Lake Chūzenji

This is a really beautiful lake, we go on April, so at the afternoon you can not appreciate it really well (cause the fog), but at the next day early morning it looks really beautiful, it also has some activities on it. Care with mosquitoes, I recommend repellent just in case

A beautiful lake with charming paddle boats shaped like ducks available for rent—perfect for a relaxing sail around the water. The area is surrounded by cozy coffee shops, local restaurants, and souvenir stores, making it a lovely place to explore. It’s especially worth visiting during the autumn season, when the scenery becomes even more stunning with the fall colors.

Lake Chuzenji is simply stunning, especially when viewed from The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko it feels like a painting come to life. The calm waters sparkle under the soft sunlight, framed by verdant mountains and Mount Nantai. Whether you're looking out from your balcony or beside the lake, it’s the kind of view that steals your breath every time. It's the perfect place to slow down and soak in nature. The setting shifts with every moment early morning mist, sparkling midday, and magical sunset hues making it a memorable highlight of any stay in Nikko.

A mirror hidden in the mountains. The lake is clear and transparent, with mountains in the distance. It is a great attraction and worth seeing.

We visited this beautiful lake and enjoyed the scenery. The water was clear and blue. Snow capped mountains surrounding the lake gave it a breathtaking view. Even though it was spring, the road up the mountain past the lake was closed due to snow, so we remained in the lake area which is 1,300 m above sea level.

This spot is a breathtaking blend of water, sky, and land—where nature meets in perfect harmony. Standing here feels like stepping into heaven. The scenic beauty invites you to look forward, immerse yourself in the moment, and let go of everything else. But as you turn around, the contrast with the bustling urban landscape reminds you how rare and precious this serenity is. So when you visit, just look ahead and let nature take over.

Ice lake to walk around when u are staying at ritz Carlton Nikko. The lake seems to be quite quiet now with very few visitors and mainly for fishing. I took a run along it and encountered some nice trails and running paths. Feels like cross country running ard it. The lake is peaceful and wet calm.

Located at the entrance of Oku-Nikko, Lake Chuzenji has a total shoreline of about 25 kilometers and a maximum depth of 163 meters. It is a barrier lake formed by the eruption of lava from the Nantai Mountain volcano more than 20,000 years ago. Due to its stable climate, it was a summer resort for many foreigners from the Meiji period to the early Showa period.

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.