SUZAKA IS RICH IN
HISTORY AND NATURE.
VARIOUS EXPERIENCES
AND EXCHANGES AWAIT YOU!
As the silk industry flourished from the end of the Edo era to the beginning of the Showa era, Suzaka became a town of warehouses where the townscape from 160 years ago still remains.
This art museum located at the entrance of the old-fashioned “Kura area’’, houses a collection of about 2,000 pieces of old folk art, including antique kimonos from the Taisho to Showa periods (donated by Japanese painter OKA NOBUTAKA). For additional fee, you can wear a kimono and walk around the streets of Kura.
Kimono experience (reservation required) ＆ museum entrance/ walk around town
*30 minutes per person for
dressing, (bookings required)
From the Museum of Classical Art to
Kasaboko Kaikan Museum.
Walk around town!
(About 5 min.)
On the 1st floor, the Kasaboko floats and Yatai floats that are paraded during the Suzaka Gion Festival are on display. On the 2nd and 3rd floors; displays of daily life during the Edo period and materials from the Hori family (Suzaka clan). Watch a video of the Suzaka Gion Festival on the 2nd floor. All the floats are gorgeously impressive and are a must-see!
Visiting Kasaboko
(Suzaka Gion Festival)
Tour of the wealthy merchant’s estate from the Edo period.
Shimpachi Tanaka began the business in the middle of the Edo period(1733), dealing in grains, rapeseed oil, tobacco, cotton, and sake brewing. He became a merchant and large landowner; a supplier to the Suzaka clan. His financial strength exceeded them, and he became the wealthiest merchant in northern Shinano. Currently, it is a private museum exhibiting cultural heritage such as gardens, buildings, and works of art that have been passed down through the generations. You can experience all aspects of Japanese culture in one place!
Edo period meal
We recreate some dishes of the Edo period mentioned in documents handed down by the Tanaka family. By adding stock(dashi) to seasonal ingredients, we bring out the flavors for you to enjoy.
Founded in 1864 for the Suzaka clan, this sake brewery has inherited the tradition of “delicious sake brewing’’ from generations of great sake makers. You can sample the sake we are proud of in the store. (free)
Sake tasting
Miso Gura was founded as a salt wholesaler in the mid-Edo period, and later began making miso and soy sauce. You can feel the long history by visiting us. (Reservations required)
The storehouse and store remain as they were when they first opened, making you feel as if you have traveled back in time to the Edo period.
Miso factory visit
Suzaka is a fruit kingdom. The secret to its popularity is the climate and topography, as well as the sweetness of the fruit. There are many farms in Suzaka, and many foreigners visit during each fruit season.
Fruit picking
The winery was started by a winemaker who studied oenology and viticulture at the University of Adelaide Graduate School (Australia) and started growing grapes in his hometown of Suzaka. In the store, you can sample the wine while listening to the winemaker explain it. *There is a charge for tasting.
At the G7 Transport Ministers' Meeting held in Karuizawa (2016), “Chardot 2014 Barrel Aged’’ was selected as the wine for the welcome reception.
You can enjoy high-quality wine made in Suzaka, a region that produces high-quality grapes.
Wine tasting!
Chiyako Yamamoto is a fourth generation Bonsai grower and is the only female bonsai expert in Japan! To bring out the natural charm of bonsai to the fullest, we grow the trees without using wires. She has been featured on the BBC (UK), and bonsai fans come from both Japan and abroad to receive her guidance.
Beautiful Bonsai
Two 80-meter-high waterfalls are on the list of Japan's top 100 waterfalls. If you walk along the promenade for a while, you will be completely emersed in the natural experience.
You can get close to each waterfall while trekking through the great outdoors. Visit shrines and cafes along the way. (Yonako Fudo-son Okunoin/Nekodake-sanso)
Two 80-meter-high waterfalls
It has 10 diverse courses and over 30 types of kids activities, making it one of the largest Ski Resorts in Japan. It's popular not only for skiing and snowboarding, but also for foreign tourists who are looking for their first snowy experience. A snowy mountain wonderland where you can take a surprising commemorative photo with the world's largest AR x NINJA!
