Chuzenji Lake

Formed by the eruption of Mount Nantai nearly 20,000 years ago, this stunning crater lake at 1,269 meters elevation offers cool refuge and spectacular scenery just hours from Tokyo. The 25-kilometer shoreline provides hiking trails, lakeside temples, and panoramic viewpoints where autumn transforms surrounding mountains into a tapestry of red, orange, and gold. The dramatic Kegon Falls plunges 97 meters from the lake's outlet, while tour boats cruise past elegant lakeside villas built during Japan's Meiji-era diplomatic heyday.