Lake Chūzenji, Landslide-dammed lake in Nikko, Japan
Lake Chūzenji is a dammed body of water inside Nikko National Park. The water covers an area over ten square kilometers and is framed by forested mountain slopes.
A volcanic eruption around twenty thousand years ago sent lava flows to block the river and shape this basin. Shodo Shonin reached the water in the eighth century and transformed the area into a religious center.
Diplomats built summer residences along the shore during the Meiji era after long-standing religious prohibitions were lifted. The area grew into a retreat from the lowland heat, reflected in the charming villas and guesthouses.
Buses run regularly from Nikko Station and take just under an hour through winding roads. Trails along the shore offer different difficulty levels and several lookout points with views of the water and surrounding peaks.
The shore sits over twelve hundred meters above sea level and is higher than any other large natural body of water in Japan. European and American envoys built summer houses along the coast in the Meiji era, and some can still be visited today.
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