Suwa

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Template:CountryInfoSuwa (諏訪市; Suwa-shi) is a town located in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. It does belong to Suwa Lake.

History

This section also includes a part of Touhou lore since it influenced Suwa city itself.

Historical Context

The area of Suwa city were habited since Paleolithic era. The Grand Shrine of Suwa (existing since the 7th century) consists of two sites on Lake Suwa: the Upper Shrine in Suwa and Chino, and the Lower Shrine in Shimosuwa. Suwa Clan controlled these area since Nara Period (710-794), with a symbolic child priest (ōhōri) considered a reincarnation of the god Takeminakata, and real authority held by the position of jinchōkan.

According to legend, during the Yamato period, the god Takeminakata fought and defeated the iron-wielding goddess Moreya using a wisteria vine, leading to his worship in the region as a mountain god. Despite political changes, the shrine remained important. During the two Mongol invasions of Japan in 1274 and 1281, Takeminakata supported Japan. The Takeda Clan conquered Suwa in 1542, but valued Takeminakata. Later, under the Tokugawa Shogunate, the Suwa clan returned to power and ruled the Suwa Domain. But, the Meiji reforms in 1868 ended Suwa's priestly authority, and the last Suwa ōhōri died in 2002.

Town

During Post-Meiji reformations, on April 1, 1889, village of Kamisuwa was founded. On April 20, 1891, Kawasuwa got elevated to town status.

City

Suwa town was founded on August 10, 1941 by combining Kamisuwa, Toyoda, and Shiga villages.

When Mountain of Faith was released in August 17, 2007, Suwa has became more popular because of the Moriya Shrine owned by gods Kanako Yasaka, Suwako Moriya and the shrine maiden Sanae Kochiya. The Moriya Shrine is based on the real-life Suwa Grand Shrine.

Relationships

Friends

• Shimosuwa - We have similar traditions but we're located on different sides of the Suwa Lake.
• Chino - Together we're a part of Upper Shrine.