Nagano

Nagano, formerly Zenkōji, city, Nagano ken (prefecture), central Honshu, Japan. It is the capital of the prefecture and is situated in the Nagano Basin. The city dates from the 12th–13th century and grew up around the Zenkō Temple, which was founded in the 7th century. Nagano later developed as a market town and post station along the Hokkoku Road. It is now an important commercial centre with food-processing, electrical machinery, and printing and publishing industries. It is also a cultural and educational centre that is the site of Shinshū University. The surrounding area produces apples and Chinese yams. A bronze Buddha, believed to have been a gift from Korea in the 6th century ad, is enshrined at the Zenkō Temple, which is one of the most popular Buddhist temples in Japan. Pop. (2005) 378,512; (2010) 381,511.