Lake Kagami
Lake Kagami
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58 within 3 miles
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31 within 6 miles
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.0
184 reviews
Excellent
73
Very good
82
Average
27
Poor
1
Terrible
1
Shhhh
Hong Kong, China32 contributions
Dec 2022 • Friends
went there at early Dec 5 yrs ago. We planned to see the mountain range by the lake and then walked thu the forest to the Okusha shrine. When we reached the tourist centre, staff suggested not to go coz the day before kept snowing and there should piled up quite a bit of snow. But we insisted. We got off at the lake kagami bus stop. We were quite nervous when walking along the path to the lake coz there was only 2 of us. But the scene there was stunning! We stayed for a while to take some pics. Then we headed to the Okusha shrine. Snow covered everythings and we could barely see the trail. Luckily we followed footsteps on snow and could still check our location by GPS tho there was no mobile signal. When we saw rows of red torri gates, we knew we were on the right track. So please check the weather before u go when in winter. It can be tough. And from mid Dec to March 31st, buses will skip the stops from lake kagami to Okusha shrine.
Written January 13, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ong Alicia
Singapore, Singapore26 contributions
Oct 2019 • Friends
Kagami Ike meaning mirror pond is man made but is beautiful and peaceful. Really quiet with tranquility. There’s a nice cafe you should drop in at least for a drink, nice view from there. Good place to clam your mind.
Written April 18, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vanessa Y
Tokyo, Japan810 contributions
Oct 2012 • Couples
We didn't get a perfect day ... but the fog made it very mystical. It's easy to picture just how magical it would be on perfect Autumn day ... you'd probably have to beat the crowds, though!
Written October 24, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
dragonfly287
Larkspur, CA12 contributions
Oct 2014 • Couples
An absolutely breathtaking, serene, incredible place, especially amidst all the autumn colors. So glad we made the trek to visit!
Written November 1, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DLi_hk
Hong Kong, China16,507 contributions
Oct 2015 • Solo
"Kagami-ike" in japanese means mirror pond. Lucky that the wind was not so strong that i captured good reflections that day. fall foliage is abt 50%. Drove from Nagano city in abt 60 min. If via regular bus, need to walk about 20min from bus stop.
Written November 23, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Asterix135
Toronto, Canada203 contributions
Aug 2014 • Family
The pond itself is quite pretty, especially with the mountains in the background. I can see this being quite gorgeous in the fall. The hike there from the Okusha shrine gate is quite nice, and not at all difficult, going through some nice woods.
Written August 5, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Benjamin Ho
Singapore, Singapore318 contributions
Dec 2017 • Solo
I took what seemed to be an alternative route to Kagami-ike. I think there's no bus service there during the colder months as the roads on parts of the route are frozen over and difficult for buses to safely drive on. So you might have to walk along the road, or take the off-road trail (which cuts across the forest to another road) as I did. I took this trail as I didn't want to take the regular road up from Chu-sha and then have to backtrack. If you're going to do this, plan ahead for extra travel time as it begins to get dark here by 4.30pm.
I backtracked down partway from where I came from before I reach the Chu-sha, and followed a signboard pointing me toward a pathway into the forest. If you intend to trek by this route, your shoes should be waterproof, and also bring decent walking aids. There also might be bears so always beware. I noted a big pile of animal crap on the side of the trail. The trail may be covered with leaves and shrubs, so the path may not be distinct. You'll exit the trail after about 45 minutes of quick walking through uneven paths. Don't diverge or you'll get lost.
After a bit, you'll exit to a road. Follow it to Kagami-ike. Along the way you'll pass an alternate hiking trail to Kagami-ike. This route requires registration and apparently can be challenging as bears had been spotted. I saw weird tracks too. I went about halfway and turned back. If you're unnerved at the thought of going solo, I would discourage you from doing so.
When I reached Kagami-ike, the pond was mostly frozen over. But, the scenery was just beautiful with the sky so blue, and clear with a smattering of clouds. It was definitely, definitely an awesome reward after trekking such a long way. Had to walk a long way to Soba no mi for a late lunch afterward though since there wasn't a bus.
Remember to dress appropriately for the weather and the visits to the shrines :) Oh, and the toilets and restaurants in Kagami-ike's immediate area were not in operation and boarded up when I visited. So make sure you're prepped.
