Story 01 — The Lakes of Japan
A journey to Japan's most beautiful lakes.
Born of volcanoes, filled with snowmelt, framed by forest. From the far north to the mountaintops of central Japan, we visit lakes that mirror the sky.
Photo: Original uploader (WT-fr) Newton4ever at French Wikivoyage / Wikimedia Commons / Public domain
MASHU — Hokkaido
Mashu, a lake without rivers
Seen from the rim of the caldera, Lake Mashu has no river flowing in and none flowing out. Guarded by steep caldera walls, its surface lies still, a deep blue.
Many days it is shrouded in fog. That is why the blue, in the moment the water appears, stays so long in the memory.
A lake is the mirror that most honestly reflects the sky above its land.
Photo: Toshihiro Matsui / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
AKAN — Hokkaido
Akan, the lake of marimo
Lake Akan reflects Mount Oakan. There is a hot spring town on its shore: soak in the waters at night, watch the mist rise from the lake in the morning. The time of the journey becomes the rhythm of the lake.
TATEYAMA — Toyama
A crater lake above the clouds
On Murodo-daira at 2,450 m, Mikurigaike holds blue water. In the short summer season, surrounded by the white of snowfields and the green of alpine plants, the pond becomes the same colour as the sky.
Photo: くろふね / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 3.0
Photo: Hiroaki Kaneko / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
BIWA — Shiga
Morning comes to the torii in the lake
Lake Biwa, Japan's largest lake. At Shirahige Shrine on the western shore, a vermilion torii stands in the water. The sun rising over the eastern shore lights the lake through the gate.
Destinations in this story
Places visited in this story
MASHU
Lake MashuHokkaido · Hokkaido
Teshikaga Town, Hokkaido. A lake enclosed by steep caldera walls, with no rivers flowing in or out. Known for its deep blue surface, Kamuishu Island floating in the lake, and frequent fog.
Lakes / Snowscapes / National parks
AKAN
Lake AkanHokkaido · Hokkaido
A caldera lake at the heart of Akan-Mashu National Park in Kushiro, Hokkaido. Akanko Onsen lies on its shore facing Mount Oakan, and the lake is known as home to marimo, a Special Natural Monument.
Lakes / Hot spring towns / Forests
TATEYAMA
Tateyama & MurodoToyama · Hokuriku
Tateyama Town, Toyama Prefecture. At Murodo-daira, the heart of the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route at 2,450 m, the crater lake Mikurigaike holds blue water. Snow walls of Yuki-no-Otani in spring, alpine flowers in summer, autumn leaves in autumn.
Mountains / Lakes / Snowscapes
BIWA
Lake BiwaShiga · Kansai
Japan's largest lake, covering about one-sixth of Shiga Prefecture. At Shirahige Shrine in Takashima, a great vermilion torii gate stands in the lake, creating a striking scene with the water as the morning sun rises.
Lakes
Next Story 02 — Next storyAbove the clouds. Japan's mountain resorts.Above the Clouds →