The blue water of Lake Tazawa in Akita, Japan

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Lake Tazawa Guide: Akita’s Deep Blue Lake

   

Written by:

Jun

Lake Tazawa in Akita: the deep blue water, the Tatsuko statue, the loop road and nearby Nyuto Onsen, with access notes.

Operational details such as opening hours, admission fees, and train times can change. Prefer official pages and reconfirm before you travel (sources checked on 30 October 2026).

Why visit

  • Lake Tazawa is the deepest lake in Japan, with water that stays a strong blue in most light.
  • A road circles the lake, and the Tatsuko statue on the shore is the main photo stop.
  • Nyuto Onsen, a cluster of mountain hot springs, is a short drive away.

Top places and highlights

The blue water of Lake Tazawa in Akita, Japan
Photo: (Tea-making tea) 掬茶 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
The shore of Lake Tazawa with forested hills behind
Photo: 掬茶 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
A shrine and the lake shore at Lake Tazawa, Akita
Photo: 掬茶 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

The Tatsuko statue

A gilded statue on the eastern shore, from a local legend about a woman turned to water.

The loop road

About 20 kilometres around the lake, with viewpoints and small shops. Cycling is possible but the road has traffic.

Nyuto Onsen

Mountain hot spring inns in beech forest above the lake, some with mixed outdoor baths.

Food and drink

  • Soba and mountain vegetables are common in the area.
  • Food is sparse around the lake; most eating happens at the station or the inns.

Getting there and around

  • Train to Tazawako station on the Akita Shinkansen, then a bus around the lake.
  • Buses are infrequent and stop early; check the timetable before planning.

Where to stay

  • Nyuto Onsen inns are the traditional stay, with dinner and breakfast included.
  • Tazawako station area has simpler hotels and restaurants.

Best time to visit

  • Summer is green and cool; autumn brings colour to the hills.
  • Winter snows in the road and closes some services.

Practical tips

  • Do not plan to arrive late; lake buses finish early.
  • Bring cash for small shops and baths.
  • Treat bus times and bath fees as things to reconfirm.

Suggested day-trip outline

  1. Take the shinkansen to Tazawako in the morning.
  2. Ride the bus round to the Tatsuko statue and a viewpoint.
  3. Continue to Nyuto Onsen for the night.

Before you go

Timetables, fares, admission fees, and seasonal access rules can change. Check the official tourism and transport sites linked below for the latest information before you travel.

Explore More of Japan

Published guides that pair with this one:

Browse every Tohoku guide on this site for the rest of the region.

Sources

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