Discover Naka: Water, Forests and Renewable Energy

Visitors looking to explore Naka can discover water, landscapes and renewable energy as distinct areas of interest. At Lake Kawaguchi Dam, Aqua Kawaguchi Base offers canoeing and stand-up paddleboarding; at the Kawaguchi Dam Natural Energy Museum, topics range from wind and hydropower to digital artworks. Seasonal blossoms and a woodland experience area used for events round out the offerings. Which of these aspects interests you most can be a good starting point for planning your trip.

Paddling on Lake Kawaguchi Dam

Aqua Kawaguchi Base is a starting point for canoeing and stand-up paddleboarding on Lake Kawaguchi Dam. If you want to make time on the water a focus, you’ll find two specific ways to enjoy the lake actively here. Facility-use rules and application requirements may change, so check the current conditions before using the facility.

Orientation at the Kawaguchi Dam Natural Energy Museum also begins outdoors: from the second parking lot, it’s about a five-minute walk to the museum. Along the way, visitors can see outdoor exhibits such as a waterwheel runner and a small hydropower facility. As parking rules may change, check the latest information before you travel.

Discovering Renewable Energy

A Savonius wind turbine and a propeller-style wind turbine stand in front of the museum. Both are part of hybrid generators that use solar power, and their rotation is visible. At the outdoor exhibits, visitors can also check the amount of electricity generated, which varies with the day’s weather. This brings together engaging installations and a changing measurement: the exhibits highlight both the movement of the turbines and the influence of weather on electricity generation.

The museum’s learning topics include solar power, hydropower, wind power, biomass and hydrogen fuel cells. Visitors can learn hands-on how these energy sources work. The wide range of topics offers a different perspective from viewing the wind turbines outside: here, the focus is on understanding the basics of different types of energy generation and use.

A digital artwork by teamLab adds an artistic perspective to these topics. A city rich in nature is depicted on a large screen. Science shows and workshops featuring hands-on creative activities are also among the museum’s event formats. If you’d like to include one of these events in your trip plans, check in advance whether any are scheduled during your travel dates.

Blossoms and Woodland Experiences

The landscape around Lake Kawaguchi Dam changes throughout the year: cherry trees and forsythias bloom in spring, followed by hydrangeas in early summer. These two periods offer distinct displays of blossoms. If you’re planning your trip around the season, you can use this change as a guide to the kind of scenery you’d like to see.

A woodland experience area is located next to Aioi Forest Culture Park Aiai Land. It is used for thinning experiences, forest walks and woodworking activities during events. These activities are tied to events; their focus on forest care and hands-on work differs from the museum’s energy topics and activities on the lake.

Choosing the Right Focus for Your Trip

When looking for a holiday rental, it can help to first decide on the main theme of your stay: do you want to focus on paddling on the lake, are you especially interested in energy and technology, or would you like to include seasonal scenery and woodland topics? Your answer can help you prioritize what matters to you when planning. For paddling, that includes the rules of use and application requirements; for events, the dates are key. If you plan to visit the museum, also factor the latest parking information into your travel plans.

These different topics don’t form one set excursion routine, but instead offer several possible focuses. A stay centered on water activities caters to different interests than a trip shaped by energy topics, seasonal blossoms or a woodland program. Choose your accommodation and plan the rest of your trip according to which of these experiences you’d most like to include.

Discover more destinations: Mima, Obatake, Komatsushima, Toyooka, Tokushima, Miyoshi, Kaiyo, Matsushige

For the wider travel guide: Tokushima Prefecture.