NAGANOHARA, Gunma -- A test run of an amphibious bus was conducted at the Yamba Dam in Naganohara, Gunma Prefecture, on Thursday, where full operations began in April. The bus is expected to be a new tourist draw. The local town will begin offering bus tours around the dam lake in late July, at the earliest.
The bus, with a capacity of 40 people, is 12 meters long, 2.5 meters wide and 3.7 meters high.
A scene from the Yukake Matsuri (splashing hot water festival) was drawn on the orange and white body of the bus. The festival is a unique one at the Kawarayu Onsen hot spring, which was relocated to higher ground as a result of the dam's construction.
On Thursday, staff from the Japan Amphibious Vehicle Association, a nonprofit organization in Tokyo who were commissioned to operate the bus by the town, took a test ride. The bus slowly moved from the road into the lake.
During the tour from late July, passengers will be able to enjoy a view of deep greenery in summer and autumn leaves from the lake surface and shore for about 80 minutes.
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