Okama Crater Lake

Landmark

Prefecture

Miyagi

Type

Landmark

N/A

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About This Destination

A round crater lake about 325 m across at 1,550 m in the Zao range, inside the Miyagi side of the Miyagi and Yamagata border. Its acidic water, around pH 3.5, holds no life and shifts colour with light and weather. Most people drive up the Zao Echo Line and the Zao Highline toll road, which close every winter.

The car park at the end of the Zao Highline sits on Katta-dake, and from there it is a few minutes on foot to the rim. Below, about 1,550 m up, lies a round lake some 325 m across, walled by bare grey slopes, with the dark cone of Goshiki-dake rising on its east shore. The water is acidic, around pH 3.5, and nothing lives in it. It is usually a clear blue, but it changes with sun and weather, which is why people also call it Goshiki-numa, the five-coloured pond. The catch is the cloud: the summit is often in fog, and you can stand at the fence and see nothing at all. Check the town's live camera before the drive, or wait it out in the summit rest house. The approach is part of the trip. The Zao Echo Line climbs from Miyagi and crosses into Yamagata, and the 2.5 km Highline toll road branches off near the top. On busy days queues form at the Highline toll booth and the summit car park fills. Both roads close every winter, usually from early November to late April. Zao Onsen, on the Yamagata side, is the nearest large hot spring town.

Location

Prefecture: Miyagi

Address: Zao, Miyagi, Japan

Nearest Station: Shiroishi-Zao Station

Closed: The Zao Echo Line and Zao Highline close for the winter every year, usually from early November to late April, and the lake cannot be reached by road in that period. Weather can close the roads at short notice at any time.

Hours note: The Zao Highline toll road is open 7:30 to 17:00 while the road season lasts. For about two weeks after the spring opening and from mid-October until the winter closure, the Echo Line also shuts every night from 17:00 to 8:00.

Best time to visit: Late April to early November while the roads are open; early autumn for foliage along the Echo Line; clear mornings for the best view of the water

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Visitor Information

Credit Cards: Unknown

Official Website

Frequently Asked Questions

When can I drive up to see Okama?

Only while the Zao Echo Line and Zao Highline are open, usually from late April to early November. The Highline runs 7:30 to 17:00, and in the first two weeks or so after opening and from mid-October the Echo Line also closes overnight from 17:00 to 8:00. Check the Zao Town tourism site for each year's dates.

Is Okama in Miyagi or Yamagata?

The lake itself is in Zao town, Miyagi, close to the Yamagata border. You can reach it from either side: up the Echo Line from Miyagi, or from Yamagata via the Echo Line or the Katta lift.

What if the lake is hidden by fog?

It often is. Check the Zao Town live camera of Okama before you set out, and if you are already at the top, wait in the summit rest house for the fog to clear, though on some days it never does.

Is Zao an active volcano, and how do I check whether it is safe?

Yes. Okama is the crater lake of an active volcano, and volcanic gas still rises from vents on the lake floor. The Japan Meteorological Agency sets a volcanic alert level for Zaozan from 1 to 5: level 1 means stay aware it is an active volcano, 2 restricts the area around the crater, 3 restricts entry to the mountain, and 4 and 5 call for evacuation. Check the current level on the agency's Zaozan page before you go.