One of the prettiest lakes in Japan. As a matter of fact, it’s also the deepest lake in Japan. The weather was pretty good when we went there and were lucky to see the Tazawako marathon. There are plenty of restaurants around the lake. Definitely recommend to go here.

The deepest lake in Japan. We recommend taking a 40-minute cruise on a high-speed pleasure boat from Tazawako Rest House. The emerald green water surface at the lakeside changes to a beautiful blue as you head out to sea. Because it contains aluminum, it becomes a beautiful color when reflecting sunlight. Due to the high transparency of the lake, U can clearly see the flocks of Japanese dace. In the past, Kunimasu (a type of trout) that could only be found in Lake Tazawa lived there, but when a power plant was built, acidic water from the hot springs flowed into the area, making it extinct. The scars of natural destruction can be seen in the endlessly blue lake.

Very scenic, beautiful lake! I love the snow covered mountains in the background. There were lots of fish in the water and birds in the area. I personally wouldn't go more than 20-30 minutes out of my way for this, but if you are close by then it is worth a stop!

Amazing scenery, must go!

Took the bus service B that does a circular loop around the lake for 1210 yen - it was definitely value for money as it allows for u to take the bus and drop off at multiple stops. Not that it has enough frequency for u to do that. But it stops for 10-15mins at several spots of interest like at the statue which is near the Rose Hotel and a forest park good to trek at. I personally find the scenery best there. Then it stopped at the shrine before returning to the station. It makes other stops along the way. Look out for the signs. I personally liked the “Citizen’s Park” which was about 25mins walk from the the entrance of the lake. It had lovely trees which were transforming from the colour of spring. I did not take the ferry but would skip it in view that the bus travels around the lake.

From Akita Station to Tazawako Station is 1h by bullet train, 2h by local train. Although it takes some time to access, it is a place worth visiting. We visited here in early March 2024. There is still certain snow left, the mornings and evenings are bit cold. The calm blue surface of the lake surrounded by a forest covered with white snow was so awesomely beautiful! Tazawako Station is spacious, and nearby you can also eat local specialties like Kiritanpo and Inaniwa Udon. You can also access the sulfuric Nyuto Onsen or ski slope with good snow in about 30 minutes by bus.

Went on a boat tour looping around the lake. Was awesome to see the foliage and the emerald colors of the waters. Ticket was 1400 yen. Throw fish bait for 100 yen and they will swarm like piranhas.

Top recomended place to visit and enjoy the power of nature.

It was awesome! The Onsen was closed but still interesting to walk around! We met really kind old ladies and they gave us a fresh steamed garlic out of the vulcanic steam! It was so delicious! Was a great experience :)

Amazing to see how nature and earth are alive

Interesting and beautiful place.

