Lake Suwa fireworks, an Omachi stay and a field of sunflowers
Haruru packed rice balls and snacks with the excitement of a school outing. The fireworks trip she had been looking forward to went ahead, bringing a chilly evening beside Lake Suwa, a comfortable night in Omachi and a second day full of flowers and food.
A personal account shared across four posts in August 2023, from preparations to the return from an overnight bus trip.
Rice balls packed before the fireworks trip
Haruru had booked the bus tour more than two months earlier. After going to Nagaoka's fireworks the previous year, she was looking forward to the Suwa Lake Festival Fireworks Display, 諏訪湖祭湖上花火大会, in 2023.
Before departure, she briefly thought the event had been cancelled. The notice she had read was about a different event, the National New Fireworks Competition, 全国新作花火競技大会. Realising the difference brought some relief, although she was still concerned about the typhoon's effect on her trip.
She got up early to prepare onigiri for the bus and packed plenty of snacks. Her photo shows the wrapped rice balls alongside a box of food. Lunch was something else to anticipate: she planned to have kamameshi from Oginoya. She was already enjoying the picnic-like feeling of setting off.
A raincoat for the cold beside Lake Suwa
The fireworks went ahead. Haruru waited about three hours for them to begin. She had prepared for heat, but the cloudy evening felt unexpectedly cold. It did not rain while she watched; she wore the raincoat she had brought because it was the one extra layer she had available.
Her photos show fireworks spreading above the water, with their light reflected below. She enjoyed some spectacular displays and remembered a smiley-face firework as especially cute. Looking back on the evening, she still felt that Nagaoka's fireworks had moved her more. It was her own comparison between two trips she had been glad to make.
A comfortable night and a generous breakfast in Omachi
After the fireworks, Haruru stayed at 黒部ビューホテル in Omachi Onsen. She was pleased with the hotel and found the room spacious for two people. The photo of the tatami room shows two futons and low tables, a quiet change from the evening outside.
She enjoyed the hot spring and looked forward to a morning bath. In her next account, that plan had become the start of her morning: a bath, followed by breakfast. She was very happy with the buffet and ate more than enough, even without trying everything on offer.
The breakfast photo shows dishes spread across a tray, with salad, fruit and rice. From her room, the view was peaceful, with green fields, trees and mountains beyond the window. These quieter moments were part of what made the overnight tour so satisfying for her.
Sunflowers, grapes and two different wasabi treats
The day after the fireworks brought a sunflower field, a wasabi farm, grape picking and a winery visit. Rain fell while the group was on the bus, but stopped when they reached their destinations. Haruru managed without opening her umbrella. Under cloudy skies, she found the huge field of bright sunflowers wonderfully cheering; she had never seen so many together before.
At the grape-picking stop, she enjoyed sweet Delaware grapes with firm fruit. She remembered eating four bunches in thirty minutes. At the wasabi farm, her feelings about the two snacks were quite different: trying the wasabi soft serve once was enough for her, while the wasabi croquette was something she wanted to eat again.
She had hoped to sample wines at the winery, but changed her plan and chose grape juice and food samples instead. At the final stop, she made a wish beside a pair of enormous straw sandals. Despite the worries before departure, the fireworks, hotel, flowers and plentiful food had added up to a very happy overnight trip.
Sources for this account
Haruru's personal accounts from August 2023, edited and shared with her permission.