Lake Tazawa
田沢湖39°44′ N 140°40′ ELake
Lake Tazawa suits travellers on the Akita Shinkansen who want a lakeside afternoon on the way to Nyuto Onsen; it's a scenic stop more than a full day, so pair it with the onsen or Kakunodate.
Photo 掬茶 · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 and others, credited in the gallery
Lake Tazawa is the deepest lake in Japan at 423.4 metres. The basin is almost round and about 20 kilometres around. Semboku's tourism office describes its water as deep blue. The legend of Princess Tatsuko lives on at the shore in her statue and at Gozanoishi Shrine.
Ugo Kotsu's Tazawako loop and Nyuto line buses reach the shore from JR Tazawako Station in about 15 minutes, and the Akita Airport Liner shared taxi takes about 100 minutes from the airport. Haruyama has two car parks with room for 260 cars between them. Sightseeing boats, a bike rental and stand-up paddleboarding all work from the shore.
The lake makes an easy half day between Kakunodate and a night at Nyuto Onsen, since the Nyuto line bus serves both. The Tazawa Kunimasu Trout Museum and the old Omoide-no-Kata branch school also stand by the shore.
Worth knowing
- Park at Haruyama, where two car parks hold 260 cars between them.
- Combine the lake with an overnight at Nyuto Onsen. The Nyuto line bus from Tazawako Station passes the lake on the way up.
Quick answers about Lake Tazawaよくある質問
How deep is Lake Tazawa?
423.4 metres, which makes it the deepest lake in Japan.
How do I get to Lake Tazawa?
Take the Akita Shinkansen to JR Tazawako Station, then the Ugo Kotsu Tazawako loop or Nyuto line bus to the lake, about 15 minutes.
When is the best time to visit Lake Tazawa?
Lake Tazawa: The lake changes through the year, and Semboku's autumn colour starts on Mt. Akita-Komagatake before moving down to the lake shore.
Within 12 km
Places to eat and drink nearby食
Within 12 km