(Translated by Google) (August 12, 2025) The Tamagawa Onsen Nature Study Trail is a walking trail where you can experience the "heartbeat of a volcano" simply by walking. As you begin your walk, the smell of sulfur fills the air, and white steam erupts everywhere. The sight of the highly acidic hot spring water (pH 1.2) gushing forth from the main fountain is impressive, providing a real sense of the power of nature. Along the way, there's also a hut for rock bathing, offering a glimpse into the local hot spring culture. Additionally, you may find Beitou stones, found only in Taiwan's Beitou and Tamagawa Onsen. However, as these stones are designated as natural monuments, taking them home is strictly prohibited. Particularly memorable are the heat rising from the ground and the gray, desolate area completely devoid of vegetation. Just outside of this is a lush, green forest, creating a striking contrast between the harsh environment and abundant nature. Autumn is a particularly beautiful season, with the contrast between the desolate Jigokudani and the vibrant autumn leaves, and I personally recommend it. It's a special place where you can experience the harshness and mystery of nature at the same time just by walking. The trail itself is well maintained and easy to walk on, and if there are no road closures it takes about 30 minutes to an hour to go around. You can feel the heat under your feet, and in some places there are signs warning of volcanic gases, so it's important to be mindful of your health and not push yourself too hard when walking. It's enjoyable even just to stop by for sightseeing, but it's especially recommended for those with an interest in volcanoes and hot springs. From memory, there was a trailhead to Mount Yakeyama at the back, and from there it was possible to traverse the mountain via the summit towards Goshogake Onsen. *There are signs warning of bears along the trail. (Original) (2025/08/12) 玉川温泉の自然研究路は、ただ歩くだけで「火山の鼓動」を体感できる散策路です。歩き始めると一帯に硫黄の匂いが漂い、あちこちで白い噴気が吹き上がっています。大噴からPH1.2の酸性度の高い源泉がこんこんと湧き出す様子は迫力があり、自然の力強さを実感します。途中には岩盤浴のための小屋もあり、この地の温泉文化の一端に触れられるのも魅力です。さらに、ここでは台湾の北投温泉と玉川温泉でしか見られない北投石が転がっていることもありますが、天然記念物に指定されているため持ち帰りは厳禁です。 特に印象に残るのは、地面からじんわりと伝わる熱気と、植物がまったく生えない灰色の荒涼としたエリア。そのすぐ外側には緑豊かな森が広がっており、厳しい環境と豊かな自然が隣り合わせに存在する景色は強烈なコントラストを生んでいます。とりわけ秋は荒涼とした地獄谷と鮮やかな紅葉の対比が美しく個人的にはオススメのシーズンです。歩くだけで自然の厳しさと神秘を同時に体験できる、特別な場所だと思います。 研究路自体はよく整備されていて歩きやすく、通行止め箇所が無ければ一周するのに30分〜1時間ほど。足元から熱気が伝わり、場所によっては火山ガスへの注意を促す看板も立っているので、散策の際は体調に気をつけて無理をしないことが大切です。観光で立ち寄るだけでも十分楽しめますが、火山や温泉に関心のある方には特におすすめです。昔の記憶では奥に焼山への登山口があり、そこから山頂を経由して後生掛温泉方面へと縦走することもできたはずです。※登山道には熊出没注意の看板があります

(Translated by Google) I took a stroll around Tamagawa Onsen on October 6-7, 2025 while staying there. ♨️ The sign that says "Home of Hot Spring Therapy" where you can feel the breath of the earth is certainly true. 😳 A stone-paved walkway runs from the Tamagawa Onsen inn to Jigokudani. ✨ The entire walkway takes about 30 minutes, but it's home to the largest fountain in Japan, spewing 98°C hot water. The hot springs and steam rising everywhere make for an overwhelming feeling of the earth's breath. 😳 This area is known for its natural bedrock bath, and many people warm themselves on mats! When I stayed at Goshogake Onsen before, I decided to come here again... I'm so glad I did! ♨️ (Original) R7.10.6-7 玉川温泉宿泊時に散策しました♨️ 大地の息吹感じる「湯治のふるさと」の看板に偽りはありません😳 玉川温泉の宿から地獄谷まで、石が敷き詰めたられた歩道が整備されています✨ 一周30分程度ですが、９８℃の熱湯が噴出している湧出量日本一を誇る大噴‥そして至るところから噴湯・噴気が立ち上がり、大地の息吹を感じ圧倒されますね😳 ここは天然の岩盤浴が知られており「ござ」を敷いて身体を温めている人がたくさん！ 以前後生掛温泉に宿泊した時に、次はぜひここに来ようと思った場所‥来れて良かったです♨️

(Translated by Google) I visited on a weekday afternoon. Even if you're not a guest at Tamagawa Onsen, you can enter for free. I brought a mat with me, but the covered areas were full of people and I couldn't get in. Even in areas that looked like they might be steaming, the sun was shining and they were warm, while the shaded areas were all cool, so I couldn't find a place that looked like it would be effective. However, you can still feel the steam even while walking. I wish they would prohibit bedrock bathing in the walkways. (Original) 平日午後に訪れました。玉川温泉の宿泊客でなくても無料で入れます。 ゴザを持参したが屋根あるところは人がいっぱいで入れなかった。湯気が出ている近くで、それらしいところでも太陽の日が当たって温かいようで、日陰の部分は冷たいところばかりで効果ありそうなところを探し出せなかった。 ただ噴気は歩いていても十分感じられる。通路は岩盤浴禁止にしてほしい。

Great stopover spot on the way to Akita from Morioka. Came during summer and the water in the river was really cooling. There is a small path with stairs down to the river bank. Parking available with just 5 mins walk to the red bridge and down to the bank.

