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Lake Suwa 1-Night Travel Itinerary: Sake Brewery Hopping, a Relaxing Ryokan Stay, and More!

2024.10.04

In the middle of Nagano Prefecture lies the quiet and peaceful Suwa area. The place is famous for its beautiful lake of the same name that’s also featured in the popular animated film “Your Name” (2016).

But Lake Suwa is much more than a backdrop: it’s a peaceful town with retro charm, hot springs, historic shrines, craft sake, and easy access from Nagano and Tokyo.

This guide shows how to spend a perfect short trip around Lake Suwa—with a sake-lover’s model course and a restful stay at Kamisuwa Bettei Suhaku, our modern Japanese ryokan.

For non-drinkers, we have a delicate itinerary for you here (coming soon).

Lake Suwa: 1-Night Itinerary

Day 1

Arrive at Kamisuwa Station

Lunch Time

“Suwa Gokura” Sake Walk

Check-in to Hotel

11:00: Arrive at Kami-Suwa Station

From Shinjuku, take the Limited Express Azusa (2 hr 20 min) or Shinjuku - Suwa bus (3 hr).
Step off the train and try the station footbath right on the platform. You can also buy raw eggs (¥200) at the NewDays convenience store and make your own onsen egg while you soak (also a fun idea while waiting for your return train).
See more about how to get to Kamisuwa station here. >

11:40: Lunch near the station

Local specialties include unagi (eel), miso tendon (tempura rice bowl with miso sauce), Shinshu soba, and wakasagi (smelt). Choose one and refuel!

13:00: The Suwa Gokura Sake Brewery Tour

Drop your luggage in a station locker, then head out on foot. Suwa’s five breweries are clustered within a compact area—each with its own flavor and story. Maihime, the closest to the station, is only about 600 meters (a 10-minute walk) away, while the others are 1–3 minutes apart on foot.
Recommended route: Start at Masumi, then stroll back through Yokobue → Honkin → Reijin → Maihime.
We'll explain "Suwa 5 Sake Breweries Hopping" in more details here. >

15:30: Check-in at Kamisuwa Bettei Suhaku

Pick up your luggage at the station and head to Kamisuwa Bettei Suhaku, a modern Japanese ryokan newly renovated in 2025. It’s about 12 minutes on foot; or take a taxi (under 5 minutes, around ¥1,000).

16:40: Welcome drink & onsen time

Enjoy a complimentary drink, then soak in the natural outdoor hot springs.
There are various room type for you to choose, from traditional Japanese to Modern Japanese. Some room types feature a private in-room onsen for the ultimate unwind with Lake Suwa views.

18:00: Kaiseki dinner

Suhaku serves a seasonal kaiseki course (the menu depends on your chosen plan). Major OTAs (e.g., Booking.com, Trip.com) typically list standard plans, while the official website offers upgraded dinner courses, anniversary plans, and exclusive packages. Fried and grilled dishes are cooked to order, so everything arrives hot and crisp.
Read more about Kamisuwa Bettei Suhaku here >

22:00: One last soak

Finish the night with a quiet onsen with Lake Suwa's night view before bed.

Day 2

Check-out from Hotel

Lake Suwa “Starmine” Sightseeing Cruise

8:00: Breakfast

Start your day energized with a wholesome Japanese or Western breakfast set. Our warm handmade tofu and hearty miso soup—prepared with fresh local vegetables and a blend of Shinshu’s red and white miso—are especially recommended. These dishes are said to be the secret behind the renowned longevity of Nagano people.
You may choose either the Japanese set or the Western set for breakfast at check-in (as of September 2025).

10:00: Free time until check-out

Stroll the lakeside or relax in your room.

10:30: Lake Suwa “Starmine” Sightseeing Cruise

The pier is right in front of the hotel. On clear days, you may spot Mt. Fuji in the distance. This ride is complimentary for Bettei Suhaku guests—ask the front desk for the timetable.

11:00: From Lake Views to Your Next Destination

After the cruise, enjoy a leisurely lakeside stroll, or, if you have onward plans, head back to Kami-Suwa Station to continue your journey toward Tokyo, Matsumoto, or Nagano.

“Suwa Gokura”, the Five Breweries of Suwa

After you’ve filled your belly with some delicious food, it’s time for some tasty drinks as well. Make your way back to Kamisuwa Station and go a little beyond that to find the five sake breweries of Suwa, or “Suwa Gokura” as they are collectively called in Japanese.

These five breweries are Maihime (舞姫), Reijin (麗人), Honkin (本金), Yokobue (横笛) and Masumi (真澄). They are located very near to each other (it’s only about a 5-minute walk between the first and the last brewery) as well as to the station, so you don’t have to worry about transportation.

