# Semboku/Lake Tazawa

Lake Tazawa is a lake and popular tourist area in Semboku, Akita.

## Get in

Tazawako Station, a station located along the Tazawako Line and a stop of the Akita Shinkansen.

## Get around

Many buses from Tazawako Station stop at Tazawa-Kohan (田沢湖畔) located on the northeast end of the lake. There are a variety of restaurants and hotels there. However, if you want to travel to other parts of the lake, the Loop Bus is the only one that you can use.

## See

* 39.714058140.634281 Tatsuko Statue (たつこ像). A golden statue of a woman named Tatsuko jutting out of Lake Tazawa. According to legend, Tatsuko was a woman who lived in Innai (present-day Yuzawa. After praying for 100 days and 100 nights that she would stay beautiful forever, the goddess Kannon came to her and told her "Eternal beauty comes from drinking from the northern lake, but it cannot be granted to humans" and urged her to think hard before trying. Tatsuko didn't care. She went and found the lake and started drinking. As she drank, she became thirstier and the lake became larger. Soon the the lake was very large and Tatsuko had transformed into a dragon, because as she was warned, eternal beauty was not for humans. As a dragon, she became the lake's guardian, but she swam to the bottom and stayed there out of disgust at her transformation. It is also said that she fell in love with Hachirotaro, a male lake dragon guardian who lived on the Oga peninsula. He is said to visit her during the winter. Because he is not there, Lake Hachirogata (his lake) freezes in the winter while the heat from the two dragon lovers prevents Lake Tazawa from ever freezing over. (updated Feb 2025)
* 39.716924140.6257222 Mount Katamae Forest Park (かたまえ山森林公園). A nature park with trails featuring edible plants. There is also a viewpoint where you can look out over Lake Tazawa. (updated Mar 2025)
* Lake Tazawa Kunimasu Trout Museum (田沢湖クニマス未来館). (updated Mar 2025)
* Kata Branch School (Omoide no Katabunko) (旧田沢湖町立 生保内小学校 潟分校（思い出の潟分校）). (updated Mar 2025)

## Do

* 39.73097140.698361 Lake Tazawa Excursion Ship, 148, Haruyama, Tazawa, Tazawako 田沢湖田沢字春山148 (bus from JR Tazawako station 15 min, bus stop "Tazawako resthouse mae" to walk 1 min), ☏ +81 187 43-0274, fax: +81 187 43-3460. 4 - 8 services per day. Period 26 Apr - 5 Nov.. Around trip ¥1170.
* 39.73208140.699072 Cycling around the Lake Tazawa (Lake Tazawa Renta Cycle, in Kyōei Palace) (田沢湖周回サイクリング (田沢湖レンタサイクル, 共栄パレス内)), 148, Haruyama, Tazawa, Tazawako 田沢湖田沢字春山148 (bus from JR Tazawako station 15 min, bus stop "Tazawako resthouse mae" to walk 1 min), ☏ +81 187 43-1671. Loop around lakeside the Lake Tazawa. Up and down the not very flat road. Approximately 20 km around, takes 2 - 3 hr. An hour ¥400, thereafter every 15 min ¥150.

## Drink

* 39.610267140.622791 Tazawako Beer (田沢湖ビール), Waseda, Sotsuda, Tazawako, 田沢湖卒田字早稲田, ☏ +81 187 44-3988, fax: +81 187 44-3983, beer@warabi.or.jp. W-M 11:00-21:00, Tu closed. It is a local beer. The brewery has a restaurant offering French and Italian cuisine. ¥498 1 bottle of beer.

## Sleep

* 39.734399140.6974891 Katakuri no Hana (湖畔浪漫の宿 かたくりの花). (updated Mar 2025)
* 39.734106140.6982142 Kashin-tei Shirahama (花心亭しらはま). (updated Mar 2025)
* Guesthouse Haruyama (民宿 はるやま). A minshuku by the lake. (updated Mar 2025)