Nagano city centre is walkable from the station, and the main sights around Zenkō-ji are an easy 20-minute walk or short bus ride from Nagano Station. Local buses run frequently on the main routes; the Zenkō-ji bus loop from the station is well-signed in English.
For out-of-town destinations, buses are the main option. The Togakushi Shrine bus from Nagano Station runs several times daily and takes about 60 minutes to the lower shrine. Matsushiro is served by frequent buses taking about 30 minutes. The Olympic venues in Nagano Sports Park require a bus ride east of the station. Rental bicycles are available near the station and work well for exploring the city centre and the flat basin area around it. For Matsumoto and other destinations in the prefecture, trains from Nagano Station (JR Shinonoi Line, Matsumoto Express) are efficient.