Suzaka may be small, but it has plenty to offer – from seasonal fruit picking and local sake tasting to visits to traditional museums and the beloved Garyu Park, one of Japan’s Top 100 Cherry Blossom Spots. Whether you come to stroll its nostalgic streets or to enjoy the area’s nature and culture, Suzaka rewards every traveler with its unique blend of history and warmth.
Where is Suzaka city?
Suzaka lies in northern Nagano Prefecture, around 20 minutes east of Nagano City and 40 minutes from the famous Snow Monkey Park in Yamanouchi. Surrounded by mountains and orchards, the town is a gateway to both the region’s natural beauty and Nagano’s cultural heartlands.
It is conveniently located along the Nagano Dentetsu Line, with Suzaka Station serving as a key stop between Nagano and Yudanaka. The line itself offers one of the most scenic short train rides in Nagano, running through rural landscapes dotted with apple trees, temples, and charming countryside views.
How to Get to Suzaka city
Reaching Suzaka is simple and convenient from major nearby destinations:
- From Nagano City: 25 minutes via the Nagano Dentetsu Line.
- From the Snow Monkey Park (Yudanaka Station): 40 minutes via Nagano Dentetsu Line.
- From Tokyo: Around 2 hours via Hokuriku Shinkansen to Nagano Station, then transfer to the Nagano Dentetsu Line.
- From Matsumoto: Around 1.5 hours via local trains or expressway bus to Nagano, then onward to Suzaka.
Though close to Nagano’s main attractions, Suzaka retains a slower, more nostalgic rhythm — the perfect stop for those looking to experience the authentic countryside charm of northern Nagano.
Suzaka City Highlights
Suzaka City offers a unique blend of traditional townscape and natural highlands, with two contrasting yet complementary areas — the Downtown Area, rich in culture and history, and the Highland Area, known for its outdoor adventure and scenic beauty. Together, they make Suzaka a destination where visitors can experience the best of both heritage and nature, all within a short distance from Nagano City.
Downtown Area
Suzaka’s downtown area preserves the atmosphere of a former castle town, where tradition and craftsmanship continue to thrive in daily life. Easily accessible by the Nagano Dentetsu Line, it is a compact, walkable district where visitors can experience local culture, taste regional flavors, and explore charming historical streets.
Old Warehouse District
Once home to wealthy merchants and sake brewers, this area is lined with traditional earthen-walled storehouses (kura) that now host cafés, craft shops, and small factories producing miso, sake, and confectionery. It’s the heart of Suzaka’s cultural life — a place where the past meets creativity and modern local business.
Tanaka Honke Museum
Formerly the grand residence of the Tanaka family, one of Suzaka’s most influential merchant families, this museum showcases the architecture, art, and lifestyle of Japan’s Meiji period. Visitors can explore stately tatami rooms, historic storehouses, and exhibitions that reveal the wealth and sophistication of Suzaka’s mercantile past.
Garyu Park
A beloved symbol of the city, Garyu Park is known for its beautiful pond, traditional bridges, and hundreds of cherry trees that bloom spectacularly each spring. It’s also home to the Suzaka Zoo and a variety of cultural events throughout the year — a relaxing escape that captures the charm of local life in every season.
Highland Area
Just a short drive from downtown, Suzaka’s highland area opens up to broad mountain views, forested trails, and the serene atmosphere of the Minenohara Highlands. This region offers a refreshing contrast to the town below, ideal for outdoor enthusiasts and those seeking quiet natural beauty.
Minenohara Highlands
Situated at an elevation of around 1,200 meters, the Minenohara Highlands are a gateway to adventure in every season — from skiing and snowshoeing in winter to hiking and mountain biking in summer. The area is also home to the historic Ozasa Trail, an ancient mountain route once used by travelers and merchants, now rediscovered as a scenic walking path rich in history and nature.
Yonako Falls
Among Nagano’s most impressive waterfalls, the twin cascades of Yonako Falls drop dramatically from the cliffs of Mount Azumaya. The site has long been associated with mountain worship and spiritual reverence, attracting pilgrims for centuries. Today, it remains a place of quiet power and natural beauty — especially striking during autumn when the surrounding forest bursts into color, and in winter, when the falls freeze into a spectacular icy formation, creating a serene and magical landscape.
Introduction to our Suzaka City Tours
Discover two curated tour experiences in the historic town of Suzaka City — each offering a different way to explore the area’s charm, heritage and landscape. Whether you choose the immersive one-day cultural walk or the adventurous two-day trail tour, both promise to introduce you to the countryside, craftsmanship and traditions of northern Nagano.
Explore Suzaka’s Historic Warehouse District: 1-Day Cultural Walk with Kimono, Miso & Local Cuisine
On this day-long journey, you’ll step into Suzaka’s downtown heart — once a prosperous merchant hub — and experience the town’s heritage through hands-on cultural encounters. Begin your morning with a local train ride from Nagano Station to Suzaka Station, followed by a visit to a historic miso brewery set among old storehouses. After a seasonal Japanese lunch in a preserved traditional building, you’ll don a kimono in the former Odagiri family residence, enjoy matcha tea and traditional sweets, and relax beside a kotatsu in a cozy heritage home. This tour brings together craft, cuisine and atmosphere in a compact, accessible format.
New Tour / New Tour
Explore Suzaka’s Historic Warehouse District: 1-Day Cultural Walk with Kimono, Miso & Local Cuisine
- Spots:
- NaganoNagano
- Pick-up:
- Nagano CityNagano City
- Drop-off:
- Nagano CityNagano City
Start from Nagano: Explore Japan’s Historic ‘Shortcut’ Mountain Trail – 2-Day Private Tour
For those seeking a deeper immersion in Suzaka’s surrounding highlands and historic pathways, this 2-day private tour takes you along the remnants of the old Ozasa Trail — once a vital route linking remote mountain villages and commercial towns during the Edo period. Over two days, you will traverse terrain that echoes with Japan’s past: mountain passes, forested sections and untouched landscapes. The tour starts at Nagano Station and moves into the highland region, offering both natural scenery and historic significance, and is available in the winter season.
New Tour
Start from Nagano: Explore Japan’s Historic ‘Shortcut’ Mountain Trail – 2-Day Private Tour
- Spots:
- Nagano
- Pick-up:
- Nagano City
- Drop-off:
- Nagano City