SIGHTSEEING

Enchanting Nature: Discovering the Beauty of Lake Towada and Oirase Stream

2023.10.31

Lake Towada, straddling both Aomori and Akita Prefectures, alongside the approximately 14km flow from Towada Lake to Nenokuchi at Oirase Stream, represent the quintessence of Towada Hachimantai National Park. These sites are not only iconic scenic spots but also famous for their lush greenery in spring and vibrant autumn colors. During peak seasons, they overflow with visitors seeking to bask in the beauty of the four seasons or find solace from the hustle and bustle of daily life.

Experiencing the Grandeur of Lake Towada

Lake Towada, renowned as a scenic gem in the north, captures your breath with its mirror-like surface reflecting the surrounding mountains and sky, coupled with a panoramic view that beckons a deep breath of fresh air. This caldera lake, formed by volcanic activity that started around 200,000 years ago, presents a mysterious allure. A caldera lake is created when a volcanic crater fills with rainwater over time. At Nakanuma, nestled between Mikurapeninsula and Nakayama Peninsula, the lake reaches a depth of 327 meters, making it the third deepest in Japan. Visiting Lake Towada, one can sense the immense energy from the volcanic eruptions that carved out the landscape and appreciate the vast amount of time it took to form. The lake’s surroundings continually flourish and change, cycling through seasons of fresh green leaves and vibrant autumn colors.

As your gaze shifts from the minute details of nature at your feet to the breathtaking vistas in the distance, and as you behold the beautiful scenery reflected in the lake, you realize that every stone, moss, plant, and rock contributes to this vast landscape, all together composing this grand forest living through the seasons. It is an experience that makes you truly appreciate the grandeur of nature.

Oirase Stream: A Nationally Designated Place of Scenic Beauty and Natural Monument

Flowing from Lake Towada, the Oirase River carves its way through rocks and forests, creating waterfalls and clear streams along its approximately 14km journey to Yakeyama. Oirase Stream, protected as a place of scenic beauty and natural monument, offers a plethora of sights to see, from waterfalls and clear streams to rocks of various shapes and sizes.

One of the charms of Oirase Stream is its accessibility; anyone can easily stroll along the river. With roads and walking trails maintained alongside the stream, and a tunnel of trees that seems to embrace those who visit, the area is always ready to extend a warm welcome. From spring to summer, the fresh green foliage, and in autumn, the vibrant fall colors, filter the sunlight that gently bathes the landscape. Here, you can immerse yourself in the seasons, feeling at one with nature as you breathe in the fresh air with the waterfalls in the backdrop. Without venturing deep into the forest, you can experience the stream and waterfalls from the same perspective as the surrounding nature, truly making this a forest open to all.

Moreover, the beauty of the flowing waterfalls and streams is beyond words. Simply watching the powerful and vigorous flow of water has a way of cleansing the soul. These natural formations, sculpted by nature’s forces over eons, display an artistic beauty unattainable by human hands. In the intricate flow of water, one can sense the sacred power of nature.