Goshikinuma Five Colored Lakes of Urabandai

Category: Volcanic Chameleon Lakes & Highland Forest Nature Trail | Location: Hibara, Kitashiobara Village, Yama-gun, Fukushima Prefecture

Sprawled across the high-altitude plateau of Urabandai beneath the jagged northern volcanic crest of Mount Bandai in Fukushima Prefecture, Goshikinuma (The Five Colored Lakes) is an enchanting network of volcanic ponds awarded stars in the Michelin Green Guide Japan. This mystical aquatic landscape was born cataclysmically on July 15, 1888, when a colossal phreatic collapse of Mount Bandai triggered an immense rock avalanche that dammed local alpine river basins, spontaneously giving birth to dozens of pristine lakes within minutes. Goshikinuma's international fame stems from its surreal, color-shifting waters. Rather than a single hue, each individual lake radiates an intensely vivid and contrasting color—ranging from luminous emerald green, deep cobalt, and electric neon turquoise to pastel jade and rusty copper-red. This chameleon-like phenomenon results from varying concentrations of suspended volcanic mineral particles (such as allophane silicate compounds), aquatic microorganisms, and fluctuating sunlight refraction at different water depths. The colors continuously mutate throughout the day depending on weather, season, and vantage angle, earning the basin the title of nature's living watercolor palette. Visitors immerse themselves in this wonderland via the gently graded, 3.6-kilometer Goshikinuma Nature Trail, an easy 70-to-90-minute walk through lush birch, larch, and pine forests suitable for hikers of all skill levels. The journey begins at Bishamon-numa, the largest lake, where travelers can rent rowboats atop iridescent waters while searching for the legendary 'Heart Koi'—a white carp with a distinct red heart-shaped marking on its flank believed to bring romantic good fortune. The trail winds past Aka-numa (Red Pond), multi-colored Midoro-numa, expansive sky-blue Benten-numa framed by Mount Bandai's rugged caldera, and culminates at Ao-numa (Blue Pond), whose intensely fluorescent turquoise waters appear as if glowing from subterranean magic.