Ina-shi Station Guide: Iida Line, Sauce Katsu Don & Kasuga Brewery — Walking Ina Valley in the Snow (Nagano)

About Ina City

Ina City is the central city of the Ina Valley, nestled between the Southern Alps and the Central Alps. In recent years it has quietly built a reputation as one of Nagano's more appealing places to relocate to, thanks to its natural surroundings and reasonable access to daily necessities. Like many Japanese regional cities, it faces challenges around depopulation and an aging population — but as a place to actually live, its potential remains high.

Getting to Ina-shi Station

Looking at a map, Ina City sits almost exactly in the geographic center of Honshu, Japan's main island.

Getting here from Tokyo

• Tokyo Station → Shinjuku Station (JR Chuo Line) → Okaya Station (Limited Express Azusa, approx. 2 hrs 15 min) → Ina-shi Station (JR Iida Line, approx. 1 hr)
• Total travel time including transfers: approximately 3.5 hours
• The Iida Line runs infrequently — check the timetable in advance to avoid a long wait at Okaya

Around the Station

Step outside into a light snowfall and you'll find a few taxis lined up. Across the way stands an old multi-story building that still carries the feel of the Showa era. Time seems to move a little slower here. Some storefronts are clearly long since closed, but even that feels like part of the city's memory rather than mere decline.

A Closed Pachinko Parlor

A large "PACHINKO" sign catches the eye — but the shutters are firmly closed. Whatever life this building once held is now preserved only in its faded signage. Buildings like this that sit without a clear future eventually face demolition. When that day comes, what will replace them?

The Shopping Street

Walking the shopping street in falling snow, most storefronts are shuttered and foot traffic is sparse. But a beauty salon here, a small restaurant there — a handful of places are still holding on. The snow makes the quiet feel even more pronounced.

A Side Alley and Hotel Shimadaya

Turning into a side alley, the sign for Hotel Shimadaya comes into view. Old buildings line both sides of the narrow lane, and the atmosphere here is calm and tucked-away — quite different from the main street.

Kasuga Brewery (Sake Brand "Inokashira")

Cross the railway tracks and Kasuga Brewery — makers of the local sake "Inokashira" — comes into view. It is still operating today, and the contrast between the old brewery building and the Iida Line crossing makes for a quietly atmospheric scene. Worth picking up a bottle if you visit.

Bus Terminal and Parking

The area around the station is largely parking lots, with the Ina Bus Terminal close by. As is typical of regional Japanese cities built around the car, most locals seem to drive rather than walk or cycle. If you're arriving by train, check bus connections in advance.

Ina's Local Specialty: Sauce Katsu Don

The dish you should not leave Ina without trying is sauce katsu don. Thick, crispy-fried cutlets are drenched in a sweet-savory sauce and served over a bowl of white rice — simple in concept, deeply satisfying in practice. I had mine at Tamura Shokudo, about a five-minute walk from the station. The balance between the sauce's sweetness and the crunch of the breading is exactly right. Worth going out of your way for if you're in Ina.

Video: Walking from the Station into Town