Canoes on Lake TowadaThe Lake Towada and Oirase Gorge area is one of Japan’s representative regions of picturesque beauty with magnificent and exquisite untouched nature still remaining even now. You can feel at one with that nature as you experience it with your own body through walking or paddling.
Here are some activities attracting attention in Aomori Prefecture that allow you to leisurely spend time in nature and experience new discoveries and emotions.
Canoeing in the early morning on Lake Towada
Canoeing in the early morning on Lake Towada
Aomori Prefecture’s Lake Towada is extremely beautiful with its very clear, cobalt blue water. The two most attractive aspects of canoeing on Lake Towada in the early morning are as follows. Firstly, you can feel the mythic power of the area’s awe-inspiring nature, which was formed through a volcanic eruption around 2,000 years ago. Furthermore, amongst the many National Parks of Japan this is the only one where you can enjoy dawn from the surface of a lake.
You can enjoy the sound of bird song surrounding you in the dim light that precedes dawn as you wait for the sunrise on the surface of the tranquil lake. Then, sunrise draws near and Mother Nature’s show begins.
The dazzling light of the sunrise bathes the perfectly clear lake, the trees, and even you yourself in a golden hue. That moment will remain with you for the rest of your life as a magical and mythical experience.
The brilliant canoe tour guides, who love Towada’s nature with all their hearts, will make your canoe tour even more wonderful.
Feel revitalised while trekking along Oirase Gorge
Oirase Gorge is the only river that flows from Lake Towada, and it continues on for approximately 14km to Yakeyama. A path was built along the gorge so that people could enjoy the many waterfalls and beautiful currents as they go trekking.
The path has an easy incline and is the best course for experiencing ‘shinrinyoku’ or forest bathing. It takes around 5 hours to walk the entire 14km long path. As you walk the course, you’ll come across dozens of waterfalls overflowing with water and various currents that exemplify the ideas of both ‘stillness’ and ‘motion’. There are so many things to see, so you’ll never get bored.
If you don’t have much time, we recommend using a bus or rental bicycle to explore the area. Formed over many months and years, Oirase Gorge is a power spot where anyone can find peace of mind.
