On our last night in Nagano we stayed at a ryokan near Suwa Lake, Aburaya Ryokan - http://www.aburaya-ryokan.co.jp/. The sunset from the outdoor bath was stunning, the food good, and the water itself the perfect temperature. It was a small treat for us. It wasn't the best ryokan I've ever been to, but I would definitely recommend it for anyone in the area.
The next morning we went for a long walk alongside the sizeable lake. We think that it would take 3-4 hours to walk around the entire outside, if one were inclined to do so. We weren't. We walked for awhile, running into this small herd of sculptured sheep along the way. They made for a picturesque photo setting.
Before leaving Suwa we were sure to stop at Katakurakan - http://www.katakurakan.or.jp/. This is a fascinating public bath modeled after a Czech hot springs resort that the builder/owner visited on a long trip to Europe in 1923-24. He was so moved by the resort, Carlsburg, that upon returning home he purchased land next to Lake Suwa and had Katakurakan built, in 1928. The interior is truly original for a Japanese public bath. I was too shy to take photos while inside. In the bath with me included a professional body builder and a man with a large tatoo, both incredibly rare sights at a public bath. I decided that it would be too strange to take photos, but the building can be seen at its website.
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