I backtracked down partway from where I came from before I reach the Chu-sha, and followed a signboard pointing me toward a pathway into the forest. If you intend to trek by this route, your shoes should be waterproof, and also bring decent walking aids. There also might be bears so always beware. I noted a big pile of animal crap on the side of the trail. The trail may be covered with leaves and shrubs, so the path may not be distinct. You'll exit the trail after about 45 minutes of quick walking through uneven paths. Don't diverge or you'll get lost.
After a bit, you'll exit to a road. Follow it to Kagami-ike. Along the way you'll pass an alternate hiking trail to Kagami-ike. This route requires registration and apparently can be challenging as bears had been spotted. I saw weird tracks too. I went about halfway and turned back. If you're unnerved at the thought of going solo, I would discourage you from doing so.
When I reached Kagami-ike, the pond was mostly frozen over. But, the scenery was just beautiful with the sky so blue, and clear with a smattering of clouds. It was definitely, definitely an awesome reward after trekking such a long way. Had to walk a long way to Soba no mi for a late lunch afterward though since there wasn't a bus.
Remember to dress appropriately for the weather and the visits to the shrines :) Oh, and the toilets and restaurants in Kagami-ike's immediate area were not in operation and boarded up when I visited. So make sure you're prepped.
Written January 6, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Guen-Hye
Taichung, Taiwan13 contributions
Nov 2016 • Solo
Lake Kagami is beautiful. It has many trails around it and you can walk and not come across anyone. It has beautiful views of mountains.
Written January 11, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Björnv
2 contributions
Oct 2015 • Family
Very nice scenery. If it's not windy is like a mirror. We went there in autumn the colours are wonderful.
Written October 10, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
YTCHENG
Hong Kong, China15,405 contributions
Oct 2018 • Couples
We visited this spot by late Oct and only gave medium rating to it because the weather by then was not good enough to show the mirror effect on the surrounding mountains, Anyway the place was quiet with less people around but you need to plan your routes around the area in advance. Should be a nice photo-taking spot.
Written November 14, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DenPow
Florida Panhandle, FL54 contributions
Is the walk from Okushu Shrine through the Botanical Gardens to Lake Kagami one that is easy to find, are there signs?
Benjamin Ho
Singapore, Singapore318 contributions
Hi DenPow, I've walked from Lake Kagami to the Okusha Shrine in December, when it was snowing slightly. However, I did not notice any entrance along the road which would lead to the Botanical Gardens and direct to Okusha. To get to Okusha, you might need to follow the road, where you'd reach a junction with the Soba-no-mi restaurant. The road up leads to Lake Kagami.
Depending on the time of year, certain off-road trails may be more visible and accessible. But note that there are bear sightings in the area, and some paths require you to register with a regional board before you attempt to hike through due to the presence of bears and difficulty of the hike or climb. If you're attempting this within the colder months, it is advisable to check in with the local tourist board in Nagano.
drumpen
4 contributions
私は2018年1月31日に鏡池を訪問したいと思います。
戶隱奧社から鏡池に歩くことはできますか？
I would like to visit Mirror Pond on 31 Jan 2018, which bus I should take?
Can I walk to the Mirror Pond from Togakushi Shrine Okusha?
athu1230
Nagano Prefecture, Japan459 contributions
冬は雪が多くて、戸隠に行くことが大変です。
バスはあります。
車はスタッドレスタイヤ装着とチェーンを持っていって下さい。
冬山の装備が必要です。
戸隠には五社 神社がありますから、奥社ではなく楽に参拝できる中社あたりがいいと思います。
JulianaJones
Perth, Australia306 contributions
How do you get to the park from the city centre
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Claim your listingLake Kagami - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)
Frequently Asked Questions about Lake Kagami
- Hotels near Lake Kagami:
- (1.04 mi) Togakushi Kougen Hotel
- (1.04 mi) Togakushigoya
- (1.04 mi) Takatsuma Lodge
- (1.08 mi) Akkorde
- (1.47 mi) Oshi Ryokan
- Restaurants near Lake Kagami:
- (0.05 mi) Donguri House
- (1.32 mi) Uzuraya
- (0.80 mi) Sobanomi
- (0.99 mi) Okushamae Naosuke
- (0.98 mi) Okusya no Cyaya