Yamanashi

Kayaking on Lake Motosu

Enjoying water sports at the foot of Mount Fuji

Cathy Cawood Aug 17, 2015 - 1 min read

<p>You can see the volcanic rock in the background</p>

<p>The lake is surrounded by mountains</p>

<p>No Fuji view today, because the sky was too hazy</p>

<p>There were windsurfers and paddle boarders on the lake too</p>

<p>A pair of kayakers head out to open water</p>

If you own a kayak, where do you take it? I realize not many people have this problem, but several years ago I impulsively acquired an inflatable kayak. I used it on Lake Biwa a few times, but then I moved to Tokyo. One good option near Tokyo is Lake Motosu, one of the Fuji Five Lakes. On a summer day you can find kayakers, wind surfers and paddle boarders there. Except for the cute swan boat ferrying tourists back and forth there were no motorized boats on the lake. A parking area with a grassy area beside the lake and a shallow stony beach made setting up and launching easy. Sadly the haze completely hid Mount Fuji, but on clear days Lake Motosu offers a great view of the mountain. Another good place for kayaking is nearby Lake Saiko.

Cathy Cawood @cathy.cawood

I came to Japan in 2003 to teach English. I lived in Shiga prefecture for 1 year, and it still holds a special place in my heart. I lived in Kyoto for 9 years, then moved to Machida, Tokyo in 2014 after meeting my Japanese partner. I love to take photos, and my Japan in Pictures Facebook page ha...