Lake Suwa

Overview

As the largest lake in Nagano Prefecture (12.81 square kilometers), it spans the cities of Suwa, Okaya, and the town of Shimosuwa. During the severe cold season, after the lake surface freezes completely, the expansion and contraction of the ice due to the temperature difference between day and night cause cracks to run across the ice with a thunderous roar, creating a phenomenon known as 'Omiwatari' (the divine crossing). According to legend, this is the path taken by the male deity Takeminakata-no-kami of Suwa Taisha Kamisha to visit the female deity Yasaka-no-mikoto of Shimosha, making it the heart of Suwa worship. Suwa Taisha Kamisha and Shimosha are enshrined on the lakeshore, and the 'Lake Suwa Festival Lake Fireworks Display' held on August 15 is one of the largest in Japan.

Highlights

• ・The largest lake in Nagano Prefecture
• ・The 'Omiwatari' phenomenon during the severe cold season
• ・The center of the four Suwa Taisha shrines
• ・The lake fireworks display on August 15