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Family-friendly hotels near Watarase Yusuichi
Information checked on 2026-10-17. Hours, admission and facilities can change; please confirm on the official site before you go.
About Watarase Yusuichi
Watarase Yusuichi is Japan's largest retarding basin (a flood-control reservoir area), spanning four prefectures: Tochigi, Gunma, Saitama, and Ibaraki. It covers about 3,300 hectares, more than twice the size of Haneda Airport, and was registered as a Ramsar wetland (a wetland of international importance) in 2012. The only part that is water all year round is Lake Yanaka, a man-made lake, and almost all of the rest is lush reed marsh. Lake Yanaka is used for canoeing, sailing, and boating, and there is a barbecue area north of the lake. On the North Entrance side, you'll find the Kids' Plaza Zone.
Visiting Watarase Yusuichi with kids
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Parents stay with kids near the water
The site's usage rules state that when young children play near the water, a parent or guardian must always accompany them.
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Kids' Plaza Zone
This zone is on the north side of Lake Yanaka, about a 25-minute walk (about 2 km) from the North Entrance. The Experience Activity Center "Watarase" is also in this zone.
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Bike rentals
You can rent bikes at four locations, including the Kids' Plaza Rental Cycle Center north of Lake Yanaka. The centers have regular closing days, and some locations do not operate in winter or on weekdays.
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No access on heavy rain days
Use of the retarding basin is prohibited when a heavy rain or flood advisory (or anything more serious) has been issued, and throughout the flood season.
The retarding basin can be flooded during or after rain, and entering the area can be dangerous.
Hotels closest to Watarase Yusuichi (10, nearest first)
Only 2 Kids Stay hotels sit within 15 km of Watarase Yusuichi, so here are the 10 closest ones by distance.
Hotel Sansui
Hotel Route Inn Koga Ekimae
Hotel Green Core Plus One
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Hana Hotel Gyoda
Kitamoto Tennen Onsen Hana Hotel Kitamoto
King Ambassador Hotel Kumagaya
Smile Hotel Kumagaya
Washington R&B Hotel Kumagaya Ekimae
Kokuzaiji Tensen Onsen Hana Hotel Fukaya & Spa
Other attractions near Watarase Yusuichi
Areas near Watarase Yusuichi
Seasonal picks for Saitama Aquarium
New Year With Kids
Skip the crowds and the cold and slow down as a family. Choose between three ways to spend the holidays: big resorts with meals included, warm southern islands, or snow and hot springs.
Winter Onsen With Kids
Winter onsen towns from north to south, where an in-room bath, a reservable private bath and meals in your room mean you never have to go out
Christmas With Kids in Japan
Book December weekends early. Three ways to spend it: city hotels, dinner-included resorts, or snow and hot springs
Travel tips
Lake Yanaka is closed every Monday (the next day if Monday is a national holiday) and over the New Year period, so check the dates before you plan your day. Barbecue is allowed only in designated areas, and not on weekdays or in winter. Please take all your trash home with you.
Best season
From January to March, the water surface of Lake Yanaka may not be usable because the lake is drained to dry out the lakebed. In early April, the Fujioka Town Cherry Blossom Festival and the Watarase Balloon Race (a hot air balloon competition) are held most years. The Koga Fireworks Festival, held on the first Saturday of August, draws about 350,000 people.
Getting there
By car, it takes about 20 minutes from the Sano-Fujioka or Tatebayashi interchange on the Tohoku Expressway, and there are parking lots at the Central Entrance and the North Entrance. By train, the nearest stations include Itakura-Toyodaimae, Yanagiu, and Fujioka on the Tobu Nikko Line, and Koga on the JR Utsunomiya Line.
Access and basic information
| scheduleHours | Lake Yanaka: 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. from March to October, until 4:30 p.m. in November, and until 4 p.m. from December to February |
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| calendar_monthClosed | Lake Yanaka: every Monday (the next day if Monday is a national holiday) and December 29 to January 3 |
| trainNearest station | About a 20-minute walk from Itakura-Toyodaimae Station on the Tobu Nikko Line to the North Entrance |
| local_parkingParking | Parking lots at the Central Entrance and North Entrance |
| languageOfficial site | https://watarase.or.jp/ |
Map
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FAQ
Can we walk from the station?
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To the Kids' Plaza Zone, it is about a 40-minute walk from Itakura-Toyodaimae Station, about 50 minutes from Yanagiu Station, and about 1 hour from Fujioka Station. On Saturdays, Sundays, and national holidays, a community shuttle called the Fureai Bus also runs from Shin-Ohirashita Station on the Tobu Line to Lake Yanaka.
Can we get there by car?
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It takes about 20 minutes from the Sano-Fujioka or Tatebayashi interchange on the Tohoku Expressway, and there is parking at the entrances. However, driving onto the roads inside the Lake Yanaka area and parking in front of any of the gates are not allowed.
Can the kids play in the water?
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Swimming in Lake Yanaka is generally prohibited. The only exceptions are events that have been permitted after safety checks. Fishing requires a fishing fee.
Where can we stay nearby?
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Hotel Sansui is about 5.2 km away, offers Japanese-style and Japanese-Western style rooms, and children can sleep in the same bed as parents free of charge. Hotel Route Inn Koga Ekimae is about 5.8 km away, lets children share a bed with parents free of charge, and offers late checkout.