Lake Towada 十和田湖

Lake Towada lies on the border of Aomori and Akita prefectures, in Towada-Hachimantai National Park, at an altitude of 400m.

Volcanic nature

The caldera of the Towada volcano, active for 200,000 years, remains. It was repeated volcanic activity that formed this lake, 46km in circumference and 327m deep at its deepest point. It's easy to imagine the power of nature in the face of such a spectacle. The area is renowned for its ephemeral beauty during the kôyô season, when the trees on the volcano's flanks burst into flames. And in spring, when the greenery returns.

Origamisrigami for good luck

The starting point for your visit to Lake Towada is Yasumiya, the bus terminal.
To the south of the lake, you'll find a lively district with accommodation and restaurants to welcome you. There's a lakeside walkway where you can enjoy the scenery in all seasons. Here you'll find a sculpture by artist Kôtarô Takamura of two young girls symbolizing the lake. The Shintô Towada-Jinja shrine, founded in 807 by Sakanoue no Tamuramaro, should also be part of your visit. Set in a forest of cypress trees, this solemn place will allow you to admire the beauty of its sculptures. A word about Oyorigami, a shrine tradition in the form of a pouch with small sheets of very fine paper that you roll between your fingers and throw into the water. If the oyorigami flows into the lake, your wish will be granted.

A boat trip

To appreciate the deep blue of the lake and the sumptuous panorama created by nature, don't forget to take a 50-minute boat trip on the lake (April to November, 1,400 yen for adults, 700 yen for children). For the more sporty, you can go canoeing or hire a boat. Take a boat to Nenokuchi, the starting point for the Oirase keiryû hike, the famous 14km forest trail along the Oirase River, passing waterfalls, rocks and the raw beauty of nature, not to mention the wild birds that nest here. Bike hire is available. And every winter, in February, the Towadako Winter Story takes place, with snow sculpture illuminations, an igloo bar and fireworks to complete the night of illusions.

There are five observation points around the lake, each showing a different face on the panorama. But you'll need to hire a car to enjoy them.

The local specialty

Don't leave without tasting himemasu, a type of trout that can only live in pure, transparent water. The reintroduction of this fish dates back to 1903, when it was brought to Hokkaidô from Lake Shikotsu. Enjoy as sashimi or grilled.

On the way back from your stroll around the lake, why not stop by the Towada Art Center, a museum of contemporary art, for a new spatial experience called the art house. Each work has its own exhibition room and is linked to the others by a glass corridor. The exhibition continues in the courtyard and up to the roof, with international artists such as Yayoi Kusama, Yoko Ono, Ron Mueck and Aomori-born Yoshitomo Nara (9am-5pm; daily except Mondays. JR bus Oirase, get off at Towada art center).

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