Lake Towada

十和田湖とわだこTowada-ko

A double caldera lake high in the northern Ou Mountains

Lake Towada (Towada-ko) is a double caldera lake on the border of Aomori and Akita, about 61 km² in area and 327 m deep. Its only outflow feeds the Oirase stream, and together they form the core of Towada-Hachimantai National Park.

Elevation: 400 mArea: 61.1 km²Maximum depth: 327 mActive volcanoNational park · 1936Special place of scenic beauty · 1952

National park: Towada-Hachimantai National Park

Overview

Lake Towada fills the caldera of the Towada volcano at around 400 metres above sea level, on the border between Aomori and Akita prefectures. Two peninsulas, Nakayama and Ogura, reach into the lake from the south and enclose the Naka-no-umi, a deep inner bay that marks a younger, smaller caldera inside the older one.

The lake drains through a single outlet at Nenokuchi, where the Oirase stream begins its 14-kilometre course through a forested gorge. Lake and stream have been a centrepiece of Japanese nature tourism since the 1930s, when writer Ōmachi Keigetsu championed the area and it became part of one of Japan's first national parks.

The main settlement is Yasumiya on the south shore, with Towada Shrine and the bronze 'Statue of Maidens' by the sculptor and poet Takamura Kōtarō.

Landscape and formation

The outer caldera formed through large eruptions tens of thousands of years ago; later activity created the inner caldera now drowned as the Naka-no-umi, which holds the lake's deepest point at about 327 metres. The eruption of 915 CE, one of the largest in Japan in historical times, spread pumice and ash over much of northern Tohoku and sent pyroclastic flows down the valleys. Towada is still classed as an active volcano by the Japan Meteorological Agency.

Steep, wooded caldera walls rise up to about 400 metres above the water, broken by passes such as Hakka-tōge that serve as viewpoints.

Highlights

Naka-no-umi
中湖Naka-no-umi
Deep inner bay between the two peninsulas, the drowned inner caldera.
Statue of Maidens
乙女の像Otome no Zō
Bronze of two facing women by Takamura Kōtarō (1953) at Yasumiya, the lake's emblem.
Towada Shrine
十和田神社Towada Jinja
Forest shrine on Nakayama peninsula, long a site of mountain worship.
Nenokuchi
子ノ口Nenokuchi
The lake's outlet on the east shore and the start of the Oirase stream.
Hakka-tōge viewpoint
発荷峠Hakka-tōge
Pass on the south-west rim with a classic view over the lake and peninsulas.

Ecology

The lake was originally fishless because the falls downstream blocked upstream migration. Stocking began in the late 19th century, and kokanee salmon (himemasu) became established in the early 20th century thanks to Wainai Sadayuki. Beech and oak forest covers the caldera walls.

Flora

Beech forest
ブナ林buna-rin
Siebold's beech dominates the slopes around the lake and along the Oirase.
Maple and mixed broadleaf
Japanese maples and other deciduous trees give strong autumn colour around the rim.

Fauna

Kokanee salmon
ヒメマスhimemasu
Landlocked sockeye salmon introduced from Lake Shikotsu and now the lake's signature fish.
Asiatic black bear
Present in the surrounding forests, as throughout the northern Ou Mountains.

Culture

Towada was a place of mountain worship; legend links the lake to the monk Nansobō, who became its guardian dragon after defeating the dragon Hachirō. Modern fame came through writers and artists of the early Shōwa period, and the Statue of Maidens commemorates those who campaigned for the national park.

Legend of Hachirō and Nansobō
Tale of two dragons fighting over the lake; the defeated Hachirō fled to form Hachirōgata lagoon in Akita.
Ōmachi Keigetsu
大町桂月Ōmachi Keigetsu
Essayist whose writings in the 1900s–20s made Towada and Oirase nationally known.

History

915
A major eruption of the Towada volcano covers northern Tohoku in ash and pumice.
1903
Wainai Sadayuki begins stocking kokanee salmon, which later establish themselves in the lake.
1936
Towada National Park is designated; it was later enlarged to Towada-Hachimantai.
1953
Takamura Kōtarō's Statue of Maidens is unveiled at Yasumiya.

Through the seasons

Spring

Snow lingers on the rim into April; fresh green arrives in May along with the opening of lake roads and boats.

Summer

Cool at 400 m; boating, kayaking and walks along the Oirase are at their busiest.

Autumn

Peak colour usually in mid- to late October around the lake and along the Oirase stream.

Winter

Heavy snow; some passes close and a winter-evening festival takes place at Yasumiya in February.

Routes and trails

Lake cruise
Sightseeing boats run between Yasumiya and Nenokuchi or loop around the peninsulas, mainly from spring to autumn.
Oirase stream walk
A riverside path of about 14 km from Nenokuchi downstream to Yakeyama, usually walked in part.
Ogura and Nakayama peninsulas
Short trails to viewpoints over the Naka-no-umi.

Practical notes

Buses run to the lake from Hachinohe and Aomori (via the Oirase) and from Towada-Minami in Akita; a car gives most flexibility.
Mountain roads may close in winter; check prefectural road information.
Bears inhabit the forests; carry a bell on trails and follow local warnings.

Frequently asked questions

How deep is Lake Towada?

About 327 metres at its deepest point in the Naka-no-umi, making it Japan's third-deepest lake after Tazawa and Shikotsu.

Is Lake Towada a volcano?

It fills the caldera of the Towada volcano, which the Japan Meteorological Agency lists as active. Its last major eruption was in 915 CE.

When are the autumn colours at Lake Towada?

Usually from mid- to late October, slightly earlier on the higher rim than along the Oirase.

Which prefecture is Lake Towada in?

Both: the border between Aomori and Akita runs through the lake.

Sources

1.統計FAQ 日本の湖沼の面積 (opens in a new tab) — 総務省統計局
2.十和田八幡平国立公園 (opens in a new tab) — 環境省
3.活火山の火山活動 (opens in a new tab) — 気象庁
4.Lake Towada (opens in a new tab) — JNTO