Silk Fact Okaya is the only museum in Japan where you can not only learn about the history of silk production, but you can also watch it in action at the adjacent workshop.
Okaya, located in the Suwa region, once boasted the largest volume of silk exports in the world from the early Meiji period until the end of WWII.
The Museum offers visitors an opportunity to learn the history of silk and why the industry prospered in this region.
In the adjacent workshop, you can observe a silk spinning machine that remains unchanged since the heyday of silk production as it is actually operated.
The Museum also offers items made with high quality silk as souvenirs.

The fishing industry has also long prospered in the Okaya area, both in Lake Suwa and the Tenryu River, and dishes made with eel and river fish are familiar staples of the local cuisine.
The eel dishes in particular, the result of the studies and efforts of generations past and the eel restaurants that maintain those traditions today, feature flavor and preparations unique to Okaya, created with unwavering attention to detail.
The sauce used with eel dishes in Okaya is particularly unique for its richness and sweetness. The eel itself is also crispy on the outside but soft and plump on the inside after being grilled over charcoals without steaming it. This is one gourmet experience you cannot miss when visiting the Suwa region.

Lake Suwa, with its circumference of about 16 kilometers, is visited by many families and couples as a place to enjoy cycling. Cycling paths have been built along its length, allowing cyclists to enjoy their trip safely while taking in the views of the lake.
The lake shore is also dotted with many cafes, art museums, and footbaths, and many have bicycle stands installed.
When the weather is good, why not enjoy cycling yourself with your own favorite bicycle or one of the rental options.
Facilities offering rental bicycles in Okaya:
- Okaya Silk Museum (Silk Fact Okaya)
- Okaya Tourist Information Center (Okaya Station)

The name of this hot spring, which features waters rich in metasilicic acid helpful for beautiful skin, is a portmanteau of Rome with the Japanese word for hot water, or Netto.
The largest bath, modeled after the Roman baths, offers you a chance to relax and heal your mind and body in its generously spacious oval bath.
Other services available to help you relax even more are the Finnish style sauna, a relaxation massage service, and a restaurant.

At the end of the day, return to one of the hotels or inns within the city limits to spend the night.
We recommend concentrating your search to the options near the train station or around Lake Suwa.
These many inns, with their reliable hospitality, happily await your visit.

The ILF Douga Museum of Art features a large collection of works by artist Takeo Takei, known for his children’s illustrations dating from the Taisho through Showa periods. Numerous children’s books were published during the Taisho and Showa periods, and many artists and writers were active during the period. Among them, it was Takeo Takei who coined the Japanese term for children’s illustrations, or Douga. In addition to the children’s illustrations, prints, and books of Takeo Takei, the museum also features numerous other appealing exhibits on a regular basis. A visit to the museum will surely make you feel as though you have dived right into one of the picture books yourself. Also, don’t forget to stop by the museum shop to check out the cute and modern selection of items available on your way out.

There is one more arts center you will visit this morning.
Okaya Art & Archaeological Museum is located just a few minutes walk from the Douga Museum and features a large collection of works by local artists in their permanent exhibit. There is also a collection and exhibit of artifacts unearthed from archeological sites within the city limits dating from the Jomon period through to the Nara and Heian periods.
Finally, there are also special exhibits regularly planned featuring currently active local artists as well as other special exhibits and events catering to a variety of tastes.

The area around the ILF Douga Museum of Art is actually quite bustling with the movie theater and bowling alley. The dining options here include restaurants, stylish cafes, ramen shops, and even fast food joints, all within walking distance for you to choose from at your leisure.

Nouvel Bairindo is a confectionary that offers such famous sweets of the Suwa area as Suwa-no-Tsuki (Suwa Moon) and Kurumi Yamabiko (Walnut Echo). The main branch of this confecgtionary is located right here in Okaya.
Their selection of sweets made from the bounty of the region’s abundant nature and wide open lands, and the seasonal fruits, is quite appealing.
Other popular items include their Jizake Cake (local sake cake) created in collaboration with the nine local breweries in the area, and their Suwa-no-Nakama-tachi (Friends of Suwa) featuring their prized walnut caramel covered with wafers formed into shapes recalling the history of the different parts of the region. We highly recommend a visit here to pick up some gifts for someone special waiting for you back home.