Local Sightseeing
An extraordinary trip, where you can discover the mysterious charms of Suwa.
Let the lake set your pace
Let its beauty hold your heart
Lake Suwa stretches out just in front of the inn. Walk along the shore, soak your feet in the footbath, or cycle along the water’s edge — however you like to spend your time. Pause whenever a view catches your eye, and let the ever-changing beauty of Lake Suwa set the rhythm of your stay.
The Four Seasons of Lake Suwa
Lake Suwa’s expression shifts throughout the year.
Discover its charm across each of the four seasons.
Spring
Cherry blossoms bloom in soft pink along the shore, with wildflowers starting to appear underfoot. With a gentle breeze and light floral scent in the air, it’s a great season for an easy walk by the lake.
Summer
Lake Suwa is known for its fireworks — including one of Japan’s largest fireworks festivals and the Summer Night Fireworks, held for 10 minutes every evening. Watching fireworks light up the night sky over the lake is a summer highlight.
Autumn
The trees along the shore turn a deep red, while the mountains in the distance shift to yellow, orange, and green. Seeing both colors together — near and far — is one of the best ways to enjoy autumn at Lake Suwa.
Winter
In winter, Lake Suwa sometimes shows a rare natural phenomenon called Omiwatari, when ridges of ice form across the frozen surface. Snow occasionally falls along the shore too, creating a quiet, black-and-white scene with the lake and mountains beyond.
Step out from the inn, and Suwa unfolds
The moment you step outside, Suwa’s own kind of charm begins — just a short stroll from the inn.
Let your walk carry you a little further, and see where it leads.
Takashima Castle
A floating castle that reflects the seasons
Once built to rise from the waters of Lake Suwa, Takashima Castle earned the name “the floating castle of Suwa.” Renowned for its cherry blossoms, the castle grounds are also home to wisteria in spring and vivid foliage in autumn — offering a different kind of beauty with each season.
Travel Time20-minute walk from the inn / about 5 minutes by car
Suwa Gokura (Five Sake Breweries)
Five sake breweries to explore on foot
Five sake breweries — Maihime, Reijin, Honkin, Yokobue, and Masumi — line the old Koshu Kaido road in front of Kami-Suwa Station. Each brews its own distinct sake using the same spring water from Kirigamine Highlands. Walk from one to the next, tasting and comparing as you go, for an easy and enjoyable brewery tour.
Travel Time10-minute walk from Kami-Suwa Station
Tateishi Park
A breathtaking overlook above Lake Suwa.
Panoramic views of Lake Suwa and the Northern Alps.
It’s also said to have inspired a scene in the popular animated film “Your Name.”, drawing fans from around the world.
Travel Time35 minutes on foot / 15 minutes by car
*As this is a popular destination, traffic congestion on nearby roads is expected. Please check current conditions before heading out.
Free Shuttle Bus
to Suwa Taisha Shrine
Suwa Taisha, made up of four shrines encircling Lake Suwa, is the head shrine of more than ten thousand Suwa shrines across Japan. It enshrines Takeminakata-no-Kami, a god of strength and protection, and his consort Yasakatome-no-Kami, known for blessings of good match, fertility, and safe childbirth. The inn offers a free shuttle bus, the “Shinyu-go,” complete with a driver-guide who takes you to all four shrines. Sit back and enjoy discovering the depth of Suwa Taisha, with nothing to worry about but the journey itself.
Shinyu Lakeside Area Map
Leave behind the hustle and bustle of the city and experience the rich natural environment and deep history of Suwa.
Enjoy an extraordinary trip, where you can discover the mysterious charms of Suwa.
Recommended Course
Not sure how to plan your trip? Let these model courses help.
Choose between walking or driving,
with two-day, one-night itineraries to suit your pace.
Arrival at Kamisuwa Station
Welcome to Suwa. There are two recommended sightseeing spots near Kamisuwa Station. If you would like to leave your luggage at the hotel for safekeeping, please do not hesitate to use the free shuttle bus from Kamisuwa Station to Shinyu.
10 min on foot
15 min on foot
Sake Brewery Tour
The Gokuraku Set is available at five breweries in Suwa and includes a glass, a handbag, and a coupon to make your sake brewery tour more enjoyable.
