

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Population10,660 GeoNames
Local name小布施町
RegionNagano
Elevation361 m 1,184 ft
FoundedFebruary 1, 1954
Time zoneAsia/Tokyo
Land area19.1 km²
Nearest airportShinshu-Matsumoto Airport (MMJ) 68 km

Why visit Obuse

Townapedia lists 8 museums and landmarks, 6 parks and trails, 51 places to eat, 5 places to stay and 2 attractions in and around town.

Highlights include Seisen University, Hokusai Museum and The Obuse Museum & The Nakajima Chinami Gallery.

About Obuse

Obuse (小布施町, Obuse-machi) is a town located in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 April 2019, the town had an estimated population of 10,999 in 3832 households, and a population density of 580 persons per km2. The total area of the town is 19.12 square kilometres (7.38 sq mi).

From the Wikipedia article Obuse (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Travel tips from other travellers: Obuse on Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Things to do2

Seisen University

School · 7.0 km

Higher education institution in Nagano Prefecture, Japan

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

雁田山

Scenic view · 2.4 km

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Museums and landmarks8

The Obuse Museum & The Nakajima Chinami Gallery

Museum

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小布施町立歴史民俗資料館

Museum · 0.9 km

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市村邦夫像

Monument and historic site

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福島正則荼毘所跡

Monument and historic site · 4.0 km

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薬師如来

Monument and historic site · 4.0 km

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豊野資料収蔵室

Museum · 3.5 km

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高井鴻山記念館

Museum

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Parks, trails and playgrounds6

Obuse floral garden

Park · 1.1 km

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アップルラインゴルフセンター

Golf course · 3.0 km

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ゆたかの公園

Park · 3.3 km

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りんごの丘公園

Park · 3.5 km

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赤沼公園

Park · 3.3 km

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Restaurants and cafes51

CUCINA ITALIANA PACE

Restaurant · Italian · 0.8 km

Open in Google Maps · 026-247-6685

Nagano-Donabe Ramen Takesan

Restaurant · Noodle, Ramen

1, 小布施町

Mo-We,Fr-Su 10:00-14:30,17:00-21:00

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Bread & baked sweets Ohana

Bakery

中町 大字小布施777-3

Fr-Tu 10:00-17:00

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curious cafe

Cafe

小布施町東町507

Fr-We 11:00-17:00

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fleur

Cafe · 0.6 km

6, 小布施町

Th-Tu 11:00-16:00

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そば処 蕎花

Restaurant · Soba

We-Mo 11:00-14:30

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カサミンゴー

Restaurant · Italian, German · 4.1 km

Mo,We-Su 11:00-20:30

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マルテ珈琲焙煎所

Cafe

上高井郡小布施町小布施788

We-Mo 10:00-18:00

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喜の呼庵

Restaurant

1, 小布施町

Mo-Su 11:00-15:00

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桜井甘精堂 泉石亭

Restaurant

上高井郡小布施町中町779

We-Mo 10:30-18:00

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39 more on the map.

History

The area of present-day Obuse was part of ancient Shinano Province, and can be found as a place name in late Heian period records associated with a shōen associated with Emperor Go-Shirakawa. In 1843, at the age of 83, the Japanese painter Hokusai traveled to Obuse at the invitation of a wealthy farmer, Takai Kozan where he stayed for several years. During his time in Obuse, Hokusai created several masterpieces, included the Masculine Wave and the Feminine Wave.

The modern village of Obuse was created with the establishment of the municipalities system on April 1, 1889. It was elevated to town status on February 1, 1954. Obuse annexed the neighboring village of Tsusumi on November 1, 1954.

The largest hospital in Obuse, Shinsei Hospital, (New Life Hospital) was established by J. G. Waller, an Anglican Church of Canada missionary, in 1932 as a tuberculosis sanatorium with funds raised in Canada.

From the History section of Obuse on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where to stay5

Churches and places of worship18

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Shopping6

Gas and EV charging4

Schools, colleges and libraries8

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Healthcare3

Map of Obuse

111 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.

Getting there and nearby towns

Shinshu-Matsumoto Airport (MMJ) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 68 km away.

  • Suzaka 5 km south, about 5 min by car
  • Sakaki 28 km southwest, about 28 min by car
  • Ueda 33 km south, about 33 min by car
  • Ōmachi 45 km southwest, about 45 min by car
  • Higashiagatsuma 48 km east, about 48 min by car
  • Nakanojō 49 km east, about 49 min by car
  • Jōetsu 51 km north, about 51 min by car
  • Saku 55 km south, about 55 min by car
  • Matsumoto 60 km southwest, about 1 h by car
  • Tōkamachi 63 km northeast, about 1 h by car

Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.

Reviews, tips and questions

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Sources and licences

Photo credits

Page built November 5, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.