Luxury holidays in Nagano

Each winter, a flurry of salopetted pilgrims fall on Nagano for its world-class winter sports scene. But this alpine Japanese prefecture is an all-seasons stunner, where historic resort towns are set amid soaring mountains and cedar forests shade steaming hot springs (some shared with resident snow monkeys). And between ancient temples, layer-cake castles and pioneering modern architecture, the region has a dusting of cultural pearls, too.