# Lake Towada

> A pristine caldera lake straddling Aomori and Akita prefectures, renowned for its deep blue waters, vivid autumn foliage, and the Maiden of the Lake statue.

- Prefecture: Aomori
- Type: Attraction
- Address: Towada, Aomori, Japan
- Admission: Free
- Official site: https://towadako.or.jp/

A caldera lake on the border of Aomori and Akita, 327 metres deep, which makes it the third deepest in Japan. The shape is unusual: an outer crater with a second, younger crater inside it, so the southern shore has a peninsula and a bay where most lakes would have open water.

The volcano that made it is not finished. Its eruption in the year 915 was the largest in Japan in the last two thousand years, burying the surrounding region in ash deep enough that archaeologists use the layer as a dating marker.

The lake had no fish at all until 1903, when Wainai Sadayuki succeeded, after years of failures, in establishing kokanee salmon here. Himemasu is now the local speciality and appears grilled and as sashimi in every restaurant around the shore.

Boats cross from Yasumiya to Nenokuchi in about fifty minutes and give the view of the crater walls that you cannot get from the road. At Nenokuchi the Oirase gorge walking path begins, following the lake's only outflow stream for fourteen kilometres past waterfalls and moss-covered boulders, which is the best walk in northern Honshu.

On the shore at Gozengahama in Yasumiya stand the Maidens by the Lake, two bronze figures facing each other, made in 1953 by the sculptor and poet Takamura Kotaro. It was his final work, finished shortly before his death, and it is the image the region uses for itself.

Autumn colour peaks in the second half of October and fills every road and hotel. Winter closes most of the facilities and the buses stop; the lake in snow is beautiful and effectively requires a car.

## FAQ

### When does the famous autumn foliage actually peak?

Roughly **Oct 20 to Nov 5**, with Oirase Gorge usually a few days ahead of the lakeshore itself. This is one of Tohoku's premier koyo destinations, so 'peak weekend' (typically the last weekend of October or first of November) sees the area full: accommodation in Yasumiya / Nenokuchi / Oirase area sells out 3+ months ahead, and the Oirase road can become bumper-to-bumper. Mid-week visits are dramatically calmer; arriving by 8 AM at the trail head buys ~2 hours of relative quiet. Bloom timing varies ±5 days year to year, so check the Aomori Forestry Bureau's koyo report (which publishes daily updates from mid-October) before locking in dates. Outside autumn, the lake is famously quiet; late spring (May fresh greens) is the next-best season.

### How should I walk Oirase Gorge: full 14 km or a shorter section?

Most visitors do **just the central 9 km from Nenokuchi to Ishigedo** (the most concentrated waterfalls section, 3–4 hours at a photo-friendly pace). It's the right call: the full Yakeyama→Nenokuchi 14 km is beautiful but heavily wooded in the lower sections without the dramatic falls of the middle. JR Bus Tohoku runs the Oirase-go service along the road parallel to the trail, with 8 stops including Yakeyama / Ishigedo / Choshi Otaki / Nenokuchi, so you can walk one way and bus back (~¥1,400 one-day pass). Best sections in order: Ashura no Nagare rapids, Choshi Otaki waterfall (the only fall blocking salmon migration to the lake, which is why Towada had no native fish), Kumoi-no-Taki, the moss-covered Tama-sudare cascade. Trail is flat gravel and stroller/wheelchair-accessible for ~half its length. Open year-round but icy and partially closed by snow Dec–Apr.

### How do I get to Lake Towada from Tokyo, and is the boat cruise worth it?

**From Tokyo**: easiest is Tohoku Shinkansen Hayabusa → Shichinohe-Towada (~2h50, ~¥17,500, JR Pass eligible) → JR Bus 'Oirase-go' to Yasumiya (~75 min, ¥2,030). Total ~5h door-to-door. Faster but more expensive alternative: Hayabusa to Hachinohe + JR bus (~4h30 total), since Hachinohe has more frequent buses. From Aomori City: JR Bus from Aomori Station ~3h via Hakkoda, the most scenic route, which stops at Sukayu Onsen on the way. From Akita side: rare but possible via Towadako Tetsudo bus from Hanawa Station. **Boat cruise**: Towada Kanko Kisen runs the Yasumiya↔Nenokuchi 50-min cruise (¥1,500 one-way / ¥2,400 round-trip; ~10 daily Apr 15–Nov 5, suspended winter). Most useful: walk Oirase down to Nenokuchi, then take the cruise back to Yasumiya. This saves the 75-min bus ride and you see the lake from the water in autumn light. Round-trip is skippable; one-way pairs better with the gorge walk.

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Source: Lake Towada — Japan Voyage