The Gokuraku Set is available at Maihime, Reijin, Honkin, Yokobue, and Masumi.
Opening hours and holidays differ for each brewery.
Takashima Castle
Takashima Castle, also known as “the floating castle” because it appears to float upon the surface of Lake Suwa, was built by Hineno Oribenosho Takayoshi, a vassal to Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The main keep portion of the castle remains to this day.
There is a garden on the site of the outer citadel, and the castle tower offers a panoramic view of Lake Suwa. There are roughly 90 trees within the castle grounds, mainly Somei Yoshino cherry blossoms but also including Shidare and Higan cherry blossoms, as well as seasonal trees and flowers, making this a location that inspires hope.
20 min on foot
10 min on foot
15 min on foot
20 min on foot
Kamisuwa Station
Free Shinyu Bus
Kamisuwa Shinyu
Visit the four Suwa Taisha Shrines on Shinyu-go
Shinyu-go is a free bus available to carry you to the four Suwa Taisha Shrines. This roughly 3-hour and 20-minute course departs from Kamisuwa Onsen Shinyu at 9:20 a.m., stops once at Kamisuwa Station, then goes around to each of the four Suwa Taisha Shrines before returning to the hotel.
*There are two departure times each day, including an afternoon departure at 1:20 p.m.
Eat local Suwa and Shinshu specialties
If you have come all the way to Shinshu, how about having soba noodles or eel, which are both local specialties, for lunch? We also recommend the gourmet Miso Tendon (rice bowl topped with tempura and flavored with miso), made from many Suwa specialties. If you are looking for a restaurant, please feel free to ask a hotel staff member. (Photo: Unagi no Unafuji)
Kamisuwa Shinyu
2 min on foot
Sightseeing Steamships
These excursion boats tour around Lake Suwa. You can enjoy a panoramic view of the Japanese Alps, including the Mt. Kirigamine and Mt. Yatsugatake, and on a clear day, you can even see Mt. Fuji. There are two boats: the swan-shaped Suwan and the Suwako Starmine, a new type of excursion boat.
3 min on foot
Suwa Lakeside Park Footbath
The footbath at Lakeside Park is available for use free of charge. You can relax and recover from fatigue while enjoying the view of Lake Suwa. There is a ramp so that wheelchair users can also enjoy the footbath while still in their wheelchair. There is also a health-promotion promenade where you can walk barefoot to promote blood circulation.
1 min on foot
Geyser Center
You can enjoy geysers and hot water columns drifting from the seven separate mineral springs that surface here. The hot water columns give a sense of the mysterious power of water, and you may also experience negative ion effects.
3 min on foot
Kitazawa Museum of Art
You can view various works by famous craftsmen and artists, including “Inky cap lamp” by French glassworker Emile Gallé and other masterpieces by the Daum Brothers.
[Opening Hours] 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (April to September)
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (October to March)
6 min on foot
Kamisuwa Shinyu
Free Shinyu Bus
Kamisuwa Station
Check-in
Welcome to Suwa. Upon arrival at Kamisuwa Shinyu, first please check in at the reception and take a break in your room.
5 min by car
Onsenji Temple
Onsenji Temple was the family temple of the Suwa clan, the feudal lords of the Takashima Domain, and its principal image is that of Sakyamuni Buddha. The temple is also the site of the grave of Izumi Shikibu. Other highlights include a 300-year-old Shidare cherry tree, and a magnificent Japanese garden.
10 min by car
Tateishi Park
Located on a hill with a sweeping view of Lake Suwa, Tateishi Park is known for its stunning sunsets and night views reflected on the water’s surface. It also gained fame as one of the inspiration sites for the film Your Name. On weekends and holidays, the park draws many visitors. It’s about a 30-minute walk from Kamisuwa Onsen Shinyu (please be mindful of heatstroke in summer). Walking is often less crowded than driving, and the route offers the charm of lake and town views along the way. Before you go, we recommend checking the Tateishi Park live camera (officially provided by Suwa City) to see the current weather and crowd conditions.
15 min by car
Kamisuwa Shinyu
Visit the four Suwa Taisha Shrines on Shinyu-go
Shinyu-go is a free bus available to carry you to the four Suwa Taisha Shrines. This roughly 3-hour and 20-minute course departs from Kamisuwa Onsen Shinyu at 9:20 a.m., stops once at Kamisuwa Station, then goes around to each of the four Suwa Taisha Shrines before returning to the hotel.
