The Suwa area, with a population of around 210,000, rests on the shores of Lake Suwa in central Nagano Prefecture, Japan. Suwa is famous for its hot springs that are sourced from waters originating below Lake Suwa. Replete with Japanese-style ryokan (inns), high-end resorts, pension-style lodgings, French-style auberge (restaurant-inn combination lodgings) , and minshuku (guesthouse lodgings), this area makes an excellent retreat for Japanese and overseas tourists alike.

Foods local to the Suwa area include delicacies such as unagi (freshwater eel), miso, sake, strawberries and soba noodles. The area surrounding Suwa is filled with forested mountains and fields perfect for discovering Japanese nature and rural life.

The Suwa area is an adventurer’s paradise, with cycling and sport options aplenty that take advantage of the nearby mountain paths and slopes.

There are four main train stations that serve the Lake Suwa region: Chino, Kami-Suwa, Shimo-Suwa, and Okaya. All provide access to a great variety of historical buildings, activities, and experiences unique to this special corner of Nagano.