Fukushima Lakes & Volcano: Lake Inawashiro, Goshiki-numa & Noguchi Museum

Lake Inawashiro, the Goshiki-numa ponds and the Hideyo Noguchi Memorial Museum make the area around Mount Bandai the best nature escape in Fukushima Prefecture. Mount Bandai, 1,816 meters high, towers over the fourth-largest lake in Japan, and its violent eruption in 1888 dammed rivers on its north side to create the lakes and colorful ponds of Urabandai. Inawashiro is about two and a half hours from Tokyo by Shinkansen and local train and only 30 minutes from Aizu-Wakamatsu, so it is easy to combine with the castle town. This guide covers the three highlights, practical tips and where to stay.

1. Lake Inawashiro

Lake Inawashiro covers about 104 square kilometers, making it the fourth-largest lake in Japan, and on calm days its clear water mirrors the cone of Mount Bandai to the north. The easiest way to get out on the water is a sightseeing cruise. Boats shaped like swans run year-round, departing every hour from 10:00 to 16:00 (with fewer departures in winter), and the trip takes about 35 minutes. Fares are 1,500 yen for adults and 750 yen for children, payable in cash or PayPay only, and a turtle-shaped boat joins on weekends and holidays. Back on shore, the lake is lovely at sunset, when Mount Bandai turns into a dark silhouette over the water. The area is also a year-round playground: summer brings beaches and boating, autumn brings red and gold leaves to the surrounding hills, and in winter the ski resorts on the slopes of Mount Bandai open just above the lake. Allow at least half a day here.

2. Goshiki-numa (Five Colored Ponds)

Goshiki-numa, the Five Colored Ponds, lies on the northern side of Mount Bandai in the Urabandai highlands. The ponds were formed after the eruption of July 15, 1888, which killed 477 people and reshaped the landscape, and minerals from the volcano now tint their water shades of cobalt, emerald and turquoise that change with the weather and the season. A 3.6-kilometer nature trail links the main ponds and takes about 70 minutes one way, and a separate trail of about 4 kilometers connects Bishamon-numa, the best-known pond and a highlight in autumn, with Lake Hibara. The walk is mostly flat and suitable for most visitors, and there is no admission fee. Autumn colors make late October especially beautiful, and guided snowshoe tours run in winter. From Inawashiro Station, Bandai Toto buses reach the Goshikinuma Iriguchi stop in about 35 minutes; by car it is about 30 minutes from the Inawashiro Bandai-Kogen interchange.

3. Hideyo Noguchi Memorial Museum

Hideyo Noguchi, the bacteriologist who appeared on Japan’s former 1,000-yen note, was born in Inawashiro in 1876, and his life story has a strong American connection: he did much of his research at the Rockefeller Institute in New York before dying of yellow fever in West Africa in 1928. The memorial museum near the lakeshore preserves his thatched birthplace, including the open hearth where he badly burned his hand as a small child, an injury that shaped his determination to study medicine. Exhibits trace his path from rural Fukushima to international science. The museum opens 9:00 to 17:30 (until 16:30 from November to March) and is closed December 29 to January 3. Admission is 1,200 yen for adults from mid-March to November and 800 yen from December to mid-March. Buses from Inawashiro Station take about 10 minutes but run only every two to three hours, so a taxi or rental car is often easier.

Where to Stay Near Inawashiro

Where to stay: Inawashiro

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Inawashiro has hotels, pensions and holiday rentals around the station, the lakeshore and the ski areas below Mount Bandai, while a few resorts sit in the Urabandai highlands close to Goshiki-numa. Buses in the area are infrequent, so choose a place near the station if you are relying on public transportation, or rent a car for the most flexibility.

Luxury

Mercure Urabandai Resort & Spa is a resort hotel in the Urabandai highlands on the north side of Mount Bandai, a comfortable base for walking the Goshiki-numa trail and exploring the lakes.

Mid-Range

Hotel Listel Inawashiro Wing Tower is a large resort hotel on the slopes below Mount Bandai, popular with families in summer and skiers in winter.

Budget-Friendly

Lake View Inawashiro is a simple, good-value lodging in Inawashiro, fine for a night or two of lake and mountain sightseeing.

Quick Tips for Visiting

• Buses around Inawashiro and Urabandai are infrequent; check timetables in advance or rent a car for a full day of sightseeing.
• Visit Goshiki-numa on a sunny day, when the colors of the ponds are at their brightest.
• Late October is peak season for autumn leaves around Urabandai and the lake.
• The Lake Inawashiro sightseeing boats accept only cash or PayPay, so carry some yen.
• Pair Inawashiro with Aizu-Wakamatsu, just 30 minutes away by JR train.

Getting there by train: From Tokyo, take the Tohoku Shinkansen to Koriyama (about 80 minutes), then the JR Ban’etsu West Line to Inawashiro (about 40 minutes). The trip takes about two and a half hours in total. Read our guide to riding trains in Japan, learn how to ride the Shinkansen, and check whether the JR Pass is worth it for your route.

Frequently Asked Questions

How were the Goshiki-numa ponds formed?

They formed after Mount Bandai erupted on July 15, 1888, when debris dammed rivers on the north side of the volcano. Volcanic minerals give the water its colors.

How long is the Goshiki-numa trail?

The main nature trail is 3.6 kilometers and takes about 70 minutes one way. It is mostly flat and free to walk.

How much is the Hideyo Noguchi Memorial Museum?

Admission is 1,200 yen for adults from mid-March to November and 800 yen from December to mid-March.

How do you get to Inawashiro from Tokyo?

Take the Tohoku Shinkansen to Koriyama and the JR Ban’etsu West Line to Inawashiro. It takes about two and a half hours.