Monday, September 7, 2009

Shimosuwa, Nagano, Japan




Shimosuwa (下諏訪町; -machi) is a town located in Suwa District, Nagano, Japan. It is located on Lake Suwa, a large, natural lake surrounded by mountains. As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 23,283 and a density of 348.03 persons per km². The total area is 66.90 km².

Shimosuwa is the location of two of the shrines that make up the famous Suwa-Taisha or Suwa Grand Shrine. The Harumiya (春宮) and Akimiya (秋宮) shrines are the symbolically renewed every six years during the Onbashira festival. Huge trees are cut a Shinto ceremony, then the logs are dragged from the mountains down to the shrines.

Shimosuwa is also the site of several onsen or natural hot spring spas. Shimosuwa is located on the Chuo Line of JR East, about three hours from Tokyo.

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