Map
Lake Towada is a caldera lake straddling Towada City in Aomori Prefecture and Kazuno County in Akita Prefecture, with a maximum depth of 326.8 m, the third deepest in Japan. It is said to have formed through volcanic activity beginning about 200,000 years ago, and was designated part of Towada-Hachimantai National Park in 1936. Together with the Oirase Stream, it is a representative scenic spot of the Tohoku region.
Nature Info
- Type
- Caldera lake
- Elevation
- Elevation about 400m
- Access
- About 2-2.5 hours by JR Bus from JR Hachinohe Station or JR Aomori Station to the shore of Lake Towada.
History & Origins
It was a place of faith, with one account holding that Towada Shrine was founded by Sakanoue no Tamuramaro in the 2nd year of Daido (807). In the Edo period it was known as a sacred site of the Nanbu domain, and it became widely known to the public after the writer Omachi Keigetsu visited in 1908.
Highlights
Its appeal lies in the shoreline, intricately indented by the Takakura and Mikura peninsulas, and the views of the primeval beech and hiba forests spreading around it. In the autumn foliage season, the vivid colors reflected on the lake surface create spectacular scenery. The Statue of Maidens (by the sculptor Takamura Kotaro) is also a highlight.
Visitor Guide
You can enjoy the scenery from the water on a sightseeing boat. A combined course with the Oirase Stream is popular, and the area has plentiful hot spring lodgings.
Best Season
May-June, with fresh greenery, and October, when autumn foliage is reflected on the lake, are the most beautiful times. In winter some facilities close because of snow, but the quiet of the snowscape is also appealing.
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