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Tuesday, 26th August 2008
In General Japan News,

Aomori and Akita to draw up borders

The border between two Japanese prefectures is to be defined for the first time in nearly 140 years.

Aomori and Akita both sit on the banks of Lake Towada but have not shared a definite border since the abolition of the domain system in the Edo period.

However, that is set to change on August 29th when the prefectures will sign an agreement to divide the lake between them, Mainichi reports.

Under the terms of the agreement, Lake Towada will be split 60:40 in favour of Aomori. The lake area had been left without a border following a conflict between the Aomori city of Towadako (now Towada) and Akita's Kosaka in the 1870s.

The waters are among the deepest in Japan, with a maximum depth of 327 metres, according to the Japan National Tourist Organisation.

Visitors to the area can enjoy the natural beauty of the region from a number of observation points onshore or via a sightseeing boat.