Things to do in Okaya
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Top 10 attractions in Okaya
Kirigamine Ski Area
Kirigamine Ski Area is located in Suwa City, Nagano Prefecture. It is located on the Kirigamine Plateau at an altitude of about 1,600 meters and is adjacent to the volcanic Lake Suwa. It is a family-friendly and natural ski destination in central Nagano Prefecture. Compared with large ski resorts such as Hakuba and Shiga Kogen in Nagano Prefecture, Kirigamine is known for its medium scale and low passenger density, which is suitable for skiers who seek a quiet experience. The ski resort has many ski trails, 60% of which are beginner trails. The slopes are gentle and equipped with magic carpet facilities, which are especially suitable for parents and novices to practice. The intermediate trails are concentrated in the mountainside area, overlooking the Suwa Basin and the winter panorama of Mount Fuji in the distance. Some ski trails are open at night, and the snow scenery under the light is intertwined with the starry sky, creating a unique atmosphere. The ski park also has small jumps and wave trails to attract snowboard enthusiasts to challenge.Suwa · 10.6km from Okaya
Suwa Taisha Kamisha Honmiya
Suwa · 9.9km from Okaya
Lake Suwa
Lake Suwa is located roughly in the center of Nagano Prefecture, with an elevation of 759 m and a circumference of 16.2 km, making it a large lake in the prefecture. In winter, when the lake freezes over, you can see anglers ice fishing for smelt through holes in the ice, as well as ice skaters. Furthermore, after 10 or more consecutive days of temperatures dropping below -10°C, the contraction and expansion of the ice cause it to crack and rise over 1 m, accompanied by a loud sound. This rare phenomenon is known as "Omiwatari." At the lakeside "Suwa Lake Geyser Center," you can see a rare geyser that erupts up to 40–50 m high approx. every 1 hour. Inside the center, there is also an indoor swimming pool and a slide show introducing "Omiwatari."Okaya · 3.8km from downtown
Kurumayama Kogen SKYPARK
Che Shan Plateau Ski Resort offers 8 types of ski trails, catering to everyone from young beginners to seasoned experts. With over 70% sunny days during the snow season, the view from the 1925-meter summit of Che Shan is breathtaking, offering a 360-degree panorama. On clear days, you can see famous Japanese mountains such as Mount Fuji, Southern/Northern/Central Alps, and Yatsugatake Mountains.Chino · 14.8km from Okaya
Suwa Taisha Shimosha Akimiya
The Suwa Taisha Shrine in Nagano is the headquarters of 2,500 Suwa shrines in Japan. It is dedicated to the god of farming and hunting. The shrine is divided into upper and lower shrines. Upper shrine is divided into the main palace and the former palace. The main palace is located in Suwa City. , the former palace is located in Chino City. Shimosha is divided into Autumn Palace and Spring Palace, both located in Shimosuwa Town. Most people visit Shimosha, because it is adjacent to Lake Suwa, with beautiful scenery and natural quietness. The shrine has a history of thousands of years and is one of the oldest religious buildings in Japan. However, due to the advanced age, the specific origin still needs further research and verification. Suwa Shrine is the site of the Imperial Pillar Festival, which is one of the three major festivals in Japan. There will be well-trained men holding wooden pillars and quickly slide down from the hillside. The festival is more lively and more exciting to watch.Shimosuwa · 3.9km from Okaya
Suwa Taisha Shimosha Harumiya
Shimosuwa · 3.4km from Okaya
Matsumoto Castle
The predecessor of Matsumoto Castle was Fukashi Castle. At the beginning of the Muromachi period, Ogasawara Sadamune, a retainer of the Ashikaga Takahashi clan, was entrusted with the guardianship of Shinano, and the castle was built. In the 17th year of Tenten (1548), when Takeda Shingen of Kohi defeated Ogasawara Chang of Forest City, this place was used as a base for advancing from Higashi Shinano to Kitashinano. The scale of Shenzhi City gradually expanded. During this period, Kiso Yoshimao, Ogasawara Zhenzhong, Ogasawara Zhenqing, and Ogasawara Hidezheng served as the city lords of Shenzhi City respectively. After the fall of the Takeda clan, Ogasawara Masaki, who inherited his father's land, changed the name of Fukashi Castle to Matsumoto Castle. In the 18th year of Tensho (1590), Toyotomi Hideyoshi destroyed the Hojo clan in Odawara, entered Kanto, and transferred the city to Ishikawa. After that, Toyotomi received a salary of 80,000 stone and began to build a five-story and six-tiered tower. It was not until the era of Kang Chang, the son of Shuzheng, that it was finally completed (that is, the prototype of the existing Songyuan Castle). The Tsukimi and Tatsumi turrets used in the castle were built in the early Edo period. After that, he went through the Ogasawara clan, the Toda Matsudaira clan, the Horita clan, and the Mizuno clan. Matsumoto Castle is a typical flat city. The castles of Honmaru, Ninomaru, and Sannomaru are roughly square. The tower is set in the southwest of Honmaru, surrounded by the concave Ninomaru lacking the north, and surrounded by the square Sannomaru on the outside.Matsumoto · 20.4km from Okaya
Tateishi Park
Suwa · 6.7km from Okaya
Suwa Lakeside Park
Suwa · 6km from Okaya
Echo Valley Ski Area
The Echo Valley Ski Area in Nagawa-cho, Ogura-gun, Nagano Prefecture, Japan, is located in a valley at an altitude of 1,500 to 1,800 meters. Thanks to the unique geographical environment, the area has an annual sunny rate of more than 80%, and the stable climate conditions provide reliable guarantees for skiing. The ski resort cleverly uses the natural barriers of the two ridges to form a double-slope terrain that is less affected by wind, effectively reducing the interference of strong winds on the skiing experience. The design of the ski trails takes into account both diversity and safety. The wide and flat main slope is suitable for practicing sliding skills and snowboard giant turns, while the 35-degree steep slope provides a challenging space for advanced skiers. The specially planned slow practice area adopts a gentle slope design and cooperates with an independent cable car system to form a friendly environment for beginners. The resort uses scientific traffic line planning to naturally connect ski trails of different difficulty levels, allowing family tourists and professional skiers to share the snow space. As a characteristic ski destination in Nagano, its operating concept that combines Alpine skiing culture with Japanese mountain characteristics shows a unique charm of winter sports.Nagawa · 15.4km from Okaya
Experiences you can't miss in Okaya
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Featured Outdoor experiences in Okaya
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What travellers say about Okaya
小兵妞妞17 February 2023
5.0
It's not bad. You can go around. There are other attractions nearby, all around the lake. Nice place. There are some ski resorts around. If you are tired, you can stay in the hot spring hotel here at night. It's very comfortable.
Lake Suwa
_TI***e317 April 2025
5.0
Very beautiful castle, especially with cherry blossom trees in full bloom
Matsumoto Castle
tt梦幻小妖22 August 2019
5.0
When the minimum temperature in Lake Suwa remains below minus ten degrees Celsius for more than 10 consecutive days, the ice on the lake surface will contract and expand, causing a loud noise and cracks to occur. The ice will bulge upwards by more than one meter, a rare phenomenon called "God's Crossing".
Tateishi Park
zhangfeifei21 January 2023
5.0
There is a free foot bath in the lakeside park. You can enjoy the beautiful scenery of the lake while soothing your tired feet after visiting the shrine. If you are lucky, you can also encounter the eruption of the nearby geyser. This geyser and seven hot springs have gushing outlets.
Suwa Lakeside Park
