📷 Photography guide
During the autumn foliage season, gradients of red and yellow reflected on the lake surface make for a stunning subject that further accentuates the lakes' mystical colors. Since each lake — such as Bishamonuma and Aonuma — has a distinctly different hue, walk the full trail rather than staying at one spot to capture a variety of looks. Early morning is the golden rule for shooting: raking light beautifully tints the water surface, and on calm days you can expect perfect mirror-like reflections. A wide-to-standard lens (equivalent to 16–35mm) lets you frame the whole lake along with the surrounding trees for a sense of depth, while shooting close to the water's edge with a polarizing filter will render the blue tones beneath the surface even more vividly.
🚆 How to get here
📍 Tokyo (Shinjuku / Koriyama via Shinkansen)
1. Take the JR Yamagata/Tohoku Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Koriyama Station (approx. 75 min, Yamabiko service). 2. Transfer to the JR Ban'etsu West Line (磐越西線) local train bound for Aizu-Wakamatsu and ride to Inawashiro Station (approx. 40 min). 3. At Inawashiro Station, board a Fukushima Kotsu / Aizu Bus bound for Urabandai (裏磐梯) and ride approx. 25 min to the 'Goshikinuma Iriguchi' (五色沼入口) bus stop. 4. The Numa Meguri nature trail (approx. 3.6 km) begins right at the bus stop.
🎫 JR East Pass (Tohoku area) covers the Shinkansen and Ban'etsu West Line — recommended for multi-day Tohoku trips
📍 Sendai (Regional hub)
1. From Sendai Station, take the JR Tohoku Shinkansen south to Koriyama Station (approx. 25 min, Yamabiko service). 2. Transfer to the JR Ban'etsu West Line local train toward Aizu-Wakamatsu and ride to Inawashiro Station (approx. 40 min). 3. Board the Urabandai-bound bus at Inawashiro Station and alight at 'Goshikinuma Iriguchi' (approx. 25 min).
🎫 JR East Pass (Tohoku area) covers Shinkansen + local train — good value if also visiting other Tohoku sites
📍 Fukushima Airport (最寄り空港)
1. From Fukushima Airport, take the limousine bus or taxi to Koriyama Station (approx. 40–50 min by bus, ¥1,000). 2. At Koriyama Station, board the JR Ban'etsu West Line local train to Inawashiro Station (approx. 40 min). 3. Transfer to the Urabandai-bound bus and ride approx. 25 min to 'Goshikinuma Iriguchi' bus stop.
🎫 JR East Pass (Tohoku area) covers the Ban'etsu West Line segment
📍 Inawashiro Station (最寄り駅 – Last Mile)
1. Exit Inawashiro Station (JR Ban'etsu West Line). 2. From the bus stop directly in front of the station, board the Fukushima Kotsu / Aizu Bus bound for 'Bandai-Kogen / Urabandai' (磐梯高原・裏磐梯方面). 3. Ride approx. 25 min and alight at 'Goshikinuma Iriguchi' (五色沼入口). 4. The Goshikinuma Pond Trail (3.6 km one-way) starts immediately at the bus stop. ※ Buses run roughly every 1–2 hours; check the timetable in advance. Taxi from the station takes approx. 20 min (¥2,500–¥3,000).
* Times and fares are approximate. Please confirm the latest schedules and prices.
Overview
A cluster of lakes and ponds of varying sizes scattered across Ura-Bandai, on the northern foothills of Mt. Bandai. Each lake displays its own mystical hue — from emerald green to cobalt blue — shifting in appearance moment by moment with the seasons, weather, and angle of light.
History & Culture
The lakes were formed when a massive landslide triggered by the 1888 eruption of Mt. Bandai dammed local rivers. Volcanic minerals dissolved in the water interact with light scattering to produce the rich variety of colors that give the lakes their name, "five colors."
Access
Take a bus from Inawashiro Station (JR Ban'etsu West Line) and get off at "Goshikinuma Iriguchi" (approx. 25 min). By car, approx. 20 min from Inawashiro-Bandai-Kogen IC on the Ban'etsu Expressway. The lakeside nature trail is approximately 3.6 km long.