Miyagase is a lake within the Aiko District of Kanagawa,located between Sagamihara and Atsugi. The lake offers views of Tanzawa Mountains, including Mount Hiru. The lake is a man-made reservoir and formed by the Miyagase Dam. Surroundings of Miyagase Lake is full of attractions for visitors and walking paths.

At first, I got to the west side of the lake, where there are many restaurants, shops nad other facilities. When you walk down the 120 steps, you get to the large open grassy area. This is a good place for the kids and adults to run around, play frisbee, or fly kites. On a sunny day, you can make a picnic here as well. Except of the lake’s view, there is a charming park around there with a pond, where live many ducks and sometimes fountain is working too. However, the most impressive spot is a long and narrow bridge suspended over the Lake and the pond. When you come on the bridge, you can fell, that it swings and it’s a litlle bit unsteable. For people with fear of heights, crossing the bridge may be kind of scarry experience, but for me it was very exciting attraction. I was on the Miyagase Lake in November, when colorful autumn leafs are seen. Probably in autumn or spring the place is more beautiful, than usually, but I think, that it’s worth visiting regardless of season. Also, if you go during the Christmas season you can enjoy the Christmas light-up. A 30 meter tall fir tree is festooned with 10,000 lights and there is a Christmas lights arch.

Later, we came to watch the Miyagase Dam. 156 meters high, the huge, concrete dam is surrounded by nature and autumn leafs in November. Unfortunately dam water is open for visitors only few times a week and I didn’t see falling water, but it was worh seeing anyways. You can go down to the bottom section by elevator or ropeway and watch the dam from the close bridge. The views from the dam are awesome. If you have ever been in Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia, color of water in Miyagase Dam area is just like a color of the Plitvice Lakes. Also, there is hidden waterfall in the dam’s surroundings, don’t forget to find it!

Summary

Miyagase Lake is really worth visiting tourist spot. If you want to go there without a car, you can use a little “train” that you can take from the base of the dam back to the visitor center if you don’t want to walk back. If you like beautiful views of nature places and interesting walking paths, you should definietly come here!

Weronika Golubska

Information

*Please check for the latest information before visiting.

* This article was written by a trainee from overseas. Please note that there might be spelling and grammar mistakes.