Oirase Stream and Lake Towada Nature Walk Course

The Oirase Stream runs only about fourteen kilometers from Lake Towada, yet it packs in waterfalls large and small, moss covered rocks, and a riverside path, making it a natural gallery best enjoyed on foot. Its source, Lake Towada, is a mysterious body of water born from a double caldera. This one day course walks along the stream and then rests by the lake, immersing you fully in nature.

Course Route

9:00 Start at Yakeyama, the Oirase entrance The trailhead of the riverside path. From here you walk beside the clear water.

9:30 The Ashura rapids A wild, symbolic stretch of the Oirase where cameras rarely stop clicking.

11:00 Turn back at Choshi Otaki Falls The only waterfall on the main stream, roaring and drenched in spray.

12:00 Lunch near Nenokuchi Eat at Nenokuchi, where the stream ends, then head on to Lake Towada.

13:30 Lake Towada sightseeing boat See the full sweep of the quiet caldera lake from the water.

15:00 Maiden statue and Yasumiya The lakeside symbol of Towada, with a statue by the sculptor Kotaro Takamura.

16:00 End of the walk Fill your lungs with the clear air and start for home.

Highlights

The charm of the Oirase lies above all in the ever changing faces of the water. White spray leaping over rocks, still deep pools, streams that split into many threads. Fresh greenery and autumn leaves reclothe it each season, so it never grows dull no matter how often you come. Lake Towada is remarkably clear, and the contrast of sky and mountains mirrored on its surface is superb.

Access and Tips

The riverside path has little slope and walks easily, but covering the whole route takes several hours. A smart approach is to use the bus and focus on select sections. Good shoes and a light jacket, even in summer, bring peace of mind. Roads are crowded in autumn leaf season, so an early departure is best.

A Quick Tip

Pause often along the stream and listen closely to the sound of the water. The slower you walk, the more deeply the beauty of the Oirase reveals itself.