Travel / Tourism Spots in Around Suwa Area

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Around Suwa

Category

Travel / Tourism

Suwa Taisha (Suwa Grand Shrine) Kamisha Honmiya

4.5

462 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nagano Pref. Suwashi Nakasu 1

Suwa Taisha (Suwa Grand Shrine) Kamisha Honmiya, one of the oldest shrines in the country and the head shrine of over 10,000 Suwa shrines throughout Japan, has no main building, but only a “heihaiden” and a “katahaiden,” a unique style known as the Suwa style. Many precious buildings remain, and six of them are registered as Important Cultural Properties. In olden times, people worshiped at Suwa Myojin to pray to the guardian deities of wind, water, and the harvest, as well as brave men. Nowadays, it is believed to house the deity that guards life and livelihood. It’s about five minutes from the Suwa Interchange on the Chuo Expressway.

Parts of the Suwa Taisha shrine complex date back to the 7th century and possibly earlier. The shrines honour the gods of agriculture, hunting, and fertility. There are many differing legends, myths...
Kurumayama-kogen Highland

4.5

329 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nagano Pref. Chinoshi Kitayama 3413

This is a beautiful highland that spreads out around Mt. Kuruma, the highest peak in the Kirigamine Mountain Range, where around 600 types of alpine plants grow. The view from Mt. Kuruma’s summit is exquisite, overlooking the Southern Alps (Akaishi Mountains), Mt. Fuji, Mt. Yatsugatake and the Asama Mountain Range. In summer one can enjoy hiking or trekking, and in winter skiing.

Easy to climbing to the top from the nearest parking. We can enjoy its view like Kirigamine Prairie and Lake Shilakaba.
Kita Yatsugatake Ropeway

4.0

251 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nagano Pref. Chinoshi Kitayama 4035-2541

This large ropeway, able to carry 100 people, is located at the northern tip of the Yatsugatake mountain range and connects Mt. Kita Yokodake and Mt. Shimagare. It takes about seven minutes to reach Yokodake-Tsuboniwa summit station with an altitude of 2237 meters from the station at the base of the mountain with an altitude of 1771 meters. The magnificent view of the mountains seen from the gondola window is spectacular, and is especially popular among mountaineers.

My daughter enjoyed this a lot! It was a great hike for us. It’s worth a trip! The rope way runs like every 20 minutes. We came early so less people and not so crowded. This is good for a family...
Lake Shirakaba

3.5

211 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nagano Pref. Chinoshi Kitayama Shirakabako

Lake Shirakaba, with a circumference of four kilometers, was originally a pond created as a reservoir for farm use. You’ll find an amusement park, golf course, ski resort, hotels, and other facilities around this area, making it one of Shinshu’s top resort spots. Throngs of people visit every year.

We walked around this lake! So quiet and relaxing! And in the morning it was so foggy that you could hardly see the lake and so cold!
Suwa Takashima Castle

3.5

204 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nagano Pref. Suwashi Takashima 1-20-1

"A park and castle site situated along Prefectural Route 50 in Takashima, Suwa City. Takashima Castle was built 400 years ago by Hineno Takayoshi, a vassal of the Toyotomi clan. An impregnable castle surrounded by Lake Suwa, the sight of the stronghold floating on the lake's water has resulted in it gaining the nickname, ""the Floating Castle of Suwa."" The castle tower was restored in 1970 and is used as a museum which presents materials on the history of Suwa Domain and Takashima Castle. The surrounding park is a renowned cherry blossom viewing destination in spring."

This castle is located in a walking distance from the station Kamisuwa. It is surrounded by a moat and has a park with a pond and flower garden. Unfortunately, the castle had been rebuilt relatively...
Suwa Grand Shrine Shimosha Akimiya

4.0

143 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nagano Pref. Suwagunshimosuwamachi 5828

A Shinto shrine located in Shimosuwa Town, Suwa County, Nagano Prefecture. The Akimiya is one of six shrines which comprise Suwa Grand Shrine, the head shrine of some 25 thousand Suwa shrines located across the country. Worshipped for providing abundant harvests and granting bravery since ancient times, in recent times the shrine has also come to be worshipped for protecting life and livelihood. The Kagura-den hall, with an eye-catching giant rope hanging in front, and the two-storied Heihai-den (worship and offering hall) are designated Important Cultural Properties. Other shrine highlights include the Neiri no Sugi, an 800-year old Japanese cedar tree. The shrine is famous for the Ombashira Festival held every seven years, as well as the Boat Festival (Ofune Matsuri) held on August 1.

