The sister lake of Lake Chengqing, located far away in Akita, Japan—Lake Tazawa changes colors with the seasons!

▲ Enjoying the lake and mountain scenery by the shore.

Reported and photographed by reporter Yu Jiayun / Akita, Japan

Located in Niaosong District, Kaohsiung, Lake Chengqing is the largest lake in the city. With its beautiful scenery throughout the four seasons, it is one of Kaohsiung’s well-known attractions. But did you know? Far away in Akita Prefecture in northeastern Japan, there lives a “sister” of Lake Chengqing—Lake Tazawa. Not only is it the only natural lake in Akita, but it is also the deepest lake in Japan and ranks second in water transparency. When you visit here, don’t forget to meet Tatsuko, the legendary guardian spirit of Lake Tazawa, who has been famous in Japan for ages.

▲ The emerald-green lake water and lush green forests.

Adjacent to Japan’s northernmost high mountain, Mount Chōkai, and the Nyūtō Onsen hot spring village, Lake Tazawa is 423.4 meters deep, making it the deepest lake in Japan, while its water visibility reaches up to 31 meters, ranking second. The clarity of Lake Tazawa’s waters is so remarkable that schools of fish can be seen gathering right from the shore, and even if you swim just a few meters into the lake, your figure remains clearly visible. The varying depths of the lake and the influx of nearby hot spring water give Lake Tazawa ever-changing colors under different light conditions—sometimes as blue as the sea, sometimes as green as jade, incredibly beautiful.

▲ Groups of trout gather by the shore.

▲ You can also choose to take a ferry to tour Lake Tazawa.

By the shores of Lake Tazawa stands a striking golden statue that bears a slight resemblance to the Little Mermaid in Copenhagen—and she is Tatsuko, the legendary guardian spirit of Lake Tazawa. According to guide Hirose, the legend tells of a peerlessly beautiful woman named Tatsuko who, upon realizing her beauty, prayed to the gods every day to preserve her looks forever. Moved by her sincerity, the gods instructed her to drink from a spring that flowed from the north. However, the more she drank, the thirstier she became, and before she knew it, she had transformed into a dragon. Unable to return home, she dove to the bottom of Lake Tazawa and became its guardian spirit.

▲ The legendary guardian spirit of Lake Tazawa, Tatsuko.

With a circumference of 20 kilometers, Lake Tazawa covers a vast area. To see the lake’s diverse scenery from different viewpoints, the best way is to drive around it. As you drive along the lakeshore, you can witness how the lake takes on different hues under various lighting conditions. Or, on a clear day, take a stroll by the lake, enjoy the breeze blowing across the surface of Lake Tazawa, and feel the ever-changing colors before your eyes—an enchanting experience in all four seasons.

▲ %The lake presents different colors under varying light conditions.