Excursion cruises on Nikko, Japan's beautiful Lake Chuzenji

[David Paul Appell]

In the historic, culturally rich, and breathtakingly scenic region of Nikko/Kinugawa Onsen, about two hours north of Tokyo via the TOBU railway, nature-oriented travelers should make time to experience spectacular Lake Chuzenji in the mountains just above the main Nikko UNESCO World Heritage temples and shrines travelers should not miss spectacular At 4,163 feet above sea level, the 535-foot deep, nearly 4½-mile-square Chuzenji-ko is the highest lake in Japan. 


Now the new excursion boat Nantai is taking travelers around the lake, showing off golden-and-crimson foliage, pink-and-white cherry blossoms, pink-and-fuchsia Japanese primroses, and dense greenery, depending upon the season. These seasonal displays of nature blanket sacred Mt. Nantai, whose eruptions created Lake Chuzenji at its foot nearly 20,000 years ago.

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