Okaya

Built around the outlet of Lake Suwa, Okaya grew into a manufacturing city shaped by water and the silk-reeling trade. The lake drains here into the Tenryū River, which flows south toward the Pacific and places the city firmly within Nagano Prefecture’s Suwa basin. From the late 19th century, Okaya became an important centre of Japan’s silk industry; the Okaya Silk Museum recalls this industrial heritage. Today, the city provides a useful starting point for exploring the lakeshore and the wider Suwa area, where seasonal life remains closely connected with the lake. Continue through nearby webcams to explore different parts of Okaya and the Suwa region.

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