[Fukushima] Enjoy Lake Inawashiro, the 4th largest lake in Japan!

Do you know a lake called "Lake Inawashiro"?
Lake Inawashiro is located in the center of Fukushima Prefecture and is the fourth largest lake in Japan!

You'll want to go and see what kind of lake it is. So this time, we will introduce you to the charms and recommendations of Lake Inawashiro!

What is Lake Inawashiro?

Lake Inawashiro is a fault lake that straddles Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture, Koriyama City, and Inawashiro Town, Yama District, and has an area of ​​approximately 103 km2. It is the fourth largest lake in Japan and the largest in Fukushima Prefecture. It is one of the highest lakes in Japan, with an altitude of 514m. It is famous as one of the symbols of Fukushima Prefecture.

It is also called Tenkyoko (Tenkyoko) because of its clear water, and the ``Lake Inawashiro Sphagnum moss community'' and ``Lake Inawashiro Swans and their migration sites'' have been designated as national natural monuments.

What is the legend about Lake Inawashiro?

Long ago, Kobo Daishi Kukai stopped by Fukushima during his pilgrimage throughout Japan. At that time, she tried to get water from the woman who was weaving her loom, but she refused and had no choice but to go to another village.

There, I asked a poor woman named Okina who was washing rice if she could give me water to wash the rice, and she happily gave me some water to drink.

The next day, Mt. Bandai suddenly erupted. 52 surrounding villages collapsed and sank to the bottom of present-day Lake Inawashiro, but the house of the old man who gave Kukai water to drink did not sink to the bottom of the lake and became an island. This is the story.

It is said that this is Okina Island, which actually exists in present-day Lake Inawashiro.Legend of Okina Island” is said to have been passed down mainly in the Aizu region.

A winter tradition at Lake Inawashiro!

In winter, the entire surface of Lake Inawashiro turns into a silver world, transforming it into an atmospheric landscape.
Every winter, approximately 4,000 swans from Siberia visit Lake Inawashiro, a sight that has been designated as a national natural monument.

The swans visit from October to April of the following year. If you're lucky, you might even see rows of swans flying by!

In addition to seeing swans, you can also feed them, which attracts many wild bird fans from all over the country every year. I have actually visited Lake Inawashiro in the winter and fed the swans, but the swans must have gotten used to them, and they would come to us on their own! It's very cute, isn't it?

Lake Inawashiro in winter is recommended not only for the scenery, but also because you can see swans, which you don't usually see.

Lake Inawashiro is fun even in the summer!

enjoy wakeboarding

Lake Inawashiro has many fun events even in the summer. For example, wakeboarding allows you to fully enjoy Lake Inawashiro.

Wakeboarding is a sport in which a person is pulled by a motorboat and glides across the water surface like skiing. (It's water skiing.) You can enjoy wakeboarding at Lake Inawashiro, and even beginners can easily ride it, so it's recommended. It's great that you can do not only sightseeing but also sports.

enjoy camping

There are also many campgrounds in the surrounding area.

Campsite where you can stay overnight in cottages and lodges

• Lake Inawashiro Mobile
• Tenjinhama auto campsite
• Koishigahama auto campsite.

Campgrounds available for free and at low prices

• Sakigawahama Campsite
• Seaburiyama Campsite
• Funatsuhama Campsite
• Akiyamahama Campsite
• Kanizawahama Campsite

There are 8 campgrounds, so you can enjoy leisure time with friends and family depending on the occasion, such as relaxed family camping at a cottage, wild solo camping at a cheap campsite, etc.

Lake Inawashiro has almost no waves, so even small children can swim without difficulty. If you want to go to the beach but it's far away and you don't want to get a sunburn, you might want to try swimming at Lake Inawashiro.

Lake Inawashiro sightseeing boat that can be enjoyed throughout the year

There are also sightseeing boats on Lake Inawashiro.

There are two pleasure boats operated by Inawashiro Kanko Ship Co., Ltd., named ``Hakucho Maru'' and ``Kame Maru.'' As the name suggests, it looks like a swan and a turtle, and seems to be popular with children.

The Hakuchomaru is in charge of normal operations, and the Kamemaru seems to be used mainly for event operations such as Christmas cruises.

Link: Inawashiro sightseeing boat

summary

From swan watching to marine sports, camping, and sightseeing boats, Lake Inawashiro can be enjoyed year-round in spring, summer, fall, and winter.
When you come to Fukushima Prefecture, why not visit Lake Inawashiro?

INFORMATION