As the sun sinks behind the ridgeline and the wind fades, the lake’s surface stills, and trees are reflected in the deep navy blue water.
At Lake Shusen in Semboku City, shoreline trees are partially inundated during the snowmelt season from late April. By early June, when the meltwater recedes, this seasonal landscape disappears.
According to Semboku City’s tourism division, the partially submerged forest went largely unnoticed by locals until it gained attention on social media around seven to eight years ago.
In recent years, it has attracted growing numbers of tourists and photographers, including many from overseas. Kayak tours through the flooded forest have also been introduced, contributing to local revitalization.
Kayak tours through the submerged forest are also popular.
A Fleeting Sight
Lake Shusen is an artificial lake created in 1957 with the construction of the Yoroihata Dam. Its vivid cobalt blue surface is thought to result from aluminum particles carried downstream from the highly acidic Tamagawa Onsen area, which selectively reflect blue wavelengths of sunlight.
During this season, a bridge along National Route 341 that crosses the submerged forest becomes a popular photo spot. However, illegal roadside parking often causes traffic congestion, and the city is urging visitors not to stop their vehicles there.
Shoreline trees partially submerged in Lake Shusen’s emerald-green waters. The scene is expected to return around May 2032.
Large-scale renovation work is planned at the Yoroihata Power Station, which is associated with the Yoroihata Dam. According to the Akita Prefecture Tamagawa Power Office, Lake Shusen’s water level is expected to remain low year-round for the next six years. As a result, the submerged forest is expected to disappear from view starting next year and may not reappear until around May 2032.
Watch scenes from the lake.
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(Read the article in Japanese.)
Author: Masamichi Kirihara, The Sankei Shimbun
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AloJapan.com