Lake Chūzenji

is a scenic lake in Nikkō National Park in the city of Nikkō, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. It was created 20,000 years ago when Mount Nantai (2484 m) erupted and blocked the river.

The lake has a surface area of 11.62 km² and a circumference of 25 km. Its elevation at the surface is 1,269 m (4,124 ft), and the water reaches a depth of 163 m (508 ft). The Yukawa is the principal source of water. It drains through the Kegon Falls.

Chuzenji Lake was discovered in 782 by a priest named Shōdō when his group succeeded in climbing Mt. Nantai. Considered sacred, the mountain was closed to women, horses, and cows until 1872. In the middle of the Meiji period and early Showa period, many European embassies built vacation houses around the lake. The former Italian villa has been renewed and is now open to visitors. Other sites around the lake include Futara Shrine built in 790, Chuzenji Temple, and Kegon Falls. In spring, cherry blossoms are blooming. In summer, people can escape the heat and enjoy bird watching and hiking. In fall of course, there are the famous beautiful autumn leaves and in winter there is the Snow and Ice Festival, plus winter sports like skiing and skating.

The lake was a favourite summer haunt of Sir Ernest Satow when he was Britain's envoy in Japan, 1895-1900 as his diaries of that time attest. He constructed a house by the lake which is still owned and used to this day by the British Embassy.

Sources

  • Encyclopædia Britannica, Lake Chūzenji, accessed on September 20, 2009
  • The Diaries of Sir Ernest Satow, British Minister in Tokyo (1895-1900), edited by Ian Ruxton, lulu.com, 2003
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Lucero Viktoria
18 August 2014
Beautiful to walk around, well worth a trek if you have the time. There are several trails you can choose to take depending on your time limitations, ask your hostel or tourist info for a map.
ML
8 March 2016
Very beautiful view. Had a lovely walk along the lake. Too bad it was off season so no boat rental was available.
mn s
3 November 2013
Dont come here during public holiday. It will took 4hours to reach this lake from nikko train station
marika
28 September 2013
フランス大使館やイタリア大使館の別荘地があり、自然がそのまま残っていて心が洗われる土地です。
洋子 鈴木
11 August 2017
濃霧のためやはり五里霧中でも風は爽やか
たろ
1 December 2013
とても静かです。写真を撮っている方がチラホラいます。
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foursquare.com
7.8/10
ゆたきゅん, みうら こいわい and 12,735 more people have been here
Map
1.2km from Nihon Romantic Hwy, Chūgūshi, Nikkō-shi, Tochigi-ken 321-1661, Japan Get directions
Thu 11:00 AM–5:00 PM
Fri 10:00 AM–5:00 PM
Sat 9:00 AM–6:00 PM
Sun 7:00 AM–6:00 PM
Mon 10:00 AM–5:00 PM
Tue 11:00 AM–5:00 PM

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Chuzenji Kanaya Hotel

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Nikko Sansui

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