No opening hours or admission are shown: the sources we checked on 2026-09-15 were used for the route only. Check the official site
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Our guide
Lake Tazawa is a caldera lake in Semboku, Akita Prefecture, and at 423 m it is the deepest lake in Japan. It is a popular holiday area: several hot-spring resorts sit in the hills above the lake, and Akita Prefecture's largest ski area, Tazawako Ski Area, looks down over it.
The route we have checked starts at JR Tazawako Station on the Akita Shinkansen. A local bus, such as the Nyūtō line, reaches Tazawa-kohan, for Shirahama on the east shore, in about 15 minutes, and the Tazawako Isshū line bus goes all the way round the lake.
Written by japan-spots.com (2026-09-22) from the sources credited on this page. Distances are straight lines between map positions.
Photos
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, each under its own licence — see credits
- Lake Tazawa and Kansa-gū 20210213 — (Tea-making tea) 掬茶 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- Akita Prefectural Road 38 at lakeside of Tazawako 02 — 掬茶 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · resized
- Cruising boat on the Lake Tazawa 20200823a — 掬茶 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- Mount Kayou seen from Lake Tazawa 20210213 — 掬茶 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- Lake Tazawa in autumn 2022 — 掬茶 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- Lake Tazawa seen from the vicinity of the Gozanoishi Shrine — 掬茶 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
What this place is
Lake Tazawa (田沢湖, Tazawa-ko) is a caldera lake in the city of Semboku, Akita Prefecture, northern Japan. It is the deepest lake in Japan at 423 metres (1,388 ft). The area is a popular vacation area and several hot spring resorts can be found in the hills above the lake. Akita Prefecture's largest ski area, Tazawako Ski Area, overlooks the lake.
Visitor information checked: 2026-09-15 · Tazawako Kakunodate tourism association: access
Background text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
What to expect at this type of place: Lakes & falls
Getting there by public transport
- From JR Tazawako Station (Akita Shinkansen), take a local bus such as the Nyūtō line and get off at Tazawa-kohan for Shirahama on the east shore (about 15 minutes).
- The Tazawako Isshū line bus goes round the lake.
Route checked: 2026-09-15 · Tazawako Kakunodate tourism association: access · Timetables change — check the operator before you travel.
Where to stay nearby
Hotels near Lake Tazawa on Agoda
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