AIZU06（Kitashiobara-village）：Kaleidoscopic（HAMANAKAAIZU）

It has been half a year since I visited Goshikinuma(lit. five coloured lakes).

Goshikinuma is officialy known as the Goshikinuma Lake Group, and is composed of several ‘numa’ or ponds, such as Bishamonnuma, Akanuma, Midoronuma, Bentennuma, Rurinuma, and Aonuma.

As the lakes contain minerals from a nearby volcanic eruption, they are all various different colours including green, light blue, and reddish blue.

This is the description you’ll find on the official website.

So what does the beautiful scenery of Goshikinuma acutually look like?

First off, try comparing these photos of Bishamonnuma taken in early spring, and early winter.

While in summer you can enjoy a romantic atmosphere riding the boats, I think the mysterious atmosphere in winter is something to experience as well.

Let’s try a view from a different angle.

While the summer plants have grown to their peak, the winter plants have had their spirits broken, as if to speak of the sheer coldness of winter. It is a great example of nature’s life cycle.

From a tourism aspect, Bishamonnuma, with its emerald green surface, is just a few minutes’ walk from the Urabandai Visitors Center. Despite being somewhat out of the way, you can easily enjoy Goshikinuma throughout all four seasons.

You can enjoy the scenic tracks full of greenery, or you can even enjoy a snowball fight on the lakeside.

Yesterday (May 25^th, 2014) was the first time I managed to walk the entire scenic track all the way from the Urabandai Visitors Center to Bandai Takahara Station. The track is relatively flat, and over just less than one hour you can walk through 8 of the coloured lakes.

At the exit we saw a unique local bus. Unfortunately, we had missed the last one, so we were unable to ride it.

I’m looking forward to meeting you somewhere in beautiful Fukushima!