Lake Haruna
榛名湖
Water scenery — lakes, gorges and falls that reset the pace of a trip.
Photos
Photos from Wikimedia Commons — click any image for the photographer and licence.
What this place is
Lake Haruna (榛名湖, Haruna-ko) is a caldera lake.It lies near the summit of Mount Haruna, within the city limits of Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture, Japan.A former name for the lake is Lake Ikaho (伊香保沼, Ikaho-numa).In the summer, the lake is a popular destination for campers.The surface freezes in the winter, and it affords skating and ice fishing for wakasagi.The lake lies a 90-minute bus ride from Takasaki Station.It can be reached in 40 minutes by car from Shibukawa-Ikaho Interchange, #12 on the Kan-Etsu Expressway.The road to the lake is one of 10 musical roads located in Gunma prefecture alone; the song played is "Sweetly Sings the Donkey," chosen because the melody is known as "At a Quiet Lakeside" in Japan.A kayōkyoku refers to the lake in its title.Akira Fuse recorded the tune, named Haruna-ko no shōjo.The music is by Rei Nakanishi and the lyrics by Ken'ichirō Morioka.
Background text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)
Why it is worth the trip
- Clear water that changes colour with the light, from deep blue in summer to jade after rain.
- Walkways, bridges and viewpoints built right along the water so the scenery unfolds as you move.
- Reflections of surrounding peaks and forest on calm mornings — the classic postcard shot.
What you can do here
- Walk the riverside or lakeshore promenade; most routes are flat and clearly signposted.
- Take a sightseeing boat or rent a rowboat, canoe or SUP where the water is calm.
- Photograph at golden hour, when low light makes the surface glow and crowds have thinned.
- Stop at a lookout café or rest house for local sweets with a water view.
Getting there
We do not have step-by-step transit directions for this spot yet. Open the location on Google Maps for routes from where you are staying.
Good to know before you go
- Paths near falls stay wet and slippery — wear shoes with grip, not sandals.
- Water volume peaks after rain and during snowmelt; the falls are far more dramatic then.
- Boat services shrink or stop in winter, so check the seasonal timetable before travelling.
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