| ■Okama Lake
 Okama crater lake is located within the Zao Quasi-National Park, straddling the border of Yamagata and Miyagi prefectures. The Zao mountain range, a haunt of religious pilgrims for long centuries, is today one of Japan’s most popular hot springs and skiing destinations.
This is another destination that will take a bit of walking, and it’s best done in the summer hiking season. From Zao Onsen, two ropeways carry you up to Zao Jizo Sancho Station (it’s possible to hike the whole way up, if you prefer), 1,661 meters high and located between to of Zao-san’s peaks. From here, it’s about an hours walk over uneven ground to Okama, which means 'iron pot.' The walk itself is nearly as interesting as the destination, because of the rugged volcanic landscape you’ll cross over. Okama is a symbol of the area, a large and brilliantly hued crater lake whose color changes over the course of the day from deep emerald green to vivid blues.
>>Access
JR Shiraishi Zao station====(100 min. by bus)====Okama
>>Open Season
End of April - Early November
-Matt Mangham
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