Lake Towada

Lake Towada lies on the border between Aomori and Akita. It’s the biggest caldera lake on Japan’s main island, Honshu. It was formed about 200,000 years ago from volcanic activity. The ground caved in after an eruption and rainwater accumulated in the depression after some time. This eventually became a body of water now known as Lake Towada. Not too far from the lake is Oirase Gorge, which is another spectacular spot and arguably one of the best hikes in Japan. The water from Oirase Gorge flows from Lake Towada, making both of these places some of the most beautiful places in Tohoku. This was on my list for the longest time, and I’m delighted I finally got to see it for myself. It really felt like I was on a remote island or on a different planet while I was there. There were no crowds and it was a quiet, peaceful getaway.

Lake Towada can be enjoyed in every season with unique and beautiful views. However, it’s said that autumn is the most popular season because the blue water contrasts with the red leaves and makes for wonderful scenery. I went in summer so I could enjoy water activities. I also really like seeing the mountains dressed in a lush green, especially when the sunlight shines down on them through the clouds. There are plenty of sights and activities around here, as well as nice hotels that offer amazing views of the lake.

Lake Activities

I spent most of my time walking around the lake and staring at the amazing views. With all the beauty Lake Towada has to offer, I was able to leisurely stroll and take a bunch of photos. After a good while with my camera, I decided to check out other things to do. Not too far from where I entered was a boat rental. A lot of different things can be rented here, such as swan boats, canoes, and paddle boards. I ended up renting a swan boat with Zach. We got to choose how long we wanted to be out on the water which was nice. Summers are brutal in rural Japan, so it was a little workout paddling this swan boat all around the lake. This was my first time on a boat like this, and I was amazed by how much strength was actually needed to pedal the boat. I was a puddle of sweat at the end, but I’d do it again for sure. We saw how deep the lake was, and we saw some pretty big fish. When we both tired out, we sat on the water and floated for a bit. That was probably the most pleasant part of the boat ride. Listening to the water lapping against the side of the boat while staring at the magnificent mountains around us was an unforgettable part of this trip.

For a small fee, visitors can take an excursion boat that goes around the lake as well. These boats get really close to the peninsula and jagged cliffs for photos. We were able to see some of the cliff sides as well as some islands in our little swan boat, although it took some effort. Along with excursion boats, I also saw speed boats, jet skis, and smaller sightseeing boats.

The islands we saw on our swan boat are small but they have a lot of character. They were created by volcanic activity long ago. One of the islands have shrines on it, which are dedicated to the deities Ebisu and Daikoku. These deities are guardians of happiness and good fortune. After the boat ride, Zach and I spent some time walking up and down the beach that’s near the island.

Towada Shrine

A little ways past the boats and docks lies Towada Shrine. This is a unique area because a forested trail extends from the main path around the lake. Going from blue open water to a lush green forest is quite a contrast. It made me feel like I was somewhere completely different. This trail is beautiful and it’s lined with small torii that have different meanings. The main shrine was completely surrounded by dense forest and was so incredibly quiet. A lot of people were praying here, so I didn’t take many photos for fear my camera shutter would be too loud. I actually waited for the few people that were there to leave before I snapped the photo of the shrine below.

Towada Shrine has been identified as one of the most important spiritual locations in Aomori. It’s said that this is the home of the water spirit and that there’s an interesting legend surrounding this shrine. Years ago, a monk transformed into a 9 headed dragon and defeated the python that ruled over Lake Towada. Due to this legend, people visit this shrine for good luck. There’s also a fortune telling spot near the shrine. Here, visitors can purchase a special piece of paper to throw into Lake Towada. If the paper sinks, then your wishes will come true!

The Statue of Maidens

This statue is an iconic figure of Lake Towada. It was sculpted by Kotaro Takamura, a famous poet and artist, to commemorate Lake Towada’s 15th anniversary as a designated national park. The artist himself actually had a big role in the designation of the park. He was the one who introduced Oirase Gorge and Lake Towada to the country. The statue is located at the very end of the trail around the lake and it’s a popular photo spot. When I visited, I saw a lot of people lining up for photos and posing with the statue. A lot of couples imitated the pose that the statues are in.