Pictures taken on October 24th for foliage/ momiji reference. 1h easy hike absolutely worth it. Great combination of nature, tunnels, bridges, waterfalls and pristine untouched feeling beauty. It nay get wet on the floor, so it's better to wear adequate shoes

This is an absolute must-stop location for experiencing autumn leaves! The scene here is perfectly beautiful: the combination of the brilliant colored foliage, the stunning turquoise water, and the bright red bridge creates an unforgettable vista. While you need to walk a bit to explore the interior pathways, the effort is completely worth it. Highly recommend coming here!

It's beautiful and only a short walk inside. There is parking available right in front.

The gorge and the waterfall were beautiful. The path follows the river upwards from the dam. There are some dark tunnels on the way, and a rest-shelter a small climb up from the main pathway a bit after the waterfall. At the time of writing (June 2024) the path is closed further up the river after the waterfall, shelter and a small shrine.

We came here on 11 Nov. It was a beautiful trail though the peak of fall foliage has past a week ago. There was repairing work near the entrance and there was heavy rain a day before, thus making the trail lots of muddy water pots. There were not many tourists in the early morning. The sunlight should be better for phototaking near noon. Maybe, the fall foliage peak had past, the parking was free. A 300 Yen parking fee was charged during the fall foliage season.

I like to stroll around the place. You get to enjoy the view and sound of fountains and rivers. Of course, you need to pick the time to visit there for better view. However, the stroll itself is healing to the soul. Just bear in mind to wear thicker cloths to keep you warm since it’s deep inside, temperature compared to outside is rather low. The only thing was we went during weekday, surprisingly there are many tourists. Since they are following bus tour, you feel that there are rushing around. Aside from this, it is wonderful!

It was raining hard but I’m happy we made the stop to see this. My love for Lake Towada in Aomori made me lol. 500¥ for parking. This lake is the deepest in Japan so be careful playing in the water. Lots of auto campgrounds around the lake.

A good spot around the lake. On a good day, the lake view is amazing from this spot. The parking right in front of it is paid but if you buy from the store you don’t need to pay the parking fees.

Gorgeous lake with a kind of tragic story behind its guardian. Worth seeing! There is a beautiful shrine, with a tori gate that sells good luck charms. Very scenic!

This was worth the drive. We stayed in Morioka and decided to drive to see the statue of Tatsuko. It was definitely worth it. It’s so peaceful and beautiful there. It was pretty cold, but we still loved it. There were just a few other tourist taking photos, so no one got in each other’s ways. There is a parking area where you pay ¥200, but they give your money back when you return the ticket.

There is paid parking across the road from the statue, but it is for customers of the nearby shop only. Park down the road instead and walk up about 100m.

The deepest lake in Japan. Beautiful even on a rainy day.

Beautiful place. It was snowy and cold - could have stayed there all day! Such a scenic place.

This tiny restaurant always has a line when we walked by the last couple of days. We're decided to queue up today and waited for 30+ minutes before we got seated. There are only 8 tables, 2 on the tatami floor and 6 regular. The tea is self serve, the staff will only bring you the first cup. The Inaniwa Mushroom udon is amazing, the broth, the thin udon (Akita's specialty) and the fresh mushroom. I'm not a huge fan of udon, but this is perfection IMHO. We also ordered the Oyakodon, which is Hinai chicken & egg don (Hinai chicken is another specialty of the area). This might be the best chicken don we've ever tasted. The chicken is tender without the 'steam chicken' smell. The misotanpo, which is also a unique grilled rice cylinder coated by sweet miso paste is incredible. We also ordered the minced pork cutlet which is also yummy.

everything here was delicious! i liked that the udon had 2 dipping sauces, with very chewy noodles. the kiritanpo was also delicious - sweet with a tinge of saltiness!

