Lake Chuzenji

Lake Chūzenji is one of Japan’s highest lakes, located in Nikko City at an elevation of 1,269 meters. It was formed about 20,000 years ago when a lava flow from the eruption of Mt. Nantai dammed a valley, creating a dammed lake. With an area ranking 25th among Japan’s lakes and marshes, it reaches a maximum depth of 163 meters.

The lake has a circumference of about 25 kilometers, with Mt. Nantai to the north and Senjogahara stretching to the northwest. The azaleas of early summer and the autumn foliage are especially beautiful, and the view from a sightseeing boat is highly recommended. Along the lakeshore are Nikkō Futarasan Shrine Chūgūshi, Nikkōzan Chūzen-ji Temple (Tachiki Kannon), and Chūzenji Onsen. Selected as one of Japan’s Top 100 Scenic Spots, the area is crowded with visitors throughout the year.

Lake Chūzenji was once discovered by Shōdō Shōnin and was known as a place of training based on faith in Buddhism and Shinto. On Ueno Island, the only island floating in the lake, some of Shōdō Shōnin’s remains are enshrined. Even today, Chūzen-ji Temple continues to hold rituals that visit sacred sites on the lake.

From the Meiji era to the early Showa period, it flourished as a summer retreat for foreigners, and was lively with the construction of embassy villas from European and American countries. It is also popular as a fishing spot, and since the Meiji era, fish stocking and aquaculture have been carried out. In particular, 24 species of fish, including red salmon and hunchun salmon, inhabit the lake, and fish caught by methods such as dragnet fishing are valued as local specialties and an important tourism resource for recreational fishing. It is the only place in Japan where lake trout reproduce, and it is a target for sport fishing.

The appeal of Lake Chūzenji lies in its rich nature, history, and mysterious atmosphere as a place of worship. It is a precious destination where visitors can enjoy the scenery of each season while also experiencing history and culture.