About this location: Lake Mashu
Lake Mashu, with world-class water clarity, is a caldera lake famed as the 'Misty Mashu'. Mist blanketing the surface is otherworldly; on clear days, the cobalt blue ('Mashu Blue') viewed from lookouts is mesmerizing.
Key features
- Mashu Daiichi Tenbodai (First Observatory) — at 670 m elevation, the standard overlook with parking and a rest house
- Mashu Daisan Tenbodai (Third Observatory) — at 800 m, higher than the first; closed in winter, but offers views all the way to Lake Kussharo
- Mashu Blue — the cobalt-blue water on clear days, especially around midday when the sun is highest
- «Misty Mashu» — the mystical sight of mist covering the surface, present about 70% of the year (with only 30% clear viewing)
- Mt. Mashu (857 m) — the outer caldera rim, climbable (4-hour round trip) for a unique angle looking down on the lake
