Fishing season is now open. From May to September, fishermen come together at Yunoko Lake for trout fishing. They step into the water up to their waists and… wait. The silhouette of a fisherman and the mountain range is illusory and beautiful.
Outline of Yunoko Lake
Yunoko Lake is a 3km round lovely lake in inner Nikko. Yumoto-onsen is situated north of the lake. A good walking trail goes around the lakeshore, and rental boats are available at the Nikko-Yumoto Rest House on the lake and near the Kohan-mae bus stop.
About Fishing
During fishing season you can enjoy fishing from 5AM to 5PM for 2000 yen to 3600 yen (depending on the month and the location) per day. The rule is “catch and release”. We are strictly prohibited from taking fish out of the lake. Brook trout, rainbow trout, and Japanese pond smelt can all be caught here, as well as a few other types of fish.
Hiking course
A round trip hike around Yunoko Lake takes about one hour. The west side of the lake passes through a conifer forest. The ground is soft and comfortable with dead leaves as a cushion. The lake shown between the trees changes faces as you move along.
The view of the lake
This innermost lake of Nikko is calm and quiet. The trail of the east side of the lake is parallel to Route 120, so you’ll hear some car noise. But the west side has kept its tranquil beauty. When we started our walk, it was drizzling. We saw a few fishermen along the north shore. They naturally merged into the view. A fog had set in. The leaves with raindrops were colored fresh green. I stopped walking, trying to catch the sound of a fisherman casting his line, but it seemed to be absorbed by the mystic foggy rain. Complete silence surrounded the lake.
We saw some fallen timbers in the south corner of the lake. Complicated branch shapes reflected on the water surface, and the rain blurred their image. Thin twigs collected water drops creating tiny lenses. These were all gifts that the rain brought us.
Togoku-mitsuba-tsutsuji (Rhododendron Wadanum, a kind of azalea) and Azuma-shakunage (Rhododendron mettermichii) were in full bloom here. Their purple pink flowers and whitish pink flowers swayed in the gentle breeze.
