Hello, this is _hiroyuki.ta. This time, I went on a motorcycle tour from central Tokyo to Lake Chuzenji in Tochigi Prefecture. Lake Chuzenji is a beautiful lake located in Nikko National Park, surrounded by abundant natural scenery such as Senjogahara and Kegon Falls. In this article, we will introduce what kind of place Lake Chuzenji is, the route we took to get there, the highlights of Lake Chuzenji, and the motorcycle parking lot. So let’s take a look.
Lake Chuzenji is a volcanic dam lake located in Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture, at an altitude of approximately 1270 meters. The lake has an area of approximately 4.7 square kilometers and a maximum depth of 163 meters. The Nikko mountain range rises around the lake, and you can enjoy colorful scenery in each season. Especially during the autumn leaves season, the red and yellow trees reflected on the surface of the lake create a magical beauty.
Lake Chuzenji is a tourist destination that forms the core of Nikko National Park, and the surrounding area is dotted with natural spots such as Senjogahara and Kegon Falls, as well as historical buildings such as Nikko Toshogu Shrine and Futarasan Shrine. I am. There are also hot spring inns, restaurants, and souvenir shops along the lake. At Lake Chuzenji, you can take a tour on a sightseeing boat or rent a boat, or enjoy activities such as fishing and hiking.
Route to Lake Chuzenji
This time, I went on a motorcycle tour from central Tokyo to Lake Chuzenji. My favorite car is a Harley-Davidson FLSB Sport Glide.
The starting point is Nihonbashi Hakozakicho. From here, take the Shuto Expressway No. 6 Mukojima Line and enter the Tohoku Expressway. The Tohoku Expressway runs approximately 130 kilometers to Utsunomiya IC. During this section, you can take a break at Kawaguchi SA in Kawaguchi City, Saitama Prefecture, Shimono SA in Shimotsuke City, Tochigi Prefecture, etc.
From Utsunomiya IC, enter Nikko Utsunomiya Road. Nikko Utsunomiya Road is a toll road of about 30 kilometers that ends at Kiyotaki IC in Nikko City. On this road, you can take a break at places such as Nikko SA in Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture, and Nasu-Shiobara PA in Nasu-Shiobara City, Tochigi Prefecture.
From Kiyotaki IC, enter National Route 120. National Route 120 is a road that passes through Nikko National Park, providing convenient access to tourist spots such as Lake Chuzenji and Senjogahara. On this road, you can take a break at Lake Chuzenji PA in Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture, Senjogahara PA in Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture, etc.
After driving about 14 kilometers on National Route 120, you will arrive at Lake Chuzenji. The journey takes approximately 3 and a half hours. The distance is approximately 180 kilometers.
Highlights of Lake Chuzenji
Lake Chuzenji has a variety of natural and historical attractions. I will introduce some of them below.
pleasure boat
At Lake Chuzenji, you can take a pleasure boat and enjoy the surrounding scenery from the lake. The pleasure boat departs from the pleasure boat pier on the shore of Lake Chuzenji and takes a round trip course of approximately 50 minutes. From the pleasure boat, you can see spectacular views of famous places such as Senjogahara and Kegon Falls, as well as the peaks of the Nikko Mountain Range. Pleasure boats operate all year round, allowing you to enjoy Lake Chuzenji’s different expressions depending on the season.
Kegon Falls is a waterfall that spans the Otani River flowing from Lake Chuzenji, and is one of the three famous waterfalls in Japan. The height of the waterfall is about 97 meters and the width is about 13 meters
Kegon Falls is one of the highlights of Lake Chuzenji. The water from the waterfall flows into the Otani River, which flows from Lake Chuzenji. The height of the waterfall is about 97 meters and the width is about 13 meters. The name of the waterfall comes from the Buddhist scripture Kegon Sutra, and it is said that it was named by Shodo Shonin, the founder of Rinnoji Temple in Nikko.
To feel the power of the waterfall even more, we recommend walking along the promenade that takes you down to the basin of the waterfall. The promenade starts from the entrance to Kegon Falls on the shore of Lake Chuzenji and takes about 15 minutes to reach the basin of the waterfall. The promenade is well-maintained, with stairs and bridges, but there are some steps and slopes, so we recommend wearing comfortable shoes. Along the promenade, you can enjoy the flow of the Otani River and the surrounding nature.
As you approach the basin of the waterfall, you can feel the spray of water and feel cool. There is an observation deck and benches at the waterfall basin. From the observation deck, you can get a panoramic view of the waterfall. The water from the waterfall shines blue and white, creating a beautiful contrast to the greenery of the Nikko Mountains. You can take a break on the bench while enjoying the sound of the waterfall and the breeze. You can enjoy taking photos and videos at the waterfall basin, but please be careful of the water spray.
Kegon Falls can be seen all year round, but each season has a different charm. The cherry blossoms and fresh greenery are beautiful in the spring, and the cool scenery spreads out in the summer. In autumn, the leaves become brightly colored, and in winter, snow and ice create a magical atmosphere. Especially in winter, the water from the waterfall can freeze into an icefall. Icefalls are a very rare phenomenon and you are lucky if you can see them.
Motorcycle parking lot at Lake Chuzenji
You won’t have any trouble finding a place to park your bike at Lake Chuzenji. There are several paid parking lots along the shore of Lake Chuzenji. I will introduce some of them below.
Lake Chuzenji parking lot
Chuzenji Lakeside Parking is the parking lot next to Chuzenji Lakeside PA. This parking lot is conveniently located near the sightseeing boat pier and rental boat pier. You can also use restrooms and restaurants at Chuzenji Lakeside PA.
Kegon Falls parking lot
The Kegon Falls parking lot is located near the Kegon Falls entrance. This parking lot is convenient for going to Kegon Falls, Senjogahara, etc. You can also use the restrooms and souvenir shop at the Kegon Falls entrance.
Nikko Toshogu Parking Lot
Nikko Toshogu Parking Lot is a parking lot located near the main gate of Nikko Toshogu Shrine. This parking lot is convenient for going to Nikko Toshogu Shrine, Futarasan Shrine, etc. You can also use the restrooms and restaurants at Nikko Toshogu Shrine.
Summary
This time, I went on a motorcycle tour from central Tokyo to Lake Chuzenji. Lake Chuzenji is a wonderful tourist destination full of nature and history. At Lake Chuzenji, we were able to enjoy sightseeing boats and Kegon Falls. Also, finding a place to park the bike was no problem. I think Lake Chuzenji is a perfect spot for motorcycle touring. Please come and visit us at least once.
The above was sent to you by _hiroyuki.ta. Next time we look forward to.
