Lake Chūzenji

One bus ride from nikko station. We visit during winter. There are still untouched snow on the surrounding shores. The view is beautiful. And you can walk here from the bus station

Calm and serene. Recommend to come here just before sunset, the views were stunning. I would choose to stay near the lake in future and go on the cruise which I didn't manage to do so on this trip because it was closed during winter. If you buy the Nikko 4-day pass, the cruise is included which makes your pass even more worthwhile.

A large mountain lake in the Nikko area, Lake Chuzenji offers a serene and relaxing atmosphere perfect for unwinding. The lakeside is surrounded by charming shops and stunning autumn foliage, making it an ideal destination during the fall season. Visitors can rent swan boats for a leisurely paddle or join a sightseeing cruise to explore the lake. A must-visit spot for nature lovers and those seeking a peaceful retreat.

With NIKKO ALL AREA PASS, we get unlimited free ferry rides. The lake and nearby town is beautiful but we went in September and recommend to visit during Nov when there are autumn leaves. The Lake and ferry ride was worth it.

Not far about 10 minutes walk from the waterfall. Spectacular view of the lake with the help of the snow.

The lake is very big. It takes 5-10 minutes walk from Kegon Falls and very close to Chuzenji Onsen Bus Stop if you’re using Nikko Pass. During winter, the cruise is not operated. But you still able to enjoy the Lake view from lake side. They have park along the lake side.

Beautiful lake with lot of walkable trails around it. Enjoy the sun set view from sunset pier!!!

Lovely view here! Great photo spot. But there were so many tiny flies around, I didn’t dare to talk here!

We were advised that a day trip to Nikko was a must to break up the craziness of visiting Tokyo. Nikko is a 2 1/2 hour train ride out of a Tokyo and can easily be made into a day trip, overnight or weekend getaway. For So. Cal. folks, think Blue Jay, with Lake Chuzenjiko being Big Bear. When you get to Nikko train station, you then take a 45 minute bus the rest of the way up the mountain. We spent no time at all in Nikko and headed up to the lake. This is a truly gorgeous part of the country and the lake sits at 4,163 ft. above seal level. Really a four-season part of Japan. The snow pictures looked exciting and we know there is activity on the lake for summer and cherry blossoms in the spring. We had the good fortune of watching the red, yellow and orange leaves in the fall. Our late October visit rewarded us with temperatures in the low 60's and gorgeous fall colors. If it's crowded, avoid the ropeway (cablecar) and save the trouble. You'll miss out on the view looking down at the lake but save hours waiting in lines for the cable car and bus. Trust me. Your time is better spent at the lake itself. Their is an onsen (bathhouse), hotels, lots of restaurants, shops that specialize in wood carving and the beautiful lake. Deer and bears are seen in lots of photos but we spent our time up here on the water taking a 90-min. scenic cruise. The boat ride was cheap and offered amazing views. They also rent motor boats and pedal boats. We saw fishermen in small row boats and sailboats and tents on the beach. A really special place to unwind from the craziness of Tokyo.

Quite beautiful especially with the good weather today. When I was visiting, the weather which had originally been overcast became sunny. This definitely made a difference because the azure color of the lake water and the beautiful mountain scenery around the lake comes to life with light. At about 50 minutes by bus away from Tobu-Nikko, Chuzenji Lake is quite a trip, but well worth it.