2024 Akumi District Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in December)

The speechless view of Mt. Chokai lake

It can be viewed south from Mihama Shrine, the 7th station of Mt. Chokai, about 2 hours from the Hokotate trailhead located in Yamagata prefecture, Japan. The lake is about 1,600m above sea level, and is a crater lake that is slightly elongated from north to south and has a diameter of about 200m. This is the crater from Stage II volcanic activity about 160,000 years ago, and the lava from this time covers almost the entire mountain to the west of here. It is surrounded by Sensu Mori to the northeast and Nabe Mori to the southwest, and opens up in a horseshoe shape with the hiking trail via Mihama Shrine as its ridge. The water is melted snow, and in winter it freezes down to the bottom of the lake (4.7m at its deepest point). With a pH of 4.7, it is highly acidic and there are not many living creatures, but Japanese black salamanders and other creatures live there. There is a lot of remaining snow in this area, and as the snow melts, alpine plants bloom in full bloom. In ancient times, it was called "Tori no Umi." Access information 2 hours 30 minutes from the Ohira trailhead. 2 hours 30 minutes from the Hokotate trailhead. #japan #yamagata