*There are two departure times each day, including an afternoon departure at 1:20 p.m.
Eat local Suwa and Shinshu specialties
If you have come all the way to Shinshu, how about having soba noodles or eel, which are both local specialties, for lunch? We also recommend the gourmet Miso Tendon (rice bowl topped with tempura and flavored with miso), made from many Suwa specialties. If you are looking for a restaurant, please feel free to ask a hotel staff member. (Photo: Unagi no Unafuji)
Kamisuwa Shinyu
5 min by car
Harada Taiji Art Museum
This art museum exhibits the works of Taiji Harada, a painter from Suwa City. The displays include heartwarming works that lovingly depict scenes from across Japan under the theme of hometowns.
[Opening Hours] 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Closed Mondays)
*Open when Monday is a national holiday. Closed during the year-end and New Year holidays.
3 min by car
Suwa Glass Village
In addition to an art museum with contemporary glass work displays that are changed each season, there is also a glass shop, a hands-on area, and a restaurant.
[Opening Hours] 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (April to September)
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (October to March)
1 min by car
![photo Lake Suwa Strawberry Farm [Limited time only]](https://www.kamisuwa-shinyu.com/edit/wp-content/themes/kamisuwa-2024/img/sightseeing-img-17.jpg)
Lake Suwa Strawberry Farm [Limited time only]
All-you-can-eat strawberries for 30 minutes. Direct sales of strawberries are also available. Reservations are required.
[Opening Hours] 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (January to June)
15 min by car
Suwa Interchange
Widen your circle, discover Suwa’s colors
A short drive brings even more of Suwa’s beauty within reach.
Fields of flowers and rolling highlands come together in a landscape rich with color — a sight worth seeing.
YATZ GARDEN
A crimson carpet beneath
Mt. Yatsugatake.
Vivid red salvias bloom beneath Mt. Yatsugatake.
Kirigamine Highlands
A golden carpet stretching to the horizon
Centered around Mt. Kurumayama at 1,925 meters above sea level, Kirigamine Highlands is a popular summer retreat, known for its cool breezes even in the hottest months. In early summer, the fields burst into color with Nikko day lilies and Japanese azaleas, creating a breathtaking highland landscape.
Venus Line
The higher you drive, the closer you feel to the sky.
A scenic highland drive with breathtaking mountain views.
A little further from Suwa
Beyond Suwa, Nagano’s finest destinations await.
Even a bit further away, they’re well worth the journey.
Why not build your stay around the inn, and set out on a new journey each day?
Matsumoto Castle
A jet-black castle, Japan’s oldest surviving five-story keep
One of Japan’s five National Treasure castles, Matsumoto Castle is home to the oldest surviving five-story, six-floor donjon in the country. Set against the backdrop of the Northern Alps, its jet-black form reflected in the moat captivates visitors throughout every season.
Kamikochi
Beyond Kappa Bridge, the Northern Alps unfold
Nestled deep in the Northern Alps, Kamikochi is a designated Special Place of Scenic Beauty. From its iconic Kappa Bridge, visitors take in soaring views of the Hotaka mountain range, the clear waters of the Azusa River, and Mt. Yake — a breathtaking scene that stays with visitors long after they leave.
Jigokudani Monkey Park
Snow monkeys, loved around the world
At Jigokudani Monkey Park, visitors can observe wild Japanese macaques up close in their natural habitat. In winter, their charming habit of soaking in the hot spring has earned them worldwide fame as the “Snow Monkeys.”
Zenko-ji Temple
Reach out through the darkness, and find your connection
Said to be visited at least once in a lifetime, even from afar, Zenko-ji Temple carries a history spanning some 1,400 years. Beneath the main hall lies a pitch-dark passageway known as the Okaidan-meguri — walking it in complete darkness is believed to form a sacred connection with the temple’s principal Buddha, making it one of Zenko-ji’s most cherished experiences.
Karuizawa
An elegant retreat, wrapped in greenery
Established as one of Japan’s leading summer resorts in the Meiji era, Karuizawa remains a beloved destination today. Nestled among lush greenery, the town is dotted with stylish shops, galleries, and churches, offering visitors an elegant escape from everyday life.
