Lake Sai (sainoko) (West Lake)

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Tucked away from the attention of the most travelers and even locals exists a barron lake west of Lake Chuzenji.  That is also the name of the lake, West Lake or Lake Sai.  The Kanji characters used for it’s name are old.  It isn’t the same Kanji you see now for the direction of west.

You can get there via Senjogahara and Odashirogahara, or starting from Ryuzu waterfall via hiking through Senjugahama beach.

It’s a little less than an hour to add Lake Sai to your hike from Senjugahama beach on Lake Chuzenji from Ryuzu waterfall.

It’s a little over an hour added to your hike from the Odashirogahara moor past Senjogahara.

The following photographs are from 2 trips to the lake.  There were recent bear sightings in the area and tried unsuccessfully to spot a bear on either trip.  On the 2nd trip we started from Senjugahama beach on Lake Chuzenji.

Senjugahama beach on Lake Chuzenji

Old Chuzenji village is in the far background on the opposite side of the lake.

Old Chuzenji village is in the far background on the opposite side of the lake.

the beach area makes a nice cove

Senjugahama beach cove

leaving the beach toward Lake Sai are wood planks

wood planks Senjugahama beach

a big frog

From guests reports, this might have been where they saw the bears

From guests reports, this might have been where they saw the bears

There is essentially no grade change, about 100m in total, for most of the way from Lake Chuzenji to Lake Sai.

There is essentially no grade change, about 100m in total, for most of the way from Lake Chuzenji to Lake Sai.

only 1km to go… OH, and watch out for bears

Lake Sai post

Lake Sai panoramic

Lake Sai stoney meadow

Lake Sai banks

Lake Sai beach

Lake Sai surface

Certainly a great view of Nantai Mountain from inside the lake bed.

view of Nantai Mountain from Lake Sai bed