I don’t know how this is a 4.2. This cozy restaurant was perfect, from the comfort food to the friendly atmosphere inside. It was packed full of families and groups. We missed a small line after walking past to get pudding elsewhere, and got a seat immediately. The food was so good — the piping hot soups, silky smooth udon, and absolutely delicious chicken egg rice. We wish we could go back for more.

​Absolutely exceptional oyakodon! The chicken was wonderfully chewy and infused with a distinct, appealing charcoal grill flavor. The sauce was applied in the perfect amount over the rice, achieving just the right balance. This dish is totally worth the wait!

We know this restaurant is a viral one so we arrived 15 minutes before the opening hours and there was already people queuing up there but we were happy still be able to arranged a table in the first round of customer. We tasted the egg and chicken rice with udon meal set plus the chicken skewers set. All are delicious. Considered to order more dishes to try the other taste but we were full already.

Possibly the best cold udon I had for a long time. The chicken don is the main selling point, but the udon still beats it. Nice little family style restaurant. You may find many other foreigners like yourself dining at this location. English menu is available.

Honestly one of the best meals we have had in our Japan trip so far. Highly recommend the Oyakudon + udon set of Y1850 to try the best of their food items. There is free parking for the restaurant at the back. And do come early to avoid queues. We came at 11am (their opening time) during a weekday and it was already full.

Pizza shop run by a mountain honey shop or. It is extremely popular on holidays, with 20 people waiting at 11:30 a.m. We were shown to our table after an hour, but shopping at the honey shop while waiting will kill some time. The popular cheese and honey pizza is delicious with elegant honey. There is free-use honey on the table if U want to indulge in honey.

There's a lot to do here besides pizza. They've also got a little cafe + double decker bus if you'd like to eat outside. Pizzas are good and use tasteful amounts of their own homemade Honey, although nonhoneyed options are plentiful. The other restaurant has ice cream and things for dessert. Pretty fun stop!

delicious pizza pork is succulent, four cheese pizza with honey is stunning

Amazing pizza. There will be a line. Sp get there early. Best pizza I've had in Japan and super reasonable price. 1200-1600 yen. If you love honey as well there plenty of it available to pour on your pizza.

Very nice pizzas, kinda special as some may pour honey.

Very delicious, chewy, crispy honey pork pizza, 4 cheese pizza, meat sauce jalapeno pizza and garlic cheese pizza. You can add as much honey as you want. Truffle honey matches really well with honey pork pizza.

Lovely little pizza place, good range of options and bargain prices. Lady serving was very busy but effusively enthusiastic and welcoming. Nothing was too much trouble, and nobody was left waiting a second longer than absolutely necessary.

Simple restaurant located near the train station and inside a souvenir shop. The zaru soba served with boiled soba water is great for a simple lunch.

Amazing.

A soba place that does one the best ramen in the world. The noodles quality was fabulous, thick , square, beautiful. I keep a fantastic memory of that restaurant and desperately keep trying to find the place that would beat it.

The best cold soba in my life!

Traditional soba restaurant. It's kind of hidden in the back of a store.

Beautiful small gem to enjoy nice noodle.

(Translated by Google) I visited "Juwari Soba Dokoro Soba Goro" for lunch during my trip to Tohoku. I had the Hinai Jidori soba, which was delicious with a strong flavor of dashi and the umami of the chicken. The soba had a nice aroma, and I was able to enjoy a leisurely meal in a calm atmosphere. However, compared to famous soba spots, the restaurant is a little more subdued, so I think it's best suited to when you just really want to eat soba. It's convenient because it's easy to drop in between sightseeing. Overall, it was a satisfying lunch with consistent flavors and a great atmosphere. (Original) 東北旅行の途中で昼食に「十割そば処 そば五郎」を訪れました。 比内地鶏のそばをいただきましたが、出汁の風味がしっかりしており、鶏の旨味が感じられて美味しかったです。そばの香りも良く、落ち着いた店内でゆっくり食事を楽しむことができました。 ただ、そばの名所と比べるとやや印象は控えめで、「どうしてもそばが食べたい」というタイミングでの利用に向いているお店だと思います。観光の合間に手軽に立ち寄れる点は便利です。 全体的には、安定した味と雰囲気で満足できるランチでした。

