Lake Nojiri is a beautiful natural lake in Shinano Town, Kamiminochi District, Nagano Prefecture. Located at an elevation of approximately 654 meters, the lake lies in a scenic highland landscape surrounded by the mountains of northern Nagano.
The lake covers approximately 4.56 square kilometers, making it the second-largest natural lake in Nagano Prefecture after Lake Suwa. Its maximum depth reaches 39.1 meters, and its total water volume is greater than that of Lake Suwa.
Historically, the lake was also known as Shinanojiriko, while the elegant name Fuyoko has also been used. With Mt. Madarao to the east and Mt. Kurohime to the west, Lake Nojiri forms part of the magnificent natural setting of the Myoko-Togakushi Renzan National Park.
The lake offers far more than beautiful scenery. Visitors can enjoy boating and water sports, explore the island of Biwajima, experience winter smelt fishing, discover the history of foreign summer resorts in Japan, and learn about prehistoric life at the archaeological sites around the lake.
Biwajima Island is a small island floating in Lake Nojiri and can be reached by sightseeing boat or rental boat. The island is home to Uga Shrine, and it is traditionally said to contain the grave of Usami Sadamitsu, a warrior of Japan’s Warring States period.
The island is also associated with mysterious local legends. According to one tradition, visitors who quietly listen near the island may hear the sound of music. These stories add an intriguing sense of mystery to an otherwise peaceful lake landscape.
During the warmer months, Lake Nojiri becomes a popular destination for canoeing, boating, and stand-up paddleboarding (SUP). The calm lake environment makes it possible for families, casual visitors, and experienced athletes to enjoy activities on the water.
Exploring the lake from the water provides a completely different perspective from viewing it from the shore. The surrounding mountains rise beyond the lake, creating a scenic backdrop throughout the year.
Although Lake Nojiri lies in a cold region, it does not normally freeze over completely in winter. This makes it possible to enjoy one of the area’s most distinctive seasonal activities: smelt fishing from heated dome boats.
The enclosed boats are equipped with heaters, allowing visitors to fish comfortably even during the coldest season. Winter fishing on the lake has become a popular experience for both local visitors and travelers looking for an unusual Japanese outdoor activity.
On the slopes of Mt. Madarao, Lake Nojiri Terrace offers expansive views across the lake and the surrounding mountains. The facility is operated by Tokyu Resort and provides a spectacular vantage point for appreciating the landscape from above.
The scenery changes with the seasons. Fresh greenery surrounds the lake in spring and summer, while autumn brings vivid foliage to the mountainsides. The combination of colorful forests, blue water, and distant peaks makes the autumn season particularly impressive.
Lake Nojiri also has a distinctive history as a summer retreat for international residents and visitors in Japan. Koyama International Village on the lakeshore has been managed by the Nojiri Lake Association since 1921.
For many years, numerous foreign residents spent their summers around Lake Nojiri, enjoying the cooler highland climate. The area became one of Japan’s early examples of a summer resort culture associated with international visitors.
Today, traces of this history can still be found around the lakeshore. Lake Nojiri is often described as one of Japan’s three major historic summer resorts for foreign residents and continues to attract visitors interested in a longer, slower stay surrounded by nature.
The area around Lake Nojiri contains numerous archaeological sites dating from the Upper Paleolithic period to the early Jomon period. Collectively known as the Lake Nojiri Archaeological Sites, they provide important evidence of prehistoric human activity in Japan.
Excavations around the lakeshore and beneath the lake have uncovered bones of Naumann elephants and giant deer, as well as stone tools and bone implements. These discoveries provide an extraordinary glimpse into the environment and human life of prehistoric Japan.
The Lake Nojiri Naumann Elephant Museum introduces visitors to these archaeological discoveries. Its exhibits focus on the remains of Naumann elephants and other Ice Age animals, together with tools and artifacts left by prehistoric people.
For travelers interested in archaeology, paleontology, or the ancient history of Japan, the museum offers a fascinating complement to the natural scenery of the lake.
There are several theories about the formation of Lake Nojiri. One proposes that volcanic material from Mt. Madarao blocked the valley at its base. Another suggests that a mudflow caused by an eruption of Mt. Kurohime created a natural dam, followed by geological uplift on the western side.
Although the exact process remains the subject of different theories, the lake’s formation is closely connected with the region’s volcanic activity and geological changes.
The lake was once called Shinanojiriko, a name that gradually changed into the present name, Nojiri. Because its irregular shoreline has been compared with the leaves and flowers of a lotus, the lake has also been given poetic names such as Fuyoko and Hasuko.
