Suwa’s Swaking Manhole Card: A New Souvenir from an Older Cover

A little character with a larger subject

A good local mascot gives you a friendly way into a subject that might otherwise feel distant. Around Lake Suwa, Swaking provides that introduction to wastewater treatment and the care of the lake. The new card is a small souvenir, but it can also be the beginning of a more thoughtful stop beside the water.

Nagano’s official character page describes Swaking as the mascot of Clean Lake Suwa, introduced when the facility’s explanatory video was renewed in fiscal 2024. Its story connects environmental education with a hope for a lake where people could again enjoy activities such as swimming and gathering clams. That is a stated aspiration of the character, not a claim about present-day bathing conditions.

One design, two different dates

The prefecture dates the Swaking cover outside Suwakko Land to September 2025. Card distribution began on September 12, 2026. This is news about a new card for an existing lid—a useful distinction if you have already visited the area and are wondering what has changed.

GKP announced the Nagano card as an addition to series 29. The initial nationwide release had taken place on July 31, so a collector reading only that first announcement could miss Suwa’s later arrival. Use the local card page when planning the actual handover.

Choose the counter that suits your day

That gap in the treatment plant’s holiday schedule is worth putting into your plans. Choose your counter before you choose a lunch stop, and save its name separately from the cover location. Arriving at the artwork and arriving at the person distributing the souvenir are different parts of the visit.

• Suwakko Land: first-floor reception, 732 Toyota, Suwa. The facility publishes 10 a.m.–10 p.m. hours and a regular Thursday closure; consult its calendar for additional closures.
• Clean Lake Suwa: administration building, 1866-1 Toyota-Kohan, Suwa. The prefecture lists weekdays 8:30 a.m.–5:15 p.m.; holiday distribution is split into 8:30–10 a.m. and 1–5 p.m.
• The prefecture specifies one card per visitor, handed over in person. Stock notices are snapshots; check again before a trip made specifically for the card.

Build a visit around the place, too

Suwakko Land’s own site lists bathing, swimming and exercise facilities. If one of those appeals, review its separate entry rules, fees and activity schedule; a card pickup alone does not include use of the facilities. For a simpler visit, make the cover and its story the focus and leave the rest of the day flexible.

You could also pair this article with our Okaya Poké Lid guide while planning a broader Lake Suwa trip. Keep the two destinations separate on your map. Their connection is an editorial suggestion—a shared interest in local cover designs—not a claim that both stops form a short walking route.

Keep the release calendar in perspective

As checked on October 3, GKP’s next series announcement describes series 30 as planned for late December 2026. It is an issuer announcement, not a final visitor itinerary. There is no need to postpone an enjoyable local stop in pursuit of a future list that is still taking shape.

For now, Swaking offers a complete little story: a public service, a lake, a character and a souvenir connecting them. Take the card home with a photograph and a note about the place behind it.

Official and primary sources

Open the current source before travel. These links support the guide; they do not imply affiliation or permission to reproduce official images.

• Nagano Prefecture: current card distribution and counter schedules (Japanese)
• Nagano Prefecture: Swaking’s story and September 2025 cover installation (Japanese)
• Suwakko Land: official facility information and calendar (Japanese)
• GKP: Nagano addition to series 29, August 20, 2026 (Japanese)
• GKP: original series 29 release announcement (Japanese)
• GKP: planned series 30 issuer announcement (Japanese)