[Zao Town, Miyagi Prefecture] The emerald green “Okama” is an exploding crater lake! Experience the power of life and death

Miyagi Prefecture is famous for its hot springs, skiing, and frost-covered trees. However, the most representative spot is "Okama" .

It's not a rice pot, but a giant natural pot. It is a crater and is a rare place where you can see a very beautiful emerald view.

It also became a hot topic for its resemblance to Lake Itomori from the blockbuster movie "Your Name." This time we will introduce this pot, which can be said to be a symbol of Miyagi.

What is Zao's pot?

Okama is a crater lake formed by a volcanic eruption. Crater lakes are created when rain and groundwater (hot springs) accumulate in a crater from which magma spews out.

This crater lake is so called because it looks like a cauldron because it is surrounded by a somma. Because the collected water contains hot spring ingredients, it has a very beautiful emerald green color. Because it changes colors depending on the sunlight, it has earned the nickname Goshikinuma.

The best spot to see the Okama is Mt. Katta next door.

Zao is counted as one of Japan's 100 Famous Mountains. About a 5-minute walk from the parking lot at the summit of Zao Kartadake, you can go to the observation deck where you can see the pot.

The pot itself is located on Mt. Goshiki. However, it goes without saying that you cannot see the big picture if you are in that location. Therefore, the neighboring summit of Mt. Kattadake is a popular spot to view the Okama.

How to access the pot (by car)

I use the "Zao Echo Line" from Shiroishi City in Miyagi Prefecture. From there, head to the Zao Karita Summit via the Zao High Line, which branches off.

Zao High Line is a toll road. 540 yen for a regular car. You can also take a bus from Shiroishi Zao Station. In this case, it will take approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes and cost 1,800 yen.

About a 2-minute walk from the Zao Karita Summit, you will arrive at the Zao Summit Rest House. There are toilets, a shop, and a place to take a break on the first floor, so we recommend taking a break here before heading to the pot.

There is a restaurant on the second floor, so you can also eat there. Of course the view is amazing. The most recommended menu item is the ``Kamakatsudon'' served in a pot.

If the volcanic gas or fog is severe, please wait patiently at the rest house.

Speaking of Zao, it is also famous for being a living mountain where volcanic activity is still continuing. As a result, there is a lot of volcanic gas, which forms a thick fog that sometimes covers the magnificent view of Okama in pure white.

In these cases, you may need to wait patiently. In such cases, this rest house will come in handy. Let's enjoy the view of the pot while eating Kama Katsudon and replenish your energy.

It is about a 2-minute walk from the rest house to the observation deck, which is a great spot to view the pot.

How to access the pot (if using a lift)

From the Yamagata Prefecture side, we recommend going by lift. After all, go through the "Zao Echo Line" and go to the "Zao Kogen Katta Parking Lot". From there, take the Katta Lift and head to Zao Katta Summit.

You can go to Okama while enjoying the spectacular view of Zao on the lift. A video of the view from the lift is posted on the official website.

Link: Trip to Yamagata – Zao Katta Lift

A round trip ticket for the lift is 750 yen. At Shimo Station, souvenirs and the famous Tama Konnyaku are sold. It has a deep brown egg and is said to be very delicious.

If you buy a round-trip ticket, you can have a souvenir photo taken of you riding the lift. They put it in an original Okama frame, and you can buy it for 1000 yen on your way home.

About a 15-minute walk from where you took the lift, you will arrive at the Okama Observation Deck. For those who don't want to walk much, it is better to go from the Zao High Line to the Zao Karita Summit.

Contrary to its appearance, the sea of ​​death and the explosive crater are impressive

The emerald green surface of the lake is so beautiful that you can see all kinds of creatures swimming gracefully. However, it is actually an acidic lake with a pH of about 3.5, so it is a dead lake with no living organisms.

However, the surrounding mountains are alive and well, and magma continues to breathe from the lake bed. It is called an explosion crater because it was created by a volcanic eruption.

As the name suggests, the cliffs surrounding the lake bear the scars of an eruption. Okama is a place where the beauty of nature, such as life and death, destruction and creation, leaves a great impact on the eyes.

The pot is a crater lake, not a caldera lake.

By the way, when you see a lake that accumulates in a crater like this, many people call it a caldera lake. However, strictly speaking, it is not a caldera lake but a crater lake.

