Lake Haruna is a caldera lake created by the volcanic activity of Mt. At an elevation of 1,084 meters, it is the second highest lake in Japan.
In winter, the entire lake freezes over and you can enjoy wakasagi fishing on the ice. When I visited, the ice had not yet frozen over, so I was unable to enjoy wakasagi fishing on the ice, but I was able to enjoy fried wakasagi and tempura at a restaurant by the lakeside.
From the lakeside, the famous Haruna Fuji is a beautiful sight. A ropeway ride to the top of Haruna Fuji will take you to Haruna Fuji Shrine, a famous power spot, so be sure to stop by.
About 4 km south of Lake Haruna is the Haruna Shrine, so we left the car in the small gate town and walked there. The path is well-maintained, but the main shrine and other buildings are built between rocks, making the walk overwhelming.
Mt. Haruna was a center for the mountain worship Shugendo, and Haruna Shrine was its base. The shrine has a history of 1,400 years. Although the shrine is undergoing restoration work until December 2032, the main hall and other shrine buildings that have been restored are heavily decorated in gold and vermilion with black as the base color, giving them a beautiful appearance. It is possible to walk from here to Lake Haruna on the old road (mountain road), which is 3 km long.
Lake Haruna is accessible by a 90-minute Gunma bus ride from JR Takasaki Station. By car, it is about 40 minutes from the Shibukawa-Ikaho Interchange on the Kanetsu Expressway.
If you want to enjoy ice fishing at Lake Haruna, you should check the official website of the Haruna Tourist Association and the Nishikamishu Tourist Information website before going there. I plan to go back in a different season, as the place looks like it would be enjoyable throughout the seasons.
*It has been announced that ice wakasagi fishing will be suspended for the 2025-2026 season due to the warm winter!
© Source travel watch