十和田湖 | Lake Towada
十和田湖（とわだこ）は、神秘の湖と言われ、青森県と秋田県にまたがる湖で、約2,000年前の火山活動で出来た、すり鉢状のくぼ地に水がたまった典型的な二重式カルデラ湖です。
日本の湖沼としては、最大水深は326.8mで第3位、面積では12番目の大きさを誇ります。
新緑は5月～6月、紅葉は10月上旬に色づき始め、10月中旬～下旬頃が見頃です。冬の十和田湖も幻想的で、四季それぞれの景観美を楽しめる観光地です。
Lake Towada, also known as “Mysterious Lake,” straddles Aomori and Akita Prefectures. It is a typical double caldera lake with a mortar-shaped depression filled with water, created by volcanic activity approximately 2,000 years ago. It is the third largest lake in Japan with a maximum depth of 326.8 meters, and the 12th largest in terms of area. The best time to view the lake is from May to June for the fresh green leaves and from mid to late October for the autumn leaves, which begin to change color in early October. Lake Towada in winter is also a fantastic sightseeing spot where visitors can enjoy the beauty of the scenery in each of the four seasons.
十和田湖の景色はこちらの動画をご覧ください。| Watch the Movie
十和田湖の成り立ち | The Origin of Lake Towada
十和田湖は火山活動により形成された典型的な二重カルデラ湖で、御鼻部山(1,011m)、十和田山(1,054m)、赤岩山(786m)、現頭倉(885m)、岩岳(880m)など600~1,000mの外輪山に囲まれています。
十和田火山の始まりは20~15万年前で、はじめは比較的やわらかく流れやすい溶岩や火山灰を噴出していましたが、次第に激しい活動へ変わり、中でも4万年前~1万3千年前頃に起きた２〜３回の巨大噴火は火砕流が周囲の山々を中腹まで埋め、八戸、津軽南部など広く分布しました。度重なる膨大な火砕流を放出したため、十和田火山体の陥没が進み、ほぼ四角形の水を蓄えた十和田湖の原型ができました。
1万2千~1万1千年前、十和田湖南半分で火山活動が再開されて新しい火山が誕生します。８千５百年前頃(縄文時代早期)には火山体の中腹以上を吹き飛ばしてしまうような大噴火が起き、残された中山、御倉両半島を囲むように深いくぼ地ができ、最深部327mの「中湖」が誕生します。
2千年前頃(弥生時代中期)と915年(平安時代)の２回、御倉半島で大規模な噴火が起こり、東方地域を中心に軽石や火山灰を降らせます。特に915年の噴火では火砕流が発生し、秋田県の米代川流域に大規模な土石流をもたらし多くの住居を埋没させます。(北秋田市の胡桃館遺跡など。)この噴火直後に火口からせりあがった溶岩ドームがドーム状の御倉山を生成し、現在の十和田湖の姿となりました。
Lake Towada is a typical double caldera lake formed by volcanic activity, and is surrounded by 600~1,000m high outer ring of mountains including Mt.
Towada Volcano began 200,000 to 150,000 years ago, and at first it spewed lava and volcanic ash that was relatively soft and easy to flow, but it gradually became more active, especially during the two or three massive eruptions that occurred between 40,000 and 13,000 years ago, when pyroclastic flows spread over the surrounding mountains. It was widely distributed in Hachinohe, southern Tsugaru, and other areas. The repeated release of enormous pyroclastic flows caused the Towada volcanic body to cave in, forming the original shape of Lake Towada, a nearly square-shaped reservoir of water.
Around 12,000 to 11,000 years ago, volcanic activity resumed in the southern half of Lake Towada and a new volcano was born. 8,500 years ago (Early Jomon Period), a major eruption occurred that blew away the middle of the volcanic body and the surrounding Nakayama and Mikura Peninsulas, which were left behind. A hollow was formed, giving birth to “Lake Nakako,” which is 327 meters deep at its deepest point.
Around 2,000 years ago (mid-Yayoi period) and again in 915 (Heian period), large-scale eruptions occurred on the Mikura Peninsula, showering pumice and volcanic ash mainly on the eastern area. In particular, the 915 eruption produced pyroclastic flows that caused massive mudslides in the Yoneshiro River basin in Akita Prefecture, burying many dwellings. (e.g., the Gurumikan site in Kita-Akita City.) Immediately after this eruption, the lava dome that rose up from the crater produced the dome-shaped Mount Mikura, which became the present-day Lake Towada.
