NAGANO TRIP 
Where is the center of Nagano? What is the symbolic place of Nagano? Many local residents will say “Lake Suwa (諏訪湖)“. For Nagano’s local residents, Lake Suwa existence towers over everything. Lake Suwa is located in Suwa city that is southern area of Nagano prefecture. Suwa shrine is one of the oldest shrines. Lake Suwa is the 23 largest lake in Japan. Suwa has a lot of attractive contents. In this article, we wrote 1 day Suwa trip guide. Please refer to visit your Suwa time.
FROM TOKYO TO SUWA
The start station of Suwa trip
Kami-Suwa Station is the start station of Suwa Trip!
Access from Haneda Airport
1, Approximately 40 minutes, Haneda Airport No. 1 terminal to Shinjuku Station West Exit (1,230~2,000 yen/ Haneda-Airport Limousine Bus Airport Shuttle Bus towards Hyatt Regency Tokyo)
2, Approximately 2 hours 10 minutes, Shinjuku Station to Kami-Suwa Station (5,870 yen/ Chuo Line-Limited Express Limited Express Azusa towards Matsumoto)
Access from Narita Airport
1, Approximately 35 minutes, Narita Airport Terminal 2 Station to Nippori Station (2,470 yen/ Skyliner Toll Limited Express Skyliner)
2, Approximately 20 minutes, Nippori Station to Shinjuku Station (200 yen/ Yamanote Line Local towards For Ikebukuro / Shinjuku (Counter-Clockwise))
3, Approximately 2 hours 10 minutes, Shinjuku Station to Kami-Suwa Station (5,870 yen/ Chuo Line-Limited Express Limited Express Azusa towards Matsumoto)
LAKE SUWA MAP
SUWA TRIPADVISOR
MUST GO PLACES WHILE 1 DAY SUWA TRIP
Takashima Castle
Takashima Castle (高島城) is located in Suwa city, constructed 400 years ago. Takashima castle has another name “The floating castle”, the reason is Takashima castle looks like floating on the lake. Actually, a current castle is re-built in 1970. But the shapes of the castle has remained beautiful.
The first floor is a special exhibition corner and information corner. The second floor is an exhibition corner about history a samurai. The third floor is a view spot that visitor can look all around Suwa area.
| ADDRESS | 1-chōme-20-15 Takashima, Suwa, Nagano 392-0022 |
| CLOSED DAY | December 26th ~ 31th November second Thursday |
| OPEN HOUR | 9:00 ~ 17:30 (October 1st ~ March 31st – 9:00 ~ 16:30) |
| TAKE TIME | Approximately 30 minutes |
| ENTRANCE FEE | Adult: 300 yen Child: 150 yen |
LAKE SUWA GEYSER CENTER
Do you know ”Geyser (間欠泉)”? Geyser is a kind of Onsen (hot spring). It spouts hot water regularly. Actually, this geyser was the second-highest geyser in the world in 1973. At that time, geyser recorded about 58 meters. However, the geyser has been decreasing hot water. Currently, the geyser is spouted by a special machine.
A visitor can eat “Onsen Tamago, Hot spring egg (Onsen egg)(温泉卵)“. Onsen egg is made in onsen places in Japan. Onsen egg is a traditional Japanese low-temperature egg that is slow-cooked in the hot spring.
| ADDRESS | 2-chōme-4-208-90 Kogandōri, Suwa, Nagano 392-0027 |
| ENTRANCE FEE | FREE |
| OPEN HOUR | Every day open April ~ September – 9:00 ~ 18:00 October ~ March – 9:00 ~ 17:00 |
| INJECTION TIME | 9:30 11:00 12:30 14:00 15:30 17:00（Only April ~ September） |
NEW SUWA’S SPECIALTY: MISO TEMPLA BOWL AT IZUMI-YA
We recommend new special dishes in Kami-Suwa. It is “Miso Tempra Bowl” at Izumi-Ya. Shrimp and a Japanese pond smelt that is fished from Lake Suwa, Local vegetables and original Miso paste topped bowl. If you want to eat “The Shinshu Dishes”, this restaurant will serve delicious Shinshu foods to you.
| ADDRESS | 1-2-4, Suwa, Suwa city, Nagano prefecture. |
| ACCESS | Approximately 1 minute from Kamisuwa Station. |
| OPEN HOUR | 11:00 ~ 22:00 (Last order time – 21:30) |
| CLOSED DAY | irregular holidays |
| AVERAGE BUDGET | Lunch – 500 yen ~ 1,000 yen Dinner – 2,000 yen ~ 3,000 yen |
| CREDIT CARD | Can’t use |
| ELECTRIC MONEY | Can’t use |
GRASSHOPPER SOFT SERVE
| ADDRESS | 3 Chome-1-27 Kogandori, Suwa, Nagano Prefecture 392-0027 |
| ACCESS | Approx. 10 minutes walk from Kamisuwa Station |
| PRICE | 400 yen |
There is a funny and impulse soft-serve aside of Lake Suwa. This is “Grasshopper Soft-Serve” that is sold by Suwa Kanko Kisen (Suwa Sightseeing Boat company). Nagano’s people have eaten some kinds of bugs. Bugs have an element of good health. Currently, Almost people don’t eat bugs, but grasshopper is one of the most eaten bugs now. The taste is crisp and a little sweet. I think… delicious. Let’s try Grasshopper Soft -Serve!
SUWA TAISHA SHRINE
Suwa-Taisha Shrine (諏訪大社) has a religious faith among the people of Japan. There are four shrines, which are called Kamisha-Maemiya（上社前宮）, Kamisha-Honmiya（上社本宮）, Shimosha-Harumiya（下社春宮）, Shimosha-akimiya（下社秋宮）.
STAY IN MASUYA GUESTHOUCE
Masuya Guest House (マスヤゲストハウス) is one of the most famous and popular guest house in Nagano prefecture. Not only Masuya guest house is a guest house but also Masuya guest houce is community space at Suwa area.
Masuya Guest House is a guest house located near to Lake Suwa in Shimosuwa-machi, Nagano Prefecture.
With its mighty red brick gate, this travelers inn has been welcoming guests since the Meiji Era and can be found on maps of that time. We have kept not only part of the name “Masuya Ryokan”, but also have tried to preserve the outstanding parts of its architecture while creating a comfortable modern place to stay. We hope that you will join our staff and friendly locals in enjoying a relaxed time at our guest house and in and around the Suwa area.
Masuya Official Web site. http://masuya-gh.com/en/about/
