Lake Ashi Live Cam

The Volcanic Jewel: Lake Ashi's Geological Marvel in Hakone

Lake Ashi, known locally as Ashinoko, stands as the crowning jewel of the Hakone region, a shimmering blue expanse nestled within the ancient caldera of Mount Hakone. This magnificent crater lake was formed approximately 3,000 years ago when an eruption of Mount Kamiyama, the central peak of the Hakone volcano, sent flows of lava and volcanic rock cascading down to block the Haya River. The trapped waters, fed by rainfall and underground springs, gradually filled the depression to create what we now see as Lake Ashi. Reaching depths of up to 43.5 meters and spanning 19 kilometers in circumference, this volcanic lake possesses unique properties due to its geological origins. The thermal springs feeding into Lake Ashi prevent it from freezing even during the harshest winter months, with water temperatures often exceeding those of the surrounding air, creating the mystical fog banks that frequently shroud its shores in ethereal mist.