諏訪大社下社秋に訪問しました。4つの宮のうちの一つです。春宮までは徒歩で移動することは可能です。上社までは市も違いますので車での移動が必要になります。春宮よりは大きいので人が多くいました。社の中は静かな雰囲気の中に格式があるように感じました。
Suwa Taisha (Suwa Grand Shrine) Shimosha Harumiya

4.0

107 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nagano Pref. Suwagunshimosuwamachi 193

Suwa Taisha, one of the highest-ranked Ichinomiya shrines of the old Shinano Province, is said to be one of the oldest shrines in Japan and is the main shrine of the various Suwa shrines throughout the country. The granite torii gates at the entrance are said to have been built in 1659, evidence of its long history. The lower shrine holds various ceremonies, including “Senzasai” ceremonies which are said to have an influence on the Years of the Tiger and Monkey as well as biannual “Harumiya” and “Akimiya” ceremonies. It’s about 15 minutes from the Okaya Interchange on the Nagano Expressway.

諏訪大社下社春宮に訪問しました。4つの宮のうちの一つです。秋宮までは徒歩で移動することは可能です。上社までは市も違いますので車での移動が必要になります。社の中は静かな雰囲気の中に格式があるように感じました。
Suwa Lake Geyser Center

3.5

172 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nagano Pref. Suwashi Kogandori 2-208-90

This tourism facility, a 13 minute walk from Kami-Suwa Station, has a geyser which shoots sprays of water high into the air. The geyser, which first burst out of the ground in 1983, originally created spouts almost 50 meters tall, which made it the second tallest geyser in the world at the time. Today, it reaches around five meters tall, shooting out give to six jets every 90 minutes starting at 9:30 a.m. The adjoining building hosts a souvenir shop on the first floor and other facilities. The second floor exhibition space introduces movies and drams which were filmed in Suwa. The third floor Fireworks Museum displays pictures and materials relating to the fireworks shows held over Lake Suwa each year.

以前は間欠泉からお湯が吹き出しているのが見れた気がしますが、久しぶりに訪問しましたが今では吹き上がらないようです。ちょろちょろと湧き出ている感じです。
Suwa Grand Shrine Kamisha Maemiya

4.0

94 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nagano Pref. Chinoshi Miyagawa 2030

One of the shrine buildings on the grounds of Suwa Grand Shrine standing along National Route 152 in Miyagawa, Chino City. Suwa Grand Shrine is the head shrine of all Suwa Shrines in the country. The area where this shrine building is located is believed to be the location where the god worshipped by these shrines, Suwa Daimyojin, first took up residence, and as such can be considered the origin point of the Suwa faith.

御柱で有名な諏訪大社上社には、本宮の他にこの前宮がある。地元では「まえみや」といわず「めぇ-みや」と訛る。小さいが、長い階段を上った先に、品のいい小さな社が鎮座する。上社に行くなら、こっちもぜひ参って。
Lake Suwa

Travel / Tourism

Suwa City, Nagano Prefecture

Lake Suwa, the largest lake in Shinshu, has a circumference of about 16 kilometers. Here you can enjoy lengthy walks and jogging as well as pleasure cruises and boat trips on the lake. From autumn through to winter keen anglers can fish for wakasagi (a variety of smelt). The Lake Suwa Fireworks Festival, one of Japan’s largest firework displays, is held at the lake in summer with an incredible 40,000 fireworks lighting up the night sky. The huge fireworks display unsurprisingly attracts huge numbers of people each year.
Togariishi Museum of Jomon Archaeology

4.5

65 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Nagano Chino-shi Toyohira 4734-132

This museum is located inside the Togaishi Ruins, a historic site and park which is considered one of the best examples of Jomon culture sites found at the foot of the Yatsugatake Mountains. The museum displays around 2,000 artefacts created by the Jomon people, who flourished here 5,000 years ago. The area at the foot of the Yatsugatake Mountains is the location of one of the largest caches of obsidian, a material used to make stone tools, in Japan, and it is believed the Jomon people flourished here due to the forests which grew here and provided broadleaf tree seeds as well as ample deer, wild boar, and river fish hunting. The museum's Jomon Venus, a deformed depiction of a pregnant woman; and Masked Goddess statue are valuable cultural properties which have been designated National Treasures.

