Suwa, Nagano

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Suwa (諏訪市: Suwa-shi) is a city located in Nagano, Japan.

As of 2003, the city had an estimated population of 53,600 and a density of 491.47 persons per km². The total area of the city is 109.06 km².

The city was founded on August 10, 1941, after the union of Kami-Suwa town, Toyoda village, and Shiga village. It is located on the shores of Lake Suwa.

[edit] Prominent features

The town is famous for its ryokans (onsen hotels, i.e., traditional Japanese guesthouses at hot springs).

Annual fireworks displays are held in August and September. The displays take place on the shores of the lake, and many tens of thousands of spectators enjoy the shows from the shores. Trains are the recommended way to get to Suwa on those days, though buses are significantly less expensive.

Every six years (in the years of the Tiger and the Monkey), Suwa hosts a Shinto festival called Onbashira (literally, "the honored log"). As part of the event, very large trees up in the hills are felled and brought down into the valley, pulling them with ropes and sliding them down hills. To demonstrate their bravery, young men from the area ride on the logs as they hurtle down the slopes.

Suwa houses one of four large Shinto shrines. The Suwa shrines rank among the top shrines in Japan.