How to do "Suwa Gokura" Sake Walk

Purchase the “Gokuraku Set” (¥3,000) at the tourist information center (inside JR Kami-Suwa Station) or at any of the breweries. The set include a tasting glass, a cute sake pouch, Suwa Gokura stickers and tasting tokens (20ml per token, good for up to 25 samples in total!)
Visit the breweries at your own pace.
Self-serve 20 ml pours via token-operated taps.

Most of the staff at the breweries speak Japanese only, but they will use pamphlets among others to try their best to explain the different flavors to you.

Even though the glass is smaller than, say, a wine glass, Japanese sake can pack quite a punch, so you will most certainly feel something after drinking 25 different sakes. Be sure to drink plenty of water in between. Also, they sell small snacks at most of the breweries so you can buy a bag of caramelized cashew nuts for example, if you feel like snacking on something while you drink.

Introducing the Suwa's five Sake Brewery

Maihime (舞姫)

Founded: 1897
Notable labels: Shinshu Maihime, Suiro
Characteristics: Balanced “five tastes” (sweet/dry/sour/bitter/astringent)
Closed days: Dec 31 and Jan 1

Reijin (麗人)

Founded: 1789
Notable labels: Reijin
Characteristics: Nagano rice + Kirigamine spring water, classic craftsmanship
Closed days: Sun (varies), New Year period

Honkin (本金)

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Founded: 1756
Notable labels: Honkin, Taichi
Characteristics: Small, family-run; “honest sake” aiming for the “No.1” loved brew
Closed days: Sun irregular (Open irregularly on Sundays, about 2–3 days a month.)

Masumi (真澄)

Founded: 1662
Notable labels: Masumi
Characteristics: Birthplace of “Yeast No. 7”; meticulous, elegant sake
Closed days: Wed (generally) & Jan 1

Masumi has international staff as well, which makes it easier for foreign tourists to ask questions about any of the sakes.

Yokobue (横笛)

suwa_gokura_sake (11)

Founded: 1955
Notable labels: Yokobue
Characteristics: Water, rice, hot springs—hand-drawn aroma in Suwa’s own way
Closed days: Dec 31–Jan 3

All the breweries close their doors at 17:00 (last entry 16:30), so if you want to do them all in one day, keep that in mind. If you’re staying in Suwa (which is recommended with all that sake), you can divide your sake tastings over two days which might help you appreciate the different flavors more.

Getting to Lake Suwa

Lake Suwa is easily accessible via public transport.

From Tokyo, you can either take the Azusa Express train from Shinjuku to Kamisuwa station (about 2 hr 20min), or take Alpico's Shinjuku - Suwa highway bus (about 3hr). The later takes a little longer but cheaper, and also available for online booking.
From Matsumoto, you can take the same Azusa Express train or local train to Kamisuwa station.
From Nagoya, take the Shinano Express train to Shiojiri Station (about 1 hour), then transfer to the Chuo Line to Kamisuwa Station (about 30 minutes).

Other Recommended Activities and Sightseeing Spots

Cycling around Suwa Lake

Cycling around Lake Suwa is easy and scenic. The loop is about 16 km on mostly flat paths with dedicated bike lanes, and you’ll pass lakeside museums, public footbaths, and even floating cafés. If you want a boost, e-bikes are available to rent at Kami-Suwa Station, Shimo-Suwa Station, Hotel Beniya, and the pier in front of Bettei Suhaku.

Suwa Taisha

Suwa Taisha, one of Japan’s oldest shrine complexes, offers a deep look into local culture across four separate shrines. Visiting all four without a car can be challenging, so you might consider using a chartered taxi loop (around ¥25,000). If you’re short on time, Shimosuwa Akimiya Shrine is only a 15-minute walk from Shimo-Suwa Station.

Wakasagi Fishing

Wakasagi (smelt) fishing is a Lake Suwa classic and easy for beginners to try. The season runs from mid-October to the end of February (peak is November to mid-January). You can rent all the tackle on site, and while catches depend on weather and timing, it’s a fun, accessible experience.

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Omiwatari

In very cold winters, you might witness Omiwatari (“God’s Crossing”)—long, dramatic cracks appearing across the frozen lake as the ice expands and contracts. It’s a mystical sight tied to local tradition, but please note that warmer winters mean it may not appear every year.

Lake Suwa Firework Festival

Summer at Lake Suwa means fireworks. On August 15, one of Japan’s largest displays lights up the water with a massive “Grand Starmine” and a 2 km “Niagara Falls,” with sound echoing between the mountains. From late July to late August, the Suwa Summer Night Fireworks also run daily—about 500 shots in a compact 10-minute show starting at 8:30 pm.

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