敢湖台・御鼻部山展望台 | Kanko-dai and Mt. Ohanabe Observatory
敢湖台 | Kanko-dai
敢湖台(かんこだい)は、十和田湖の最も深い中湖(なかのうみ)に面した標高583mの断崖絶壁の上にあり、右に御倉半島、左に中山半島がせり出し、眼下に広がる中湖では遊覧船が行き交うのが見られる絶好の景観ポイントです。
Kankodai is located on top of a 583-meter-high cliff facing Lake Towada’s deepest lake, NakanoUmi, with the Ogura Peninsula on the right and the Nakayama Peninsula on the left, and a sightseeing boat passing by on the lake below.
御鼻部山展望台 | Mt. Ohanabe Observatory
御鼻部山展望台は十和田湖を車道から望む外輪山の最高点(標高1,011m)にあり、正面に御倉半島と中山半島が湖面を抱くように突き出し、広々とした十和田湖の全景が見渡せます。天気の良い日には、遠く岩手山や八幡平の山並みを望むことができます。
The Ogura Peninsula and Nakayama Peninsula protrude out in front of the observatory as if embracing the lake, and a panoramic view of spacious Lake Towada can be seen. On fine days, the view of Mt. Iwate and the Hachimantai Mountains can be seen in the distance.
紫明亭展望台 | Shimeitei Observatory
東北自動車道小坂ICから県道2号(通称：樹海ライン)を十和田湖方面へ向かう途中、国道103号と合流する手前にある展望台。
標高630メートルあり、正面に十和田カルデラの御鼻部山、さらにその後方には南八甲田の山々ものぞめ、中山・御倉の両半島が重なって横たわり十和田湖がハート型に見える事からパワースポットと言われています。
また、ここからの景色はかつて「日本八景」にも選ばれ、十和田湖が第1位になったことを記念した碑も建てられており、春は新緑、秋は紅葉と彩りをかえた十和田湖を楽しむ事ができます。
The observatory is located on Prefectural Route 2 (commonly known as “Jukai Line”) from the Kosaka IC of the Tohoku Expressway, on the way toward Towadako, just before the road merges with National Route 103.
It is 630 meters above sea level, and is said to be a “power spot” because of its view of the Towada Caldera, Mt.
The view from here was once selected as one of the “Eight Views of Japan,” and a monument commemorating the fact that Lake Towada was ranked first has been erected, allowing visitors to enjoy the changing colors of Lake Towada, with fresh greenery in spring and autumn leaves in fall.
休屋および周辺 | Yasumiya and surroundings
休屋は十和田湖観光の中心地で、青森、八戸、弘前、鹿角方向へ向かうバスの発着点となり、お土産店、食堂、ホテル、民宿が立ち並び、湖畔で一番賑わいを見せている場所です。
Yasumiya is the center of sightseeing in Lake Towada, and is the arrival and departure point for buses heading to Aomori City, Hachinohe City, Hirosaki City, and Kazuno Town. It is the busiest place by the lake, with souvenir stores, restaurants, hotels, and guest houses.
乙女の像 と 十和田神社 | Maiden of Statue and Towada Shrine
湖畔沿いの遊歩道を進むと高村光太郎作の「乙女の像」、修験者の修行の場として栄えていた「十和田神社」があり、湖の景色や自然観察を楽しみながら歩くことができます。
乙女の像付近の砂浜は「御前ケ浜（ごぜんがはま）」といい、すぐ目の前に見える島は「恵比寿・大黒島」と言います。
Along the lakeside promenade you will find the “Maiden of Statue” by Kotaro Takamura and the Towada Shrine, which once flourished as a place for ascetic practices by ascetic practitioners, where you can enjoy the scenery of the lake and nature observation.
The sandy beach near the statue of the maiden is called “Gozen-ga-hama,” and the island just in front of it is called “Ebisu-Daikokujima.
十和田湖遊覧船
十和田湖遊覧船の２つの周遊コースがあり、休屋から子ノ口まで行く片道のAコース。休屋から湖を周遊して50分かけて戻ってくるBコースがあります。遊覧船乗り場も休屋、子ノ口と2箇所あります。
神田川と両国橋 | Kanda River and Ryogoku Bridge
休屋の南側には「神田川」という小さな川が流れ、ここが青森県と秋田県の県境になっており、河口付近には「両国橋」という橋が架かっています。
ここの地名は、昔ここが十和田神社で修行していた修験者たちの「籠り屋」であり、参詣に来た人々の休んだ場所であったところという意味からきており、明治時代になってから「休屋」と言われるようになったそうです。
A small river called “Kanda River” flows to the south of the “Yasumiya”, which is the border between Aomori and Akita prefectures, and there is a bridge called “Ryogoku Bridge” near the mouth of the river.
The name of this place is said to have come to mean “Yasumiya” in the Meiji era (1868-1912), as this was once a place where ascetic practitioners who came to Towada Shrine for ascetic training rested during their pilgrimage.
