Lake Gando | Review by 黃國棟

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Lake Gando

Japan's most beautiful artificial lake where you can enjoy smelt fishing on ice.

30 Sep 2026 See More

Lake Gando is acclaimed as one of the most beautiful man-made lakes in Japan.

In winter, when the lake freezes over, you can try the unique experience of ice fishing for wakasagi smelt, while fall offers completely different scenery.

This time, I happened to visit at the peak of the fall foliage season. The mountains were covered in orange-red, golden yellow, and deep green, all reflected on the lake. It was so beautiful that I couldn't stop taking pictures.

Unfortunately, it was cloudy on the day I visited, so the colors weren't as bright as they would have been in the sunlight. But the gray-blue sky actually made the fall colors look calmer and more layered.

Maybe it was because of the weather, but there were surprisingly few visitors that day. The entire lakeshore was very quiet, with only the sound of the wind passing through the treetops and the water gently rippling.

Without the crowds, Lake Gando had a special sense of autumn tranquility. Even on a cloudy day, the mountains, lake, and fall foliage before me still made me feel—this trip was truly worth it.

Other Reviews by 黃國棟

Morioka Hachimangu Shrine

It is said to have been built in Enpo 8 (1680) by Shigenobu Nanbu, the third lord of the Mutsu Morioka Domain. It is the prefecture's largest shrine, with 12 deities residing within its precincts.　Each shrine enshrines a deity closely related to daily life, such as agriculture, commerce, academics, food, clothing, and shelter.
- Iwate
- Shrines & Temples
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When visiting Morioka, you can’t miss the historic Morioka Hachimangu Shrine. It is said to have been established in 1062, and its main deity is Hondawake no Mikoto, also known as Emperor Ojin. It is a very important shrine in the Morioka area. Besides worshipping here, it is also considered a place closely connected to daily life, where you can feel a sense of peace and energy.

Visiting in the fall was perfect. The maple leaves had turned red, orange, and gold, and together with the old shrine buildings, they looked especially picturesque in the sunlight. What I liked most was that the weather was beautiful that day, the sky was deep blue, and there weren’t many visitors. The whole shrine felt less crowded and much more peaceful. Slowly walking along the approach, admiring the red maples and ginkgo trees, and feeling the autumn sunlight fall across the shrine grounds was truly relaxing.
Chuson-ji Temple

Chuson-ji Temple, founded in 850 AD, owns over 3,000 national treasures and important cultural properties and is also registered as a World Heritage site. This temple was built to transmit the powerful wish to comfort the spirits of those killed in the Tohoku War, no matter which side they were on.
- Iwate
- Shrines & Temples
30 Sep 2026 See More

Chuson-ji Temple, home to the magnificent National Treasure Konjikido, or Golden Hall, is an ancient temple with a history spanning a thousand years. It was also one of the most memorable places on this trip through Tohoku.

Starting from the entrance, I slowly walked uphill, surrounded by tall trees on both sides. Even when visiting in summer, it doesn’t feel too hot. As I strolled along, taking in the ancient temples and forest scenery, my pace naturally slowed down, and I felt much calmer as well. It really felt cleansing and allowed me to clear my mind.

Besides Chuson-ji’s main hall, there are many other distinctive temples and cultural sites throughout the grounds that you can explore at a leisurely pace. Of course, you can’t miss Konjikido. Its magnificent architectural details really convey the rich history of this thousand-year-old temple.

The amulets sold here are also very distinctive, with designs that are a little different from those usually seen at other temples. If you enjoy collecting amulets, it’s well worth choosing one to take home as a souvenir.

And in the fall, Chuson-ji is unbelievably beautiful! The red and golden leaves, ancient temple buildings, and forest paths come together like a Japanese autumn landscape painting.
Hanamaki Onsen Hotel Koyokan

A hot spring ryokan located in Hanamaki Onsenkyo, one of the Tohoku region’s leading hot spring areas. It offers a relaxing stay with extensive bathing facilities, including an open-air rock bath, pot baths, a spacious public bath, and a sauna. Guests can also enjoy a bath-hopping service at the large public baths of the neighboring sister hotels, Hotel Senshukaku and Hotel Hanamaki. The rose bath in the women’s public bath at Hotel Senshukaku is especially popular.
- Iwate
- Hotels
30 Sep 2026 See More

Coming to Hanamaki, Iwate, and staying at Hanamaki Onsen Hotel Koyokan is perfect for slowing down and fully enjoying a hot spring getaway. Hanamaki Onsen has three hotels:

Hotel Senshukaku, Hotel Hanamaki, and Hotel Koyokan. If you stay at any one of them, you can visit the hot springs at all three hotels. Each one has its own special features, so you can soak in each bath and experience a different atmosphere along the way. It's really satisfying for anyone who loves hot springs! This time, I stayed in a Japanese-style room at Hotel Koyokan. The room had a traditional Japanese design, with a comfortable amount of space and the distinctive atmosphere of a Japanese inn.

During the day, I took a walk nearby and admired the fall foliage. At night, I returned to the hotel and soaked in a steaming hot spring, slowly letting the fatigue from the trip melt away... Staying overnight at a hot spring hotel in Iwate during fall was such a treat!