Located in the center of Nagano Prefecture, Suwa City is known as a cluster of precision machinery manufacturers, but it also has a bustling resort town with Lake Suwa, the largest lake in Shinshu. The most famous of these is its hot springs, and Kami- Kamisuwa Onsen, located on the shores of Lake Suwa, is a hot spring area that boasts an abundant supply of hot water and is one of the prefecture's leading hot springs.

There are several hot springs in the city, and the spring quality is weakly alkaline, which is gentle on the skin. The city is ranked 47th overall in the 2023 "Top 100 Hot Springs in Japan" sponsored by the Tourism Economics Newspaper Company. It is ranked 4th among the prefectures with many hot spring resorts.

Many people may think of fireworks when they think of Kami Kamisuwa Onsen in the summer. The "Lake Suwa Summer Night Fireworks" are held for about a month from late July to late August every year. During the period, fireworks are set off every night from 8:30 pm for 10 minutes, lighting up the night sky.

Along with Lake Suwa, Kirigamine is another scenic spot worth visiting. In 1973, the prefectural nature conservation center, the Nagano Prefecture Kirigamine Nature Conservation Center, opened. Inside the center, you can see the flora and fauna, geology, and history that can only be seen there, as well as actual objects and photo panels. The entire center was renovated in 2010, and the view from the newly built terrace is refreshing! In addition, the video introduction has been renewed and the exhibits have been upgraded, making it a facility where you can experience the charm of Kirigamine even more.

Cycling is currently booming in Suwa. In April of this year, a cycling road that goes around Lake Suwa (16km) was fully opened. The city also rents out electric-assisted bicycles (E-bikes). The Suwa Tourism Association also highly recommends that "the cycling road is flat and easy to ride, but if you use an E-bike you can complete the whole ride in 90 minutes." After enjoying a leisurely cycle, you can relax in a hot spring.

For those who want to enjoy the lake even more, kayaking is recommended. The "Lake Suwa Kayaking Experience" is a guided two-hour tour that allows you to fully enjoy Lake Suwa, and even beginners can participate with confidence as the instructor will carefully teach you how to paddle. In addition, the "Summer Night Cruise" that takes place every day during the "Summer Night Fireworks" is also a recommended experience tour.

Suwa is also famous as a sake town. Along the city's Koshu Kaido, there are five sake breweries: Maihime, Reijin, Honkin, Yokobue, and Masumi. On October 5th, an event called Kami-Suwa Kaido Walk and Drink Walk will be held, where you can enjoy sake brewed with underground water from Kirigamine. Another attraction of Suwa is that on days when you want to enjoy a drink, you can plan a walk around the town without using a car or bicycle.

One of the city's features is the large number of art museums. Many museums are gathered on the shores of Lake Suwa, including the Suwa City Museum of Art, the Suwa City Taiji Harada Museum of Art, and the Kitazawa Museum of Art. The Lake Suwa Citywide Art Festival, which will be held for 17 days from September 7th to 23rd this year, will feature 14 facilities, including art museums and museums around Lake Suwa, as well as Takashima Castle, so be sure to check it out.

【basic information】
Suwa Tourism Association Address: 1F Suwa Chamber of Commerce and Industry, 14-7 Kowada Minami, Suwa City, Nagano Prefecture, 392-0023 Website: https://www.suwakanko.jp/