Lake Tazawa, with its golden Tatsuko statue, the lakeside Gozanoishi Shrine and the alpine slopes of Mt. Akita-Komagatake above it, is one of the most beautiful places in Akita Prefecture. At 423.4 meters, Lake Tazawa is the deepest lake in Japan, and its water glows an intense blue on clear days. Because it is so deep, it rarely freezes, even in the snowy Tohoku winter. The lake is just a short bus ride from Tazawako Station on the Akita Shinkansen, so it is easy to combine with Kakunodate and Nyuto Onsen. This guide covers the three highlights, getting around the lake and where to stay.
1. Tatsuko Statue
The golden statue of Tatsuko, standing in the water on the lake’s western shore, is the symbol of Lake Tazawa. It was created by the sculptor Yasutake Funakoshi and unveiled in 1968: a bronze figure about 2.3 meters tall, covered in gold leaf to protect it from the lake’s acidic water. It tells a local legend. Tatsuko was a beautiful young woman who prayed for eternal youth and beauty; told to drink from a spring near the lake, she drank until it ran dry and was transformed into a dragon, becoming the guardian of Lake Tazawa. In another version of the story, the dragon Hachirotaro of the Hachirogata lagoon fell in love with her and came to live with her in the lake, which is why, it is said, Lake Tazawa grew deeper and never freezes. Next to the statue, the small Ukiki Shrine is said to help with finding love. The statue is about 15 minutes by bus from Tazawako Station, though buses on this side of the lake are infrequent.
2. Gozanoishi Shrine
Gozanoishi Shrine, on the northern shore, is the most photogenic shrine on Lake Tazawa, with a vermilion torii gate standing on a large flat rock at the water’s edge. Its name comes from that rock: in 1650, Satake Yoshitaka, the second lord of the Akita domain, is said to have rested on it, and its flat surface looked like a goza, a woven rush mat. The shrine, in its current form dating to 1911, honors Tatsuko-hime and is believed to bring beauty, so it is popular with women visitors. On the grounds you can see the spring where Tatsuko is said to have drunk before turning into a dragon, a remarkable tree with several kinds of trees growing from one trunk, and Kagami-ishi, or “Mirror Rock,” where she checked her reflection. There is free parking, and the Gozanoishi Jinja-mae bus stop on the lake loop bus is about a minute’s walk away. Come in the morning, when the lake is calm and the torii reflects in the water.
3. Mt. Akita-Komagatake and Tazawako Kogen
Rising above the lake to the northeast, Mt. Akita-Komagatake is the highest mountain in Akita Prefecture, with its main peak, Onamedake, at 1,637 meters. It is famous for alpine flowers: from about mid-June to mid-August, several hundred species bloom on its slopes, including tiny alpine primroses and the delicate komakusa, and autumn color arrives from late September to early October. In summer and early autumn, Ugo Kotsu buses run from Tazawako Station via the Tazawako Kogen highlands to the mountain’s 8th Station, and on busy days private cars are banned from the last stretch of road, with shuttles running instead. Note that the 2026 bus season has already ended; buses usually run from June to mid-October. Akita-Komagatake is an active volcano, so check the current alert level before hiking. Below the mountain, the Tazawako Kogen area has hot springs and Alpa Komakusa, a visitor center with a day-use bath and mountain information.
Where to Stay Near Lake Tazawa
Where to stay: Lake TazawaHotel links in this section go to Orbitz. If you book through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Staying near Lake Tazawa lets you see the lake at sunrise and sunset, when it is at its most beautiful, and puts you halfway between Kakunodate and Nyuto Onsen. Hotels and inns are spread around the eastern shore near Shirahama, where the sightseeing boat leaves, and up in the Tazawako Kogen highlands.
Luxury
Tazawako Lake Resort & Onsen is a large resort hotel with hot spring baths, a comfortable base for exploring the lake, Tazawako Kogen and Nyuto Onsen.
Resort hotel with hot spring baths.
Mid-Range
Kashintei Shirahama is a small, well-reviewed inn near Shirahama on the lake’s eastern shore, close to the sightseeing boat pier and lakeside cafes.
Small lakeside inn near the boat pier.
Budget-Friendly
Tazawako Rose Park Hotel is a straightforward hotel in the Tazawako area and a practical, often more affordable choice; compare rates for your dates.
Practical hotel in the Tazawako area.
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Quick Tips for Visiting
- Buses from Tazawako Station reach Tazawa-kohan on the eastern shore in about 12 minutes (400 yen), but buses around the north and west shores are infrequent, so check the timetable.
- Rent a bicycle near the Tazawa-kohan bus stop to ride the roughly 20-kilometer loop around the lake in two to three hours.
- The sightseeing boat runs from late April to early November, about 40 minutes per loop from Shirahama (around 1,500 yen for adults; check the latest fare).
- Visit early in the morning for calm water and reflections at Gozanoishi Shrine and the Tatsuko statue.
- Combine the lake with Nyuto Onsen and Kakunodate, which are on the same bus and train routes.
Getting there by train: From Tokyo, the Akita Shinkansen reaches Tazawako Station in about 2 hours 50 minutes (all seats reserved). From the station, Ugo Kotsu buses run to the lakeshore in about 12 minutes and continue to Nyuto Onsen. Read our guide to riding trains in Japan, learn how to ride the Shinkansen, and check whether the JR Pass is worth it for your route.
Frequently Asked Questions
How deep is Lake Tazawa?
Lake Tazawa is 423.4 meters deep, the deepest lake in Japan. Because it is so deep, it rarely freezes in winter.
What is the Tatsuko statue?
It is a gold-leafed bronze statue by sculptor Yasutake Funakoshi, unveiled in 1968, depicting Tatsuko, a young woman from local legend who turned into a dragon and became the guardian of the lake.
How do you get to Lake Tazawa from Tokyo?
Take the Akita Shinkansen to Tazawako Station, about 2 hours 50 minutes from Tokyo, then a bus to the lakeshore in about 12 minutes.
Can you go around Lake Tazawa by bike?
Yes. The loop around the lake is about 20 kilometers and takes two to three hours by bicycle. Rental bikes are available near the Tazawa-kohan bus stop.
