Gaze into the impossible cobalt depths of Lake Tazawa — Japan's deepest lake at 423 metres — and stroll its forest shoreline beside the golden statue of Princess Tatsuko, a scene of rare, mythic beauty.
What to expect
Lake Tazawa's colour is so saturated it verges on surreal — a deep caldera lake that never freezes, its shores fringed with birch and cherry. Your guide takes you to the gilded bronze statue of Princess Tatsuko, a Tohoku legend who drank from a sacred spring and transformed into a dragon goddess to keep the lake from freezing. An optional pleasure-boat cruise circles the deepest reaches of the lake with narrated local lore in English. In autumn, the hillsides blaze with foliage that doubles in the still water; in spring, the cherry trees on the eastern shore are among Akita's finest. The area's fresh mountain air and profound quiet are the antithesis of big-city Japan.
Good to know
Lake Tazawa is approximately 80 km (1 hr 15 min) from Akita port. Boat cruises are seasonal (April–November) and tickets are approx. JPY 800 per person. Combine with Nyuto Onsen on a full-day itinerary — depart port no later than 08:30. Book private transport in advance via Japan Awaits or Japan Shore Excursions.
Sail there
Luxury cruises that call at Akita — book through us, the fare is identical and your concierge stays on your side.
More to do in Akita
- Kakunodate Samurai District & Sake Brewery Private Tour
- Oga Peninsula: Namahage Folklore & Coastal Cliffs at Sunset
- Nyuto Onsen: Private Rotenburo Soak in an Ancient Forest Village
- Akita City Highlights: Senshu Park, Kanto Festival Hall & Museum of Art
- Masuda Merchant Mansions: Private Walking Tour of 3 Grand Residences