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HOME > Japan’s Local Treasures > Nikko National Park Boat Cruise
Relax on Lake Chuzenji high in the mountains above the town of Nikko
Nikko City Tourism Association
Take in panoramic views of Nikko National Park on a roughly one-hour cruise on Lake Chuzenji, Japan’s highest natural lake at an elevation of 1,269 meters (excluding artificial lakes and lakes smaller than 4k㎡). The mostly undeveloped and forested landscape changes with the seasons; expect to see purple, pink, red, and white azaleas in spring; vibrant greens in summer; and spectacular orange, red, and yellow leaves in autumn, one of the most popular times of year for capturing photos of the vistas.
From the Tobu Chuzenjiko Cruise boat, you will see the impressive figures of Mt. Nantai (2,486m), revered as an object of worship from ancient times, and Mt. Shirane, (2,57m), the highest peak in the northern Kanto region. The lake was created 20,000 years ago when Mt. Nantai erupted and lava blocked the valley below. Both mountains feature in One Hundred Mountains of Japan, a book written in 1964 by mountaineer and author Kyuya Fukuda.
How to get there
From Tokyo Station, take the Tohoku Shinkansen to Utsunomiya Station (about 50 minutes), then take the JR Nikko Line to Nikko Station (about 40 minutes). Next, take a bus from JR Nikko Station to Chuzenji Onsen (45 minutes), the location the cruises depart from.
2478-21 Chugushi, Nikko-shi, Tochigi-ken
