Lake Motosuko: The Ancient Depths
The bottom of Lake Motosuko is 120 meters at its deepest point, nearly twice the depth of Lake Saiko and eight times as deep as the other three. Like Saiko, its name may reference the ancient Senoumi lake, with some believing that its name means “original [moto] Se.” Motosuko was evidently separated from the Senoumi at a relatively early stage, although it has the exact same elevation as Saiko and Shojiko, and geologists believe the three lakes are connected underground.
One notable “inhabitant” of Lake Motosuko is the sightseeing boat Moguran. Despite its submarine-inspired appearance and the underwater observation windows on the lower deck, it does not actually submerge. Thus the name Moguran, which literally means “doesn’t dive.”
The National Landscape
Motosuko is the remotest of the Five Lakes, so its shores are popular with hikers and campers in search of peace and quiet. Several businesses on the eastern shore rent camping and gear for aquatic sports, including canoes, windsurfing boards, and stand-up paddleboarding equipment. Powered craft are prohibited on the lake, preserving the sound of the wind and waves.
The lake offers distinctive views of Mt. Fuji from the northwest, many completely free of artificial structures. One of the best known vistas appears on the 2004 design of the 1,000-yen bill, and was also used in the 1984 design of the 5,000-yen bill. The image is based on a photograph by Okada Koyo (1895–1972), who devoted his entire life to capturing the mountain on film. To this day, Mt. Fuji is the only natural landscape that has appeared on Japanese currency.