Located in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, Lake Okama is situated in the crater of the Okama volcano, cleverly named for its resemblance to a traditional cooking pot.
Okama is a crater lake with a circumference of 1,000 meters and a depth of 27 meters. It is also known as Goshikinuma, or the “Five Color Lake,” due to the varying intensities of light that change the colors of the lake’s surface in this unique location.
Different seasons create varying colors and brightness of the lake’s water.
Okama is a popular tourist attraction in Japan. Visitors can enjoy the lush mountain scenery in the summer and admire the vibrant red leaves during the autumn months from September to November. The winter landscape here is also impressive, with snow forming walls over 10 meters high along the roads leading to the summit.
The picturesque lake situated in the volcano’s crater.
Located on the border of Miyagi and Yamagata Prefectures, the Zao Mountains—home to Lake Okama—have been voted one of the 100 most famous mountains in Japan.
The crater lake is surrounded by three mountains: Kattadake, Kumanodake, and Goshikidake, and together with the frost-covered trees, they create an iconic image of the Zao Mountains.
The five-colored lake changes its water colors from deep green to blue depending on the sunlight. The colors of the crater lake also captivate visitors as they can change based on different viewing angles. There is no life in the lake due to the high acidity of the water.
