A town-run parking lot by the station, which is free to use for tourists. Bicycles are available for rent here ( 100 yen/ hour), so pick one up and depart from here towards the lakeshore.
Trip Ideas
Super Active Course: Cycling around Lake Suwa
This course makes a full lap around famous sightseeing spot Lake Suwa by bicycle. It visits a park with picturesque views of the lake, one of Suwa’s unagi restaurants, a dignified retro-modern hot spring that appeared in the movie "Thermae Romae", and other recommended spots.
Feel the cool wind of Lake Suwa on your skin, breathe deep the clean mountain air and refresh your body and mind. You may even be able to see Japan’s most famous peak from one of the Kanto area’s hundred scenic viewpoints of Mt. Fuji! On the way back, take a dip in one of the town’s hot springs and wash away any fatigue.
total time1 day (about 7.5 hours)
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01
Tomonomachi Parking Lot
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02
Akasunasaki Park
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03
Kamaguchi Sluices
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04
Katakurakan
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05
CLASUWA
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06
Lake Suwa Geyser Center
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07
How about an Unagi Lunch?
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08
Tomonomachi Parking Lot
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09
Nearby Public Bathhouses
01
Tomonomachi Parking Lot
Address :289 Shimosuwa Town, Suwa District
Phone :0266-27-0005
15 minutes Oka no Wa of Akasunasaki Park
02
Akasunasaki Park
A large park on the shoreline with a sports field, a plaza and small hill, called Oka no Wa, with great views of Lake Suwa. This is a great place for a short break while taking in the refreshing wind blowing over the lake.
Address :Nishiakasuna, Shimosuwa Town, Suwa District
15 minutes 03
Kamaguchi Sluices
The waters of Lake Suwa only flow out to one river (the Tenryu River), and in order to utilize the river’s hydroelectric plant more effectively, sluices were built here to control the volume of water entering it.
Nearby you’ll find a park where you can take a short rest.
Address :1-9-5 Minato, Okaya City, Suwa DIstrict
40 minutes 04
Katakurakan
This facility was built by the Katakura family, which prospered in the silk manufacturing industry from the Taisho to early Showa period, to serve as a place of relaxation, socializing and recreation for local residents. It was famously used as a location for the movie Thermae Romae, and the Senniburo bath that appeared in the film is open as a day-use hot spring. The retro-modern Western architecture of the building is also a highlight!
Address :4-1-9 Kogandori, Suwa City, Suwa District
Phone :0266-52-0604
5 minutes 05
CLASUWA
This facility proposes a healthy way of living as arranged by Yomeishu Seizo Co., Ltd. Entering this stylish and refined building, you’ll find a restaurant and gift shop. For those looking for a slightly fancier souvenir to bring home, this is the place to visit.
Address :3-1-30 Kogandori, Suwa City, Suwa District
Phone :0266-52-9630
5 minutes 06
Lake Suwa Geyser Center
This facility has a hot spring geyser, which reaches impressive heights of up to five meters tall. You can get up close and see the geyser as it blows at set times throughout the day. (9:30, 11:00, 12:30, 14:00, 15:30. Extra at 17:00 from April to September )
Open Hours:
April to September 9:00a.m. – 6:00p.m.
October to March 9:00a.m. – 5:00p.m.
Free Entrance
Address :2-208-338 Kogandori, Suwa City, Nagano Prefecture
Phone :0266-52-8282
07
How about an Unagi Lunch?
Around Lake Suwa, which has long been known for its unagi (eel), there are many restaurants that specialize in grilled unagi dishes. We’ll introduce a few of our recommended restaurants below, so feel free to visit the one that interests you most.
Unagi Matsukura
Their unagi grilled over charcoal until soft and plump is something else. The restaurant also has seats with views of Lake Suwa.
Unagi Kobayashi
Their aromatic secret sauce goes perfectly with plump and juicy unagi. You can taste the care that goes into each piece, grilled one at a time.
Unatomi
Your mouth will delight in the texture of this Kansai-style unagi, dry-grilled to form a light crust over soft and juicy meat. Add to that the restaurant’s flavorful sauce, which has been continuously blended for 31 years, and you won’t be able to get enough!
Unagi Hayashiya
In addition to its aromatic and plump unagi dishes, this restaurant has an extensive menu including smelt-based dishes that have been perfected over many years.
10-30 minutes 08
Tomonomachi Parking Lot
6 minutes 09
Nearby Public Bathhouses
Shimosuwa Town was the only post-town along the Nakasendo Highway to have natural hot springs. There are eight public baths around town, all of which are gensen kakenagashi (no added heat or water recirculation). Even better, they only cost 240 yen to enter! Enjoy a leisurely dip and wash away any fatigue from your trip.
Check out all the onsen facilities and footbaths here.