There is also a theory that the place name “Nojiri” developed from Numajiri, referring to the open area at the western end of the lake.
Lake Nojiri is designated under Japan’s Special Measures Law for the Preservation of Lake Water Quality, which requires measures to protect its water environment. The lake is also located within the Myoko-Togakushi Renzan National Park.
Because the surrounding area has experienced relatively limited industrial development, Lake Nojiri retains a valuable natural environment. The lake and its surrounding forests continue to provide an important setting for recreation, research, and wildlife.
Lake Nojiri has no large rivers flowing directly into it, and the surrounding area has relatively little industrial development. As a result, layers of sediment on the lake bottom preserve valuable information about past environmental conditions.
Research has shown that the lake’s water level changed eight times over the past approximately 45,000 years. Studies indicate that water levels rose during colder periods, providing clues about ancient climate conditions.
The sediments can also reveal traces of human activity. Researchers have studied concentrations and deposits of metals such as copper, lead, and zinc to investigate changes in the environment and the influence of human activity over time.
Lake Nojiri plays an important practical role as a source of irrigation water. Together with Sasagamine Dam and Lake Otomi, its water is conveyed through the Ikejiri River system to agricultural land downstream along the Seki River.
The lake has therefore been important not only as a scenic destination but also as a water resource supporting agriculture in the surrounding region.
Approximately 80 years ago, more than 15 species of fish were recorded in Lake Nojiri, including catfish, stone loaches, loaches, crucian carp, and carp. Local fishery activities and stocking programs later introduced species such as smelt, kokanee salmon, and crucian carp.
Fishing traditions have changed over time, from net fishing for Japanese dace to winter ice fishing for smelt and fishing from specialized boats. These changing practices reflect the evolving relationship between the local community and the lake.
In 1978, approximately 5,000 grass carp were released into the lake as a measure against excessive aquatic vegetation. The fish removed most of the underwater vegetation within about three years, but the change also contributed to significant declines in shrimp and crucian carp.
From 1996, Nagano Prefectural research organizations and local volunteers began efforts to restore aquatic vegetation. These activities have aimed to improve the lake ecosystem while taking into account the ecological effects of grass carp.
Largemouth bass were identified in Lake Nojiri in the late 1980s, followed by bluegill and smallmouth bass in the 1990s. From 1995, some of these fish were designated as targets for lure fishing as part of tourism promotion, while fishing for them was prohibited for three years beginning in 2009.
The history illustrates how the lake’s ecosystem has changed through a combination of natural processes, fish stocking, tourism, and environmental management.
Lake Nojiri has also played an unusual role in Japan’s history of hydroelectric power. The Ikejiri River Power Station, operated by Tohoku Electric Power, uses water from Lake Nojiri to generate up to 2,340 kW of electricity.
In winter, the lake’s water level tends to fall. During the snowmelt season, water can be pumped back into the lake to help secure water for agricultural use. The system therefore combines the functions of hydroelectric power generation and water management.
The facility began operating in 1934 and is regarded as Japan’s first pumped-storage power station. It was constructed based on a concept developed by Kunitomo Suezo, an important figure in the development of the project.
One convenient route is to travel to Kurohime Station on the Shinano Railway’s Kita-Shinano Line. From the station, take a Nagaden Bus service, such as an express, sightseeing loop, or community transport bus, to Nojiri-ko Iriguchi. The journey takes approximately 30 minutes.
Another option is to travel by the Hokuriku Shinkansen and JR Iiyama Line to Iiyama Station, then continue by express bus toward Lake Nojiri.
Lake Nojiri is much more than a beautiful mountain lake. Its waters have supported agriculture and hydroelectric power, while its shores preserve traces of prehistoric human activity and the history of Japan’s early international summer-resort culture.
At the same time, the lake remains a wonderful place for leisure. Visitors can cruise to Biwajima Island, enjoy canoeing or SUP in summer, fish for smelt from a heated dome boat in winter, or admire the panoramic landscape from Lake Nojiri Terrace.
Surrounded by the mountains of northern Nagano, Lake Nojiri brings together volcanic landscapes, ancient archaeology, international history, outdoor activities, and local livelihoods in one remarkable destination.
Whether you come for the mountain scenery, the changing colors of the seasons, the excitement of water sports, or the fascinating story hidden beneath the lake’s surface, Lake Nojiri offers travelers a chance to experience a deeper side of rural Japan.