Tazawako Onsen is located near the shores of Lake Tazawa in Akita prefecture — Japan's deepest lake at 423 meters, celebrated for its extraordinary cobalt-blue color and the legend of the princess Tatsuko transformed into a dragon to preserve the lake's warmth forever. Sulfated volcanic water from the Akita highland geothermal zone provides therapeutic bathing with views of the pristine blue lake and the volcanic peaks of the Ou Mountain Range rising above the surrounding cedar forest. Soaking in these warm sulfated mineral waters while looking out across the luminous cobalt surface of Japan's deepest lake creates a quietly extraordinary onsen experience in the scenic highland of northern Honshu.
Insider tip — Tazawako sits on the western shore of Lake Tazawa, Japan's deepest lake, whose extraordinary cobalt-blue color results from its depth and purity. The hot spring water here is sulfate-rich and emerges at 42°C from volcanic sources in the surrounding Dewa mountain range. The legendary golden statue of Tatsuko, a young woman said to have transformed into a dragon to preserve her beauty, gazes from the lakeshore. Winter cross-country skiing at Tazawako Ski Resort combines seamlessly with evening onsen recuperation.
