Lake Towada’s beauty can certainly be appreciated from the lakeside. Although the lakeside view that you will get from the Lake Towada Pleasure Boat ((十和田湖遊覧船)) is a completely different level, it will definitely be a memory that will last a lifetime (=ﾟωﾟ)ﾉ. Once you board the boat, you will be introduced to a 50-minute scenic show!
Just by sitting on the boat, all the popular spots around the lake can be viewed. Imagine having a picture with the ruby blue Lake Towada and the mighty Mt. Ogura Cliff, Nakayama Peninsula, or the Towada Shrine as a backdrop. It is worth the effort of the long travel just for these photos!
We recommend course A. Nenokuchi, the starting point of the famous Oirase Gorge, which is located a bit north of the Urarube area. As the boat goes across Lake Towada and arrives at Yasumiya, the area you will pass by would be through a larger portion of the lake than course B.
Course A is marked in red on the map (in Japanese only) on the Official Website. With the same amount of money and time, we would rather be able to see the lakeside from various angles. Not to mention that if we are coming from Oirase Gorge and intend to stay at Yasuhiya for the night, course A would have saved us the effort of having to walk all the way from Nenokuchi to Yasumiya (which is an additional 2 hours walk after that 5 hours trekking (;´∀｀)).
If you ever wondered how they transported that big boat to Lake Towada, the boat actually didn’t arrive in one piece back then. It was built and tested for safety at a coastal shipyard which was then re-assembled at Lake Towada (‘ω’)ノ.
Towada Pleasure Boat Fare
The adult fare is 1,650 yen.
Elementary school students cost 800 yen to board.
Note the cheaper price listed on the official website is for grouped tourists. So if you are in a group of 15 people or more, that discount applies to you!
If you prefer a more comfortable place on the boat, with only 550 yen (330 yen for primary school kids), you will be able to stay in the VIP area – Green Room. The Green Room is located on the third floor of the pleasure boat. The floor has the best view, and an air conditioner is equipped!
Please note most of services only operate between the end of April and mid-November. In 2024, the season starts on the 26th of April.
Tip: If the pleasure boat is on your itinerary, fill in and print out their internet form HERE to get 100 yen off (50 yen for kids) per person! Note that this coupon applies up to a maximum of 5 people only, with the coupon being valid +/- 3 days from the intended boarding date you chose. The form is in Japanese, so translate it with Google Chrome’s translation function at the right of the address bar (=ﾟωﾟ)ﾉ.
Towada Pleasure Boat’s Access Information
Depending on which course you choose, please get your tickets and board at the following locations:
Nenokuchi: JR House Nenokuchi (子ノ口港 – 十和田湖遊覧船)
Yasumiya: Lake Towada Pleasure Boat Reservation Center (十和田湖遊覧船予約センター)
Explore the Areas Around Lake Towada
Click the photo for more information about the attractions around Lake Towada!
Lake Towada isn’t just a beautiful lake that straddles both Aomori and Akita Prefecture in Northeastern Japan. Whether you prefer water sports, stroll around the virgin forest, or just like to eat, Lake Towada is a destination for everyone!
For more information, refer to our article on Lake Towada!