I went there after seeing the English website and being super excited about getting to do some hands-on craft. After extensive web research, I managed to get there on a day they were open and...
Yashimagahara Wetland

4.5

72 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nagano Pref. Suwagunshimosuwamachi Yashima Marshland 10618

This marsh is part of the Kirigamine Highland in Yatsugatake-Chushin Kogen Quasi-National Park. Formed over about a 12,000-year period, it is a treasure trove of precious flora and fauna, including 18 varieties of sphagnum moss. It was designated a National Natural Monument in 1939.

We stopped off there on our way to Azumino, Nagano. Although it was drizzling (raining lightly), we were able to go for a walk along the boardwalks that were built over the marsh. They are a bit...
Venus Line

Travel / Tourism

Chino, Nagano Prefecture - Matsumoto-shi

This is a sightseeing road and popular free driving course connecting Nagano Prefecture’s Chino City and Ueda City Utsukushigahara Highlands. The road is dotted with Shinshu highland resorts including Tateshina Highland, Yatsugatake Sanroku, Lake Shirakaba and Mt. Kirigamine, and the interweaving mountains and greenery stretch endlessly into the distance. Along the way is Yashimagahara Shitsugen (marsh land), designated a National Natural Monument and home to 400 varieties of sub-highland plant. If the weather is good one can see all the way from final stop of Utskushigahara Highland to Mt. Fuji.
Tsuboniwa Nature Park

4.0

41 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nagano Chino-shi Kitayama 4035-2541

This is a natural garden located on a lava plateau around Tsuboniwa Station, the last stop of the Kita-Yatsugatake ropeway (2,237 m above sea level), about 7 minutes from Sanroku Station, and is designated as a special protected area of National Park No. 1. The park is also the gateway to climbing Kita-Yokodake (北横岳) and other mountains.

冬だってロープウェイで、一気に坪庭まで上がって、一気に滑り降りる。ピラタススキー場。おしゃれで、ヨーロッパを思わせる！
Nagano Prefecture Kirigamine Nature Conservation Center

4.5

23 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nagano Pref. Suwashi Shiga Kirigamine 7718-9

The “Kirigamine Nature Conservation Center” helps educate visitors about the precious natural landscape of the Kirigamine Highland. The exhibitions explain the flora and fauna, terrain, climate, and history in an easy-to-understand manner, and the staff periodically offer explanations as well. On weekends and holidays, they offer guided walks for up to 10 people to offer visitors a chance to see and feel the appeal of the landscape directly. It’s about 40 minutes from the Suwa Interchange on the Chuo Expressway, or via bus from the JR Kami-Suwa Station and then a five-minute walk from the Kirigamine Interchange.

「霧ヶ峰自然保護センター」前で少し休憩し、少し散策しました。「霧ヶ峰自然保護センター」自体は11月中旬までだったので、私が訪れた12月はもう閉まってましたけど、霧ヶ峰の動物、植物、地質、気象などの説明展示があるそうですよ。それにしても、この周辺は雰囲気が良いです。
Jiunji Temple

4.5

22 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nagano Suwa-gun Shimosuwamachi Higashimachinaka 606

A Buddhist temple located in Shimosuwa Town. This famous Rinzai Zen temple was founded over 700 years ago and, because Takeda Shingen helped restore it at a time when the temple was in decline, the caltrap family crest of the Takeda clan is used as the temple crest. The cedars lining the approach to the shrine have been allowed to grow quite large, unlike most temples, and are handsomely maintained. The temple's Japanese garden, which encompasses a rock garden and circular strolling garden around a central pond, achieved its current form in 1897. A sacred Katsura tree over 450 years old grows in the front garden. The main temple and main temple gate were built in the late Edo period and have been designated Cultural Properties by the town. Parking available.