cozy restaurant with nice view, good local beer

Dining at ORAE is a pleasant surprise! It’s located right by Lake Tazawa. The view from the high ceiling window is very peaceful and healing. Food is also of a very high standard. The homemade hamburger steak has a solid texture and rich in favor and the udon is silky and tasty. The homemade ginger ale is absolutely delicious. Suzuki-san, the store manager, is professional, well-mannered and very friendly. Music is harmonious with the vibe at just the right volume. Wonderful experience it is. Please come even if you do not drink beer. It is a nice restaurant.

Perfect location at Lake Tazawa. The food was quite good as well. They even had vegetarian options: curry rice and veg spaghetti. This restaurant is famous for scenes from a famous Korean show as well.

Huge brewery on lake side. Amazing ambience where you can get lake view while dining. Best part they offer vegetarian/vegan options which were absolutely delicious. Worth trying this place out if you plan a trip to lake tazakawa

This is such a wonderful restaurant - very courteous & polite staff. Despite my terrible 日本語, Suzuki san & gently & patiently speaks with me in his best English to explain the menu & made conversation upon learning about my travels. Seevice is absolute top, food taste good and the atmosphere is fantastic - a full view of the famed Tazawako.

Orae is fantastic! The great lake view sets a perfect scene for enjoying excellent beer. The curry rice is truly awesome—a must-try. Service was top-notch; especially thanks to 鈴木 and 古川 for being so incredibly friendly and welcoming.

The food and beer were so enjoyable, the German lager was some of the best I've ever had! But the highlight was still the staff. K. Suzuki was a wonderful host, staying open for our evening reservation so that we could have a late dinner our first night in Akita. More than that, he was so fun to speak with! Chatting about bears and beers was so fun and made this stretch of our travels feel warm and memorable.

(Translated by Google) There are two types of 100% buckwheat soba noodles to compare: one made from a different variety of soba and one made from a different method of grinding flour. Both are served in large portions and are cheap! It's a popular restaurant, so it gets crowded. There are about three parking spaces in front of the restaurant, so we reserved a seat and waited on the street for a parking spot to open up. The soba noodles are 100% buckwheat so they are short and bent...the aroma is average, and the taste is not very firm, warm and hard... It cannot be denied that there are some issues remaining in making the soba noodles. (Original) 十割蕎麦の食べ比べは、品種の違う蕎麦と粉のひき方が異なる蕎麦の２種類が有ります。どちらも盛りが多く価格も安い！人気店ですので、混み合ってます。駐車場はお店の前に３台程で、席予約をして路上で駐車場が空くのを待ちました。 蕎麦は十割蕎麦なので折れて短い状態…香りは並、味わいは締めが弱く温く硬い… 蕎麦打ちには少し課題が残るのが否めません。

(Translated by Google) A handmade soba restaurant near Kakunodate Buke Yashiki Street. I tried both of the home-grown "Takamine Ruby" and "Aizu native" varieties and grinding methods, and honestly, my personal conclusion was that both were very delicious. Both soba noodles, carefully made, are equally delicious. Inside the restaurant, there are four four-person tables and four four-person tatami rooms, and there is parking space for about four cars in front of the store. (Original) 角館武家屋敷通り近くにある手打ちそばのお店。自家栽培の「高嶺ルビー」と「会津在来種」の品種と挽き方のそれぞれの食べ比べができ、どちらも試しましたが、正直好みでどちらもとても美味しいという個人的な結論でした。こだわって創り上げたそばはどちらも甲乙つけ難く美味しいに決まってますね。店内は4人掛けテーブルが4席、4人掛け座敷が4席、駐車スペースは店舗前に4台くらいでした。

