Fukushima’s outdoor leisure mecca “Lake Hibara”

Lake Hibara is a very beautiful lake with a cobalt blue water surface located in the center of Bandai Plateau in Fukushima Prefecture.
It belongs to the national park Bandai-Asahi National Park, and with a shore circumference of approximately 32 km and a maximum water depth of 31 m, it is the widest lake in the Urabandai lake group.
There are many walking trails and camping grounds in the surrounding area, and the area is crowded with tourists throughout the year, with activities such as bass fishing in the summer, viewing autumn leaves in the fall, and winter sports such as smelt fishing on the thickly frozen lake in the winter.

Lake Hibara created by the eruption of Mt. Bandai

The snow that falls on Bandai Plateau is fine powder, and the winter scenery that falls on the lake is spectacular.
There are many restaurants, including shops selling Fukushima's special products, ramen, cafes, udon, and curry.There are also many places such as ``Lake Hibara Family Cycling Tournament'' sponsored by the Kitashiobara Village Chamber of Commerce and Industry and ``Professional Bass Fishing Tournament'' sponsored by the Nippon Bass Club. ” and other events are being held actively.

On the north side of the lake is Oyamazumi Shrine and its torii gate, which is dedicated to the village that sank as a result of the eruption of Mt. Bandai in July 1888.
From April to November, Bandai sightseeing boats offer lake excursions, and you can see the torii from the boat, but the water level of the lake is constantly changing, and when the water level is low, the torii can be seen. You can also see gravestones appearing on the surface of the water.
However, depending on the time of day, you may have to wait an hour to board the ship. Swan rentals are also available, but it's a good idea to check the times in advance.

Similarly, from April to November, the retro bus ``Mori no Kuma-san'' runs from Urabandai Bussankan to take you leisurely around Lake Hibara.
This is an extremely ecological vehicle that runs on recycled fuel from tempura oil collected from homes and pensions.

It takes about 30 minutes to get to the lake by private car from the Inawashiro Bandai Kogen IC on the Ban'etsu Expressway, and there are plenty of public transportation options, and it takes about 40 minutes by train or bus from JR Inawashiro Station.

INFORMATION