諏訪大社下社春宮の近くにあり、このお寺の存在が隠れてしまってますがとてもいいお寺だと思います。諏訪大社訪問時に近所の方から教えて貰いました。
Nidec Sankyo Museum Suwanone

4.0

28 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nagano Pref. Suwagunshimosuwamachi 5805

This memorial hall is on the Nakasendo Road in Shimosuwa Town, Suwa County. Along with exhibitions of music boxes made in Japan and abroad, it also has a studio where you can try making a music box, as well as a concert hall where you can take in a live performance featuring a blend of images and the tunes of antique music box. There is an open terrace cafe and a boutique that sells music boxes too.

Lots of very interesting music boxes to see plus you get to see the workshop where they make them. But the unexpected surprise was the food in the cafe. The rice was very soft and delicious and the...
Okaya Silk Museum (Silk Fact Okaya)

4.5

17 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Nagano Pref. Okayashi Gouda 1-4-8

"This silk museum is in Okaya City, Nagano Prefecture lets you learn about the history of silk and more. It also has a silk reeling studio that's open to visitors. Stop by the Mayu-chan Kobo workshop to try your hand at ""cocoon crafts"" and hand weaving. The museum is popular with locals and tourists alike."

こちらは《シルク岡谷の絹産業遺産（近代化産業遺産群）》全15件中 No10&12...
Jinchokan Moriya Historical Museum

4.5

25 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nagano Pref. Chinoshi Miyagawa 389-1

This local museum is in Chino City, Nagano Prefecture. It displays documents and historical records concerning the Moriya clan, high ranking Shinto priests at Suwa Taisha Kamisha Shrine starting in the Middle Ages. Its ancient documents provide a record of Nagano long ago and a valuable picture of the period. It has both planned exhibits and a permanent exhibit with ancient documents that have been designated as Prefectural Treasures and Chino City Cultural Property.

「建築家、藤森照信さん」と「諏訪エリアの土着文化からの歴史」の２つの興味目的のための「神長官守矢資料館」です。一つ目の「建築家、藤森照信さん」は、この「神長官守矢資料館」を設計した建物のユニークさ、建築技術目的ですね。近くには「空飛ぶ泥舟」という建築家、藤森照信さんワールドを象徴した建築物もあります。一方、「諏訪エリアの土着文化からの歴史」は、ミシャグジ信仰（民間信仰）、守矢族、諏訪大社（御頭...
Harmo Museum

4.0

22 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Nagano Suwa-gun Shimosuwamachi 10616-540

15-minutes from the Chuo Expressway. This art museum, standing amidst the lush natural beauty on the bank of Lake Suwa, was opened on April 26, 1990 by industrial robot manufacturer Harmo's founder Tomio Hama and director Takako Seki. The museum's standing exhibition consists of works of Naive art which express a free sensitivity from a pure perspective, including nine rare pieces by Henri Rousseau. The museum has gained worldwide recognition for its distinctive concept. The museum also has a cafe where you can take a relaxing break and, on clear days, see all the way to Mt. Fuji.

ＨＰに年中無休とあり、念のため電話確認したうえで訪問しました。２Ｆ展示室は３つに分かれています。（一つは靴を脱いで入ります）アンリ・ルソーが目的でしたが他の作者さんたちの作品との出会いを楽しむことも出来ました。実は、１Ｆにも展示室があります。正面玄関入ってすぐにダリ、左奥の部屋で期間限定の展示、それとショップ＆喫茶コーナーから望む諏訪湖。正月期間でありながら対応いただいているスタッフの方々に感謝で...

Nagano Around Suwa

Travel / Tourism

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Nagano Areas

Nagano prefecture is an exciting mix of mountains, hot spring monkeys, and preserved Edo history. At the heart of the Japanese Alps, Nagano is one of the country’s most popular destinations, whether in winter for its snow sports and the much-loved Jigokudani Monkey Park or in the warmer months for discovering the undulating hills on foot. For fantastic Edo architecture, head to the Kiso Valley for a 60-kilometer stretch of quaint wooden buildings that marked the Nakasendo route 200 years ago.