Lake Nojiri [野尻湖]
Lake Nojiri
Lake Nojiri from a hill
Lake Nojiri is located about 20 km north of Nagano city.
It is at nearly the prefecture's border with Niigata Prefecture.
The lake is about 3 km from east to west and about 2 km from north to south in width.
And it is located at the level of 654 meters.
Around this lake, there are some beautiful mountains such as Mount Kurohime (2,053 m), Mount Myôkô (2,454 m) and Mount Madarao (1,382 m).
This lake was developed as a summer resort for foreigners in the 1920s by Daniel Norman (1864-1940), a Canadian missionary.
He had already developed Karuizawa resort town in the 1900s, so he developed this lake after that.
Since that, here had been the resort area where many foreigners had visited.
The developed resort town is on the west coast of the lake, and is still the main area of the lake.
Pier of Lake Nojiri
Uga Shrine on Biwajima island
In summer, marine sports are popular.
And the pleasure boats are operated from late April to early November.
The boarding point is also near the resort town.
There is a small island named Biwajima about 400 meters off the boarding place, and Uga Shrine established in 730 is on the island.
The pleasure boat visits the island.
In winter, this lake doesn't freeze up although it is located in cold area.
So we can enjoy fishing of Japanese smelt by boat with heater.
In 1948, the tooth fossil of Naumann Elephant (Asian straight-tusked elephant which lived until about 20 thousand years ago) was discovered here.
And, by the following investigation, it was discovered that paleolithic men had been living here about 40 thousand years ago.
There is Nojiriko Naumann Elephant Museum in the resort town, and we can get the knowledge.
How to get here
By local train of Shinano Railway, about 35 minutes from Nagano to Kurohime.
Then, by route bus, about 12 minutes from Kurohime station to Lake Nojiri.
