Overview
Tateshina is a beautiful, rural town located in the mountains about 125 miles west of Tokyo in Nagano Prefecture, close to where the 1998 Winter Olympics were held. Elevation varies from cultivated areas at an altitude of 2,066-3,166 feet up to Mt. Tateshina (8, 433 feet). Mt. Tateshina is a popular resort area, especially for winter skiing. In addition to tourism, agriculture is a primary industry, including apples and a town-owned dairy herd. The weather is very cold and snowy in the winter; warm and humid in the summer. Tateshina's population is about 8,000 people.