Kan Thar Yar Lake is a freshwater lake at the edge of Hpa-an town, large enough to feel removed from the town but close enough to reach on foot. The lake is popular with local people for evening walks, and pedal boats can be hired for a circuit of the water. The lotus fields at the shallow edges bloom most vigorously in the cooler months.
The lake provides a pleasant complement to the intense experiences of the cave pagodas and Zwegabin — somewhere to walk quietly in the late afternoon and watch the birds on the water. Egrets, kingfishers, and various waders use the lake. The sunset view from the lake's western edge, with karst hills in the background and the lotus-covered water in the foreground, is one of the better views in Hpa-an itself.