Lake Tazawa Sightseeing Cruise

OVERVIEW

Cruise across smooth-as-glass Lake Tazawa and admire the majestic mountains that surround this perfectly circular body of water. This part of the Akita prefecture is largely undeveloped even though Lake Tazawa is a major draw for nature lovers. It is the deepest lake in Japan and especially beautiful with the mountains reflected in its typically sapphire-blue waters. If the light changes even slightly during your cruise, the color of the water will change accordingly. The views, however, will remain breathtaking in every direction. Along the shore, you many see a golden statue of Tatsuko, a mythological woman that prayed for eternal youth but was turned into a dragon doomed to eternally prowl the depths of Lake Tazawa. The Shinto shrine Goza-no-ishi – which is dedicated to the guardian dragon – stands nearby. It is named for the large flat rock where Akita lord Satake Yoshitaka rested in the mid-1600s to admire the lake’s beauty.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Cruise circular Lake Tazawa, the deepest lake in Japan.
• Notice how the lake’s color changes as the sunlight and depth of the water changes.
• Hear about the legend of Lake Tazawa and the dragon that guards it.
• Dine on traditional Japanese dishes at a restaurant overlooking the lake.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.