Suwa, Tateshina, Yatsugatake Travel Guides

A scenic area from the west of Yatsugatake to the Suwa Lake area. Lake Shirakaba, surrounded by beautiful birch forests, is famous as a summer resort. Many visitors come to worship at Suwa-taisha Shrine, one of the oldest shrines in Japan.

Suwa, Tateshina, and Yatsugatake include sightseeing spots such as Lake Suwa, Lake Shirakaba, and Kurumayama Kogen, sightseeing events such as the Lake Suwa Festival Lake Fireworks Display, Starry Sky Film Festival, and Suwa Area Industrial Messe, and local gourmet foods such as Japanese sake, horse sashimi, and soba gaki.

Suwa is an area located in the southern part of Nagano Prefecture and is a historical area associated with Takeda Shingen, the founder of the Suwa clan, where Lake Suwa is located. Nearby is the headquarters of Seiko Epson, famous for its watches, and Takeya, famous for its Takeya Miso. Yatsugatake is a mountain massif in Japan that remains a volcanic belt. Because of the high elevation in this area, there are many alpine plants in the vicinity, and broad-leaved trees and layers of coniferous trees can be seen, which is a wonder to behold.

Tateshina has a mysterious history, with various hypotheses and legends as to why the surrounding Yatsugatake Mountains were formed, why the Yashima Marshland was formed, and why Lake Suwa was formed. Obsidian was obtained in this area, and traces of it can be found at various ruins. It is also said that there is a hidden hot spring of Lord Shingen, and the area is rich in romantic stories and legends.

There are many shrines and temples in the area, and a variety of cultural assets can be found here. There is "Kodanrei-jinja Shrine," "Daiboji Temple" with its three-story pagoda, a national treasure, "Gyokurin-in Temple" said to have been founded by Kiso Yoshimoto, and "Kiso no Sakura" where there is a monument with a haiku written by Matsuo Basho. Other areas include Obuse, where Katsushika Hokusai is said to have lived for a time, the Kurohime Plateau with its beautiful cosmos, and Nozawa Onsen, a mecca for snowboarding and skiing in the winter.

Shinshu is famous for its "Shinshu soba" (buckwheat noodles), but that is not the only specialty of this area. Shabu-shabu, or Shinshu beef shabu-shabu, is a must-try at least once at Steak House North Point. You can enjoy authentic Shinshu soba at Yumezantei Soba Restaurant.

Once your stomach is full, you may want to study some history. In Suwa City, there is the "Suwa City Museum of Art" and you can enjoy the sea of clouds in the "Tateshina Kogen" area. The famous "Kirigamine Plateau" offers beautiful scenery surrounded by alpine flora. The Yashima-ga-hara Marshland is equally stunning. Lake Shirakaba is a typical high altitude lake with a blue color you have never seen before. This area is cool in summer and suitable for driving. Express buses are available to each area, so take advantage of them.