Snowy experience
Since its founding in 1919, this shop has been specializing in Japanese confectionery, mainly mochi. The sweets and oyaki are still made using the original recipes and equipment passed down through the generations.
In the store, you can try your hand at making Japanese sweets and oyaki (*) learning from the fourth generation owner, Tounosuke Komori. (Reservation required/3 or more people)
*Oyaki is a local dish from Nagano Prefecture that is made by wrapping vegetables in flour dough, then steamed or grilled.
Japanese sweets making/Oyaki making (reservation required)
A miso factory founded in 1869. At its founding, the company manufactured and sold koji, so the fourth generation owner, Hirofumi Hondo, made the miso by hand from koji using a method passed down through the generations, using 100% domestic ingredients in wooden vats, which are now rare. The miso is carefully aged.
Miso making experience You can also try your hand at making miso in the store. Miso, which is incredibly good for you, is also popular with customers from overseas.
reservation required
It has been selected as one of the top 100 cherry blossom viewing spots, and is visited by locals and tourists during the cherry blossom season. The park also has a zoo, making it popular with families.
Satoyama is close to the city. It has also become a hot topic that the split stones here resemble the rocks that appear in popular anime.
It was designated as a Nagano Prefectural Treasure; an important heritage site that conveys the history of the silk industry and the lives of people back then. You can also try your hand at making the traditional craft of kumiko work (wooden artifacts). There is a cafe, so you can relax and enjoy the cultural heritage.
We have a collection of approximately 3,000 folk dolls from over 100 countries from around the world. In the winter, the “30-tier Hina Decoration’’, which has about 1,000 dolls lined up as “Japan's best doll decoration’’, and the role-playing experience is also popular.
This is a recommended course for enjoying Suzaka for a day,
including a Japanese garden, wearing a kimono, and walking
around town.*The course is just an example.
Shinshu Suzaka Tourism Association
(Silky Bldg. 2F)
▼Travel time:Approximately 5 min.
The “starting point for enjoying Suzaka” is located at the entrance of the Kuranomachi street. It is a retro building that was renovated from an old Mayugura building, and you can buy Suzaka’s speciality products and works by local artists.
▼Travel time:Approximately 5 min.
▼Travel time:Approximately 5 min.
▼Travel time:Approximately 10 min.
▼Travel time:Approximately 5 min.
Suzaka specialty. A rice bowl made with Suzaka miso and beef. You can only eat it in Suzaka!
Matsubaya sobaten,Yururi and others
In Japan, katsudon with egg is the standard, but here in Suzaka, katsudon with sweet and spicy sauce is popular.
Matsuya and others
Enjoy the taste of Suzaka's long-running soba restaurant.
Agareya, Matsubaya sobaten, Matsuya and others
Formerly a butcher shop, this restaurant’s high-quality Shinshu beef sukiyaki and shabu-shabu are popular.
Sosekitei
This is a restaurant with a long history where you can enjoy Japanese course meals made with carefully selected ingredients.
Notochu
A small guest house built 130 years ago. Travelers gather in lounges and cafes to chat and exchange information.
The spring quality is a weak alkaline hot spring that is non-irritating, making it safe for small children and the elderly.The baths are also tattoo friendly.
There is a mysterious cave bath. A natural hot spring flows from the source, like a river inside the cave. It is a unisex bath, and bathing clothes are provided.
Minenohara Plateau (1,500m above sea level) is 40 minutes by car from Suzaka city. It is one of Japan's leading pension villages with approximately 40 pensions and lodges. There is trekking in the spring, starry skies in the summer, changing leaves in the fall, and ski resorts in the winter, so you can enjoy every season.