(Translated by Google) I visited for a weekend lunch. I ordered a tasting of two types of 100% buckwheat soba from Takamine Ruby's "Variety Comparison" menu. It was a great option as I could compare it with Aizu's native variety. Takamine Ruby is an extremely rare variety that blooms red, like ruby. Both have a strong texture and are the type of soba I like. Comparing the two types is purely my personal opinion, but while Takamine Ruby has a clean and light taste, the Aizu native variety had a stronger buckwheat aroma and a deeper flavor. As someone who rarely has the opportunity to eat soba in Akita, it was a very valuable experience. And my journey of discovering soba continues. Thank you for the meal. (Original) 週末ランチでの訪問となります。 メニューより高嶺ルビーの「品種をたべくらべ」より十割そば二種食べ比べをオーダー。 会津の在来種と食べくらべあができるとい嬉しいメニューです。 高嶺ルビーとはルビーのように、赤い花を咲かせる非常に珍しい品種のようです。 どちらもコシが強く私好みお蕎麦です。 二種類の食べ比べについては、あくまで個人的な感想にはなりますが、高嶺ルビーがすっきりあっさりしている一方で会津在来種の方がより蕎麦の香りが強く深い味わいに感じました。 ほぼ秋田の地にて蕎麦をいただく機会のない私にとってとても貴重な体験となりました。 そして私の蕎麦を手繰る旅はまだまだ続きます。 ご馳走様でした。

(Translated by Google) This restaurant serves delicious soba noodles. You can try two different types of soba noodles, and they also have local sake available. I was alone, but they showed me to a tatami room so I could relax. (Original) 蕎麦が美味しいお店。 2種類の蕎麦食べ比べができ、地元の日本酒も置いてあります。 1人でしたが、座敷に通してくれてゆっくり出来ました。

(Translated by Google) I ordered 100% buckwheat soba noodles and tempura! The tempura was piping hot and crispy, and as I slurped the soba noodles, the aroma filled my nose and it was absolutely delicious! The total price of 1,050 yen was also very good value for money. I highly recommend this restaurant if you're ever in Kakunodate. (Original) 十割蕎麦と天ぷらを注文！ 天ぷらはサクサク熱々で蕎麦もすすると香りが鼻の中で広がりとても美味しい！ 合わせて1050円の価格もコスパ良すぎです。 角館に行かれたら是非お勧めのお店です。

(Translated by Google) I stopped by here on my stroll through Kakunodate. I visited around 1pm on a Sunday, and contrary to my expectations, it wasn't crowded, so I was able to relax and enjoy my soba noodles. They served me cold soba tea, a thoughtful touch that was greatly appreciated in the hot weather. I ordered the "Variety Comparison" soba noodle dish, which included Aizu native soba and Takamine Ruby (aka soba), and tasted two types of soba. Takamine Ruby looked more like regular soba than red soba. To be honest, I found it difficult to tell the difference in taste, but both were rich and delicious. I finished the meal by diluting the soup with soba tea, and enjoyed it until the very end. (Original) 角館散策の途中で立ち寄りました。 日曜日の13時ごろに訪れましたが、予想に反して混雑しておらず、のんびりとお蕎麦を楽しむことができました。 冷たいそば茶を出してくれて、暑い季節にはありがたい心遣いで助かりました。 「品種をたべくらべ」という会津在来種のそばと高嶺ルビー（あかそば）を食べることができる蕎麦を注文して二種類のそばを味わいましたが、高嶺ルビーは見た目は赤い蕎麦というより普通のそばに近い色合いでした。 味の違いについては正直なところ、私にははっきりと区別するのが難しかったですが、どちらも風味豊かで美味しかったです。 食事の締めにはそば湯でつゆを割り、最後まで美味しくいただくことができました。

(Translated by Google) First visit in August 2025. I ordered the two-color mori and two-type tasting set. As it is 100% buckwheat, the soba noodles are chewy. The Takamine Ruby was delicious. (Original) 2025年8月初訪問。 二色もりと二種食べ比べを発注。 十割だけあって腰の強いお蕎麦です。 高嶺ルビー美味しゅうございました。