美原高原

Utsukushigahara is a highland plateau at roughly 2,000 metres in central Nagano, on the boundary between Matsumoto and Ueda cities. Its grassy uplands are used for summer cattle grazing and offer wide views toward the Northern Japan Alps on clear days. The Utsukushigahara Open-Air Museum, opened in 1981, displays around 350 modern sculptures across a 13-hectare site, along with indoor galleries and a rooftop viewing area. The plateau is usually reached by car via the Venus Line or the Utsukushigahara Skyline, about 65 minutes from the Matsumoto Interchange. A once-daily seasonal bus runs from Matsumoto during the summer Bon period, but a car is generally needed at other times. The area and museum close from mid-November to late April because of snow.