Lake Chuzenji

中禅寺湖

A high-altitude lake formed when lava from an eruption of Mount Nantai dammed the valley. Lakeside villas built for foreign diplomats in the Meiji era remain, and you can take a boat tour around the lake.

Lake Chuzenji sits at about 1,269 meters above sea level. It formed around 20,000 years ago when lava from an eruption of Mount Nantai blocked the river valley. The lake is about 25 kilometers around and 163 meters deep at its deepest point, making it one of the highest natural lakes in Japan. Mount Nantai, at 2,486 meters, rises on the north shore, and in autumn the red maples and the peak are reflected in the water, creating a picturesque scene.

From the mid-Meiji to early Showa period, this was a summer retreat for foreign diplomats. There was a saying that "in summer, the Foreign Ministry moves to Nikko." Today, two villa memorial parks are open to visitors: the Italian Embassy Villa Memorial Park and the British Embassy Villa Memorial Park. Each costs about ¥300, and both are closed in winter. The wooden villas face the lake, and you can enjoy afternoon tea on the balcony with a lake view.

A sightseeing boat makes a full circuit of the lake in about 55 minutes, operating from April to November. On the north shore are the Chuzenji Chugu shrine of Futarasan Shrine and the Chuzenji branch of Rinno-ji, home to the Tachiki Kannon. The lakeshore Chuzenji Onsen has several hot spring inns.

Getting there: take a bus from Tobu-Nikko Station for about 45 minutes. Plan on a half day here, and in autumn you can extend your trip to Ryuzu Falls and the Senjogahara marshes upstream.

Lake Chuzenji

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Places to eat nearby