Nagano Olympic Museum Guide: Visiting the 1998 Winter Games Legacy

Nagano Olympic Museum at M-Wave: the 1998 Legacy

Nagano hosted the XVIII Olympic Winter Games in 1998. M-Wave, formally the Nagano City Memorial Arena, was the speed skating venue. Today it also houses the museum that keeps the Games' story on display.

One point trips up many searchers. The Japan Olympic Museum is a separate institution in Shinjuku, Tokyo. Its site describes a floor map with welcome, exhibition and monument areas. Nagano's museum is a different place, in a different city, with its own address and operator.

M-Wave's address is 195 Kitanagaike, Nagano City (postal code 381-0025). The arena's phone number is listed as +81 26 222 3300. Both details help when you show a taxi driver or call ahead.

The museum suits sports-history readers and families best. If you have only one free afternoon, our Nagano attractions guide will help you weigh it against Zenkoji Temple and other city sights.

What to See Inside the Nagano Olympic Museum

Your sources describe a layout in three parts. Start with the welcome area, which introduces the spirit of the 1998 Games. From there you move into the exhibition area, which holds the collection most visitors come for.

Expect objects tied directly to the 1998 Games. Brief notes list medals, torches, athlete uniforms and equipment. The 1998 Olympic torch is the item most likely to anchor your visit.

Labels and displays may be mostly in Japanese. Check the English pages on the official site before you travel, and download any visitor guide it offers.

The building is part of the show. M-Wave's roof is designed as a wave, which gives the arena its name. Its brief describes dual use: a skating rink in winter and a multi-purpose hall in summer.

• Welcome area: an overview of the 1998 Games' spirit.
• Exhibition area: medals, torches, uniforms and equipment.
• Arena: the wave-shaped roof and the speed skating hall.
• Time needed: 1 to 2 hours for the museum alone.

Is the Museum Open? Hours, Admission and Renovation Status

Map listings show daily hours of 10:00 to 17:00. Treat that as a starting point only. Seasonal changes and arena events can alter the schedule.

There is also a renovation warning. A visitor review on Apple Maps said the museum and the arena were closed for renovation until fall 2025. We could not find an official confirmation that reopening has happened, so check status yourself. The official M-Wave visitor page is the first place to look.

Admission is traditionally low-cost or free, according to our brief. No current ticket price was supplied, so verify adult and child rates on the official site or by phone. Compare that figure with other Nagano museums before you decide.

Phone ahead on the day if you can. M-Wave can close for private competitions or concerts, and a wasted trip costs you a round of bus fare plus about half a day.

How to Get to M-Wave from Nagano Station

From Tokyo, take a Hokuriku Shinkansen to Nagano Station. Your brief puts the ride at roughly 90 to 100 minutes, while one regional source says about 1 hour 45 minutes. Build in the longer figure when you plan connections. The station's own visitor information page lists facilities, and our Nagano Station Guide: Exits, Nagaden, Buses and Lockers covers the exits.

From Nagano Station, choose between a bus and a taxi. The bus takes about 15 minutes. Brief notes point to Nagaden Bus services from the East Exit, so confirm the route number and stop at the station information desk.

M-Wave is roughly 5 km from the station. Walking is not recommended for most visitors. Taxis are faster and easier with children, though you should ask the driver for the fare estimate first.

Kita-Nagano Station on the Shinano Railway looks closer on a map. Even so, the bus from Nagano Station is usually simpler for visitors, since you avoid a transfer. For local routes and passes, see Getting Around Nagano: Ultimate Transport Guide, Times & Fares.

Driving works too. Parking spaces exist around the Nagano Athletic Park area, but check with the organizer on large-event days.

• Tokyo to Nagano Station: Shinkansen, about 90 to 100 minutes.
• Nagano Station to M-Wave: bus, about 15 minutes.
• Distance: about 5 km, too far to walk comfortably.
• Alternative: taxi from the station for a faster door-to-door trip.

An Olympic Circuit: Other 1998 Venues

Completionists can add more sites. Allow a half-day if you include Aqua Wing Arena. That venue hosted ice hockey in 1998 and now operates as an indoor swimming pool.

Aqua Wing sits at 5-1-19 Yoshida, Nagano City. It opened in September 1997 and holds 2,000 people. One regional guide gives a 15-minute walk from Kita-Nagano Station.

Nagano Athletic Stadium hosted the opening and closing ceremonies. White Ring and Big Hat were the figure skating and ice hockey venues. Your brief lists them for completeness, so confirm public access before building a day around them.

Most visitors will stay inside the museum plan. Pair M-Wave with one other venue at most, and keep an hour spare for the return bus.

Planning Your Day: Timing, Food and Zenkoji

Winter suits the skating atmosphere. Spring and autumn offer milder walking weather. Our Best Time To Visit Nagano: A Seasonal Travel Guide page compares the seasons in detail.

For lunch, stay near Nagano Station and try soba, which the region is known for. Oyaki dumplings cost about ¥100 each at shops, according to a regional travel source. Fillings include dried daikon, nozawana and bean paste.

Pair the museum with Zenkoji Temple if time allows. Visit M-Wave in the morning, then return to the city center for the temple. If art interests you more than sport, our Nagano Prefectural Art Museum Guide: Art, Architecture & Logistics offers another indoor option.

With a car, Jigokudani Monkey Park is about an hour's drive from Nagano Station. Our 10 Unforgettable Day Trips from Nagano (2026) page covers that and other longer excursions.

Mistakes to Avoid at the Nagano Olympic Museum

Three errors cause most wasted trips. Avoid each one with a quick check.

• Confusing Nagano's museum with the Japan Olympic Museum in Shinjuku, Tokyo.
• Arriving on an event day, when M-Wave may close for private competitions or concerts.
• Underestimating transit time: allow 15 minutes by bus each way plus waiting.
• Skipping the renovation check, given the reported closure until fall 2025.