Lake Suwa - Nagano, Japan
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denben
N 36° 03.068 E 138° 06.754
54S E 239896 N 3993478
Lake Suwa (Suwa-ko) is a lake in the Kiso Mountains, in the central region of Nagano Prefecture, Japan. The cities of Suwa and Okaya and the town of Shimosuwa are located on the shores of Lake Suwa.
Waymark Code: WMZB3Z
Location: Nagano, Japan
Date Posted: 10/12/2018
Views: 1
Lake Suwa is the site of a natural phenomenon known as the "God's Crossing" (o-miwatari). The lake has a natural hot spring under its surface. When the lake's surface freezes in the winter, its lower waters are still circulating. This results in ice pressure ridges forming in the surface ice, reaching heights of 30 centimeters (0.98 ft) or more.
Local Shinto tradition holds that the ridges are formed by the gods crossing the lake, when travelling between the various buildings of the Suwa Grand Shrine. Folklore says it is the guardian god of Suwa, Takeminakata-no-kami, leaving his sanctuary to meet with his wife, the goddess Yasakatome, joining the opposite bank by walking on frozen water.
The Lake Suwa area is popular year round. There is skiing in the winter on the nearby mountain slopes such as Kirigamine, along with the now increasingly rare occurrence of the dramatic formation of large ice ridges, known as omi-watari, on the lake.
Lake Suwa is surrounded by many hot springs (onsen) and travelers from Tokyo and Nagoya come to combine taking the waters at Kamisuwa Onsen with viewing of the lake. Many of the ryokan and hot spring hotels have their own in-house hot bath. There are said to be seven different hot springs in the area.
Pleasure cruises on Lake Suwa include swan-shaped boats that ply the lake on 30 minute cruises (reduced services in the winter months) as well as tours on the "Duck" amphibious sightseeing bus.
In October and early November there are fishing expeditions on the lake in dome-shaped vessels to fish for pond smelt, a local Suwa-ko delicacy.
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