Suwa taisha in Japanese — 諏訪大社
Suwa taisha is a Shinto shrine in Shimosuwa, Nagano Prefecture. Written in Japanese it is 諏訪大社, read すわたいしゃ. Below is everything you need to get a taxi there: the characters to show, the reading, and a card you can print or keep on your phone.
Kanji
諏訪大社
| Kana | すわたいしゃ |
|---|---|
| Romaji | Suwa Taisha |
| English | Suwa taisha |
| Category | Shinto shrines |
| Location | Shimosuwa, Nagano Prefecture 下諏訪町 |
How to ask for it in a taxi
- Show the driver: 諏訪大社
- Then point and say: ここまでお願いします (koko made onegai shimasu) — "please take me here".
- If asked which area: 下諏訪町, 長野県.
- On arrival: 領収書をください (ryōshūsho o kudasai) — "please give me a receipt".
Shrine names repeat all over Japan — there are thousands of Hachiman and Tenjin shrines — so the city name on the card matters as much as the shrine name. Large shrines also have more than one gate; a taxi will normally stop at the main approach (表参道).
Nearby places of the same kind
- 武田神社 — Takeda Shrine, Kofu
- 飛騨一宮水無神社 — Hida Ichinomiya Minashi Shrine, Takayama
- 高麗神社 — Koma Shrine, Hidaka
- 氷川神社 — Hikawa Shrine, Kawagoe
- 箱根神社 — Hakone Shrine, Moto-Hakone
Frequently asked questions
How do you read 諏訪大社?
諏訪大社 is read すわたいしゃ, romanised Suwa Taisha. English-language sources usually write it Suwa taisha. The kanji is what a taxi driver reads; the reading is only there so you know what you are handing over.
How do I show Suwa taisha to a taxi driver in Japan?
Do not try to pronounce it. Show the driver the Japanese characters 諏訪大社 together with the sentence ここまでお願いします ("please take me here"). Use the button on this page to build a card with both, then save it to your phone or print it — it works with no mobile signal.
Do I also need the address for Suwa taisha?
For a well-known Shinto shrine the name is usually enough, but adding 住所 (the address) removes all doubt, especially where several places share a name. This Shinto shrine is in Shimosuwa, Nagano Prefecture; open the map link on this page to copy the exact address before you travel.