Visit Ueda to make fireworks, cook up homemade soba noodles, explore the ruins of a samurai castle, and more! If you're planning a trip to Japan, don't miss a visit to this city in Nagano. It's an easy day trip from Tokyo with peaceful small-town vibes, and a lot of fun you'll find nowhere else. It's also known for hosting part of the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics, and being the setting of the popular anime film Summer Wars! On our trip, we tried making misuzu-ame candy, which is a local specialty. We got to cut the little fruit jellies into shape and then roll them up in extra-thin edible rice paper, before wrapping them up to bring home as souvenirs! (If you buy them at the store, our team's favorite flavors were apricot and plum!)