AkitaLeisure

Lake Tazawa Kunimasu Museum

Flow of the course

About 50 min here

About 15 min to the next stop

Next stop: Visit a Shrine with a Vermillion Torii Gate by the Lake

About this spot

Lake Tazawa was once home to Kunimasu, a freshwater salmon species endemic to Japan, but it was believed to have become extinct due to acidification of the water from post-war hydroelectric power channels. However, in 2010, its survival was confirmed in the distant Lake Nishi in Yamanashi Prefecture, making it a major topic. The Lake Tazawa Kunimasu Museum presents the history of Kunimasu and the nature of Lake Tazawa in an easy-to-understand manner through aquarium displays and videos. It's a family-friendly facility where you can also learn about the lake's future environmental conservation. The interior is cool, making it perfect for taking a refreshing break before swimming.

Tips

About 10 minutes by car from Lake Tazawa Swimming Beach. The museum is not very large, so even if you take your time, you can see everything in less than an hour. On summer mornings it's relatively uncrowded, allowing visitors with children to explore at a leisurely pace.