Marine Blue Café

Zach and I had worked up an appetite while walking around the lake, so we decided to go a café we heard about from others. I was very excited about this because one of my favorite things to do while traveling is find cozy cafés. Marine Blue sits right on the water and has a fantastic view of the lake. There’s not a lot of seating and the menu is small, however, experience tells me that these kinds of cafés are the best.

Lake Towada is technically in Aomori, so the menu was mainly apple based dishes. Zach and I both have a weakness for this delectable fruit (especially if they’re from Aomori), so we got a plate of beef and apple curry and, of course, an apple pie. This café really hit the spot after a long day of sightseeing. The food was so good, I questioned if I should bring home extra pies or another plate of curry. I’ll definitely be returning with some friends!

Towada Hotel

Staying at this hotel was another top tier experience I’ve had in Japan. Zach and I had an awesome view of the lake, a comfy room, and dinner was phenomenal. After we checked in, we changed into relax wear provided by the hotel and walked around to see what we could find. There was an ice cream vending machine (with Godiva chocolate might I add), public onsens, and a little shop in the lobby to buy apple merchandise. We also found massage chairs which we ended up sitting in for about an hour. This was such a great getaway where I didn’t feel rushed to do a million things. I was able to turn my brain off for a while, soak up some views, and eat some delicious food.

As for a little backstory to Towada Hotel, it opened in 1939 and was constructed by 80 talented shrine and temple carpenters. There are intricate details on the interior and exterior, which was crafted with local Akita Cedar. This hotel is also recognized as one of Japan’s cultural properties.

At the end of our stay, one of the workers gave us a small tour in English before we left. He took us to what used to be the main entrance of the hotel years ago and talked about the important people that used to stay here. There’s a lot of rich history in this beautiful hotel.

This is what used to be the entrance to the hotel. You can clearly see the details in the Akita Cedar!

This is the other half of the hotel where the guests stay.

This was the main view inside the hotel.

Our tour guide took this photo for us. So much detail in the wood!

Dinner

Dinner at the hotel was a 7-course meal. Everything was spectacular and I left the dining area full and happy. Just like Natsuse Onsen, the food was fresh and local, and our waiter explained how to eat some of the dishes.

The first course consisted of octopus and fish. I never really knew what the middle dish was, but it had a jelly like texture and vegetable flavor. I enjoyed it!

The second course was high quality sashimi. This fish melted in my mouth and left me wanting more.

The third course was my favorite dish of the night. This is fish called *himemasu* or Kokanee Salmon, and it lives in Lake Towada. It was fresh caught the same day so it was crazy good. The sauce on top is an *uni* (sea urchin) sauce, which was slightly sweet. It also contained veggies such as mushrooms and peppers.

The fourth course was a hot pot. It contained eel and lots of vegetables. I love hot pots because the waiter lights it up in front of us and it continues to cook and stay hot while we eat. The little candle burns out by itself after some time, so we don’t have to worry about the food overcooking.

The fifth course was extremely tender roast beef. Another dish that melted in my mouth and took no effort to chew. The sauce was also delicious. It came with some asparagus and a crunchy cookie that tasted like pumpkin.

The sixth course was the main course. For every hotel I’ve eaten dinner at, this is *always* the main course. Rice, miso soup, hot tea, and local vegetables. The miso soup and tea aid digestion and helps with any stomach troubles. This course never disappoints! Not to mention it’s surprisingly filling… I usually have trouble finishing dessert.

Finally, the last course was dessert. The first sweet on the left is apple pound cake. This was the best out of the three in my opinion, but maybe I’m biased. In the middle was peach jelly, and on the right was this soft grape jelly. It was easy to bite into and the grape flavor was amazing. I think it was a great ending to dinner, I just wished I could’ve had one more bite of that salmon with uni sauce.

Lake Towada in Fall

On our way back home from Oirase Gorge, we had some time to stop to see some fall colors on Lake Towada. There’s a small observatory right at the start of the road to the lake. I was able to snap some wonderful photos from there!

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