Crater lakes are formed on a similar principle to caldera lakes: water collects in holes created by magma eruptions. The difference lies in the scale; crater lakes are smaller in area and depth than caldera lakes.

Points to note when going to the pot

Although the Zao High Line provides easy access to the summit, Mt. Katta is 1,754 meters above sea level. The climate is different from that of the lower regions, and the temperature can drop suddenly. The wind is also strong.

Don't forget warm clothes, comfortable walking shoes, and rain gear

Don't forget to bring warm clothing. The road leading to the rest house is paved and easy to walk, but there are some bumpy roads. It is safer to wear comfortable walking shoes, preferably hiking shoes. The weather can change easily, so don't forget your rain gear.

Since it's on top of a mountain, the sun is strong. It's also a good idea to have sunscreen.

You can only go to the pot from summer to autumn.

Okama cannot be accessed in winter. This is because the Zao Echo Line and Zao High Line are closed in winter due to snow.

Access is available from late April to early November. The exact start and end dates vary from year to year, depending on the weather. The opening in 2018 was April 27th.

Kattamine Shrine, where the deity moves in summer and winter

After about 10 minutes of climbing from the observation deck, you will reach the summit of Mt. Kattadake. Kattamine Shrine is located there. Nearby is a monument to Date Munetaka, the seventh son of Date Masamune.

Legend has it that when the Okama erupted, Date Munetaka climbed up with his followers and prayed. And he appeased the mountain's anger and delivered relief to the people he ruled over. Munetaka risked his life to climb the mountain and fulfilled his role, and is remembered as a famous prince along with the monument.

Kattamine Shrine is located not only at the top of the mountain, but also at Togatta Onsen at the foot of the mountain. The two are paired; the one at the top of the mountain is called Okumiya, and the one at Togatta Onsen is called Satomiya.

The reason there are two is because God is moving. In winter, it is difficult to visit the Okumiya at the top because it is covered in snow. Therefore, people moved their sacred objects to Satomiya (seasonal relocation) and commuted there during the winter. Then, in the summer, it is returned to its original location.

Tohoku Rokken trivia media: NEFT

Related article

[Miyagi Prefecture] Is there a deity that repeatedly moves between the mountaintop and foothills hot spring towns? Kattamine Shrine in Zao, Miyagi

https://jp.neft.asia/archives/34453

The Ou Mountains and Zao Mountain Range straddle Miyagi and Yamagata Prefectures. Did you know that there is a shrine on the Miyagi Prefecture side of the Zao Mountain Range whose deity repeatedly moves during the summer and winter? Kattamine Shrine located at the summit of Mt. Kattadake and Togatta Onsen Kattamine Shrine is a shrine located in the hot spring town of Togatta Onsen at the eastern foot of Mt. Kattadake on the Miyagi side of the Zao Mountain Range. It is paired with Kattamine Shrine, and the mountaintop side is called Okumiya, and the Togatta Onsen side is called Satomiya. By the way, there is another shrine in Zao Town called Kattamine Shrine (also known as Shiratori Daimyojin), but this one has a slightly different origin...

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The current transfer from Satomiya to Okumiya is being carried out in conjunction with the opening of the Zao Echo Line and Zao High Line mentioned above. That is, around the end of April.

The transfer from Okumiya to Satomiya is scheduled to take place on the first Sunday of October. It will be held as the "Goshintai Descendance Ceremony". This kind of seasonal relocation that takes place every year is rare even in Japan. Speaking of seasonal changes, we think of Kattamine Shrine.

Summary about the crater lake “Okama”

This time, we introduced Okama, a spot that represents Miyagi, which is famous for its particularly beautiful crater lake. The Zao Mountain Range has a different expression depending on the season, and is loved by many people.

Many people visit in the winter for skiing and sightseeing on the frost-covered trees, but it is also recommended to visit this hot pot in the summer and fall. The contrast between the beautiful emerald green lake and the rough exploding crater is very impactful and interesting.

There are also other attractions to enjoy, such as the legend of Munetaka Date and the existence of Kattamine Shrine, which has the unusual custom of seasonal transfers. Be sure to go before the Zao High Line closes.

Okama <Information>

• Name: Okama of Zao
• Address: Zao Okama, Kuraishidake National Forest, Togatta Onsen, Zao Town, Katta District, Miyagi Prefecture, 989-0916
• Phone number: 0224-34-2725 (Zao Town Tourist Information Center)
• Official URL: Zao Town Tourism Association

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