Bandaisan Geopark

Bandaisan Geopark Area Guide Book

Geosites by areaＮ1

Toyamajo 5
Castle Remains

Okawa River

Azumagawa River
Nunotaki Fall♨

Nukazukajima
Iwayamajo
2 Castle
Remains3♨

Mt. Owasezawa

A Area2

Mt. Takahira

Fudoutaki Fall

Magarisawanuma Pond

Kotakamori

9

Lake
HibaraRoad BlockedMichi-no-eki
Urabandai♨eew Lin

ra Vi

Hiba

459

6

La Vie Spa Urabandai

Kofunuma Pond

459

Mt. Sayanoki
1064

Riv

M

t.

Ba

a
ag

Gold Line

21

31

♨

45 43

♨

42

♨♨

57
♨

58
Nippashigawa River

60
63

62

♨

♨

Local Beer Hall

JR

Ban-etsu ExpresswayenBan-etsu Sais

54

51

50
49

Midori-no-Mura
Freshwater Fish Aquarium 55 56

World Glass Plaza

39

52

E Area64

H AreaListelSki Fantasia

Inawashiro

65 66
67

Minamigaoka
Dairy

61

70

71

Kannonji Temple

Hokyoin Pagoda

Kawageta

69
68 Kobirakata

J AreaSekitoTenmangu Shrine

72

Ban-

etsu

Expre

73

59

Former Takizawa Honjin

Mt. Kawageta♨

Inawashiro Bandai
Kogen IC

Tonokuchihara
Kosenjyo294

Mt. Ichinoyama

53

Kamagajo
Castle Remains

46 ♨
47 48

Okinajima

49

44

♨

BandaiKawahigashi IC

Otsukayama Kofun

35

Mt. AkahaniRiver

Fudotaki Fall

G AreaI AreaOdakawa River28

Mt. Bandai
1816

♨

♨

BandaiAizu-mura

32
33 34

Kobo Shimizu Hutegawa

F AreaBandai Town

Sukawa River

27
30♨Naka-no-yu Mt. Kushigamine
29
24

Nametaki Fall

115♨

NekomaHappodaiguchi

26

Mt. Mayatake

38 37
Michi-no-eki 41 40

Aizu Domain
School Nisshinkan

459

D Area25

Akanuma Pond

Nagas

Mt. Kojogamine

23

Mt. Maruyama

20 19

Mt. Nekomagadake
1404

Higashi-Nagahara

22

n dai

aw

hiz

C Area7erOsOguninuma Wetland
Plant Community
Oguninuma Pond

Lake Onogawa♨

17♨ 18 ♨Morohashi Museum
11
8 Lake Akimoto
16of Modern Art♨ 12 15
Bishamon-numa Pond
14
13 Goshikinuma Ponds♨

Mt. Kyogamoriwa

Mt. Oguni
1271

10

Nakasenuma Pond

Toriage Toge

Inawashirokohan

Mt. Iimori(Graves of Byakkotai members)

To Shirakawa

Lake Inawashiro

To Konan

Joko

Oyaku-en
Aizu Bukeyashiki

0

1

2

avalanche dammed up rivers in the area.

Nakatsugawa Valley

Urabandai Site Station♨

Ikoi-no-moriGreenfield♨Kashiwagijo
Castle Remains

Osawanuma Pond

♨

River

Lake Sohara

36

B AreaMt. HachimoriO

The topography and nature surrounding the over

300 ponds and lakes that were formed after a debris

tsuga
wa

ld

Ro

Yacho-no-mori

■

Naka

w

za

ne

Yo

Onogawayuusui

4

ad

o

id

Ka

a

Urabandai Lakes andPonds Area B〈Legend〉● Geological features,
geographical features,
scenic sites● Plants and animals● Parks and gardens● Industries● Historical sites● Shrines and temples● Cultural facilities

To Yonezawa

3㎞

Published By The Bandaisan Geopark Council

sswa

y

〈Legend〉
Urabandai Lakes and Ponds Area
To Yonezawa

geographical features,
Approximately 300 ponds and lakes fromscenic sites
2
the largest lake, Lake Hibara, down to a
● Plants3and animals number of small nameless lakes, are scatParks
gardens tered over a 12 km by 12 km area on the
3．The
Goshikinuma
Lakes
and
Ponds
・
・
・
・
・
・
・
・
・
・
・
・
・
・
・
・
・
・
・
・
・
・・・
・・・・ and5●
3
2♨ History of Reforestation
north side of Mt. Bandai. From a historical
4．The
in Urabandai ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・ 9Industries●
perspective, this collection of lakes and5．Lake Hibara, Lake Onogawa, and Lake Akimoto ・・・・・・・・・・
・
・
・
・
・
・
・
10
● Historical sites
Onogawayuusui
ponds is relatively new. The lakes and4Nakasenuma and Rengenuma Ponds and Lake Sohara ・・・・
6．
・
・
・
・
・
・
・
12
● Shrines and temples
adponds were formed in the 1888 (Meiji 21)oR
Explanation of Terminology, Works Cited, List of Document Providers
・・・ 14 facilities● Culturaldoeruption of Mt. Bandai.
ai
CONTENTS

1

一切経山
1948

Azumagawa River

Nag
ase
gaw
a

Mt. Takahira

Fudoutaki Fall

Magarisawanuma Pond

9

Lake
HibaraMichi-no-eki
Urabandai

6

Toriage Toge

one of Fukushima Prefecture’s most well-25) and is visited by many tourists every

n daiGold Line

Mt. Ichinoyama

egawa

River

about Mt. Bandai and the 1888 Eruption
17 Mt. Bandai Eruption Memorial Museum: A museum that introduces information●♨
18 Urabandai Visitor Center: Provides information about nature in Urabandai●
45♨

Fudotaki Fall

43 44

♨

53

51

Freshwater Fish Aquarium 55

Saisen

♨♨

57
♨

58

Local Beer Hall

JR Ban-etsu

World Glass Plaza

Ban-etsu Expressway

1

Kamagajo
Castle Remains

Visitors 46
can♨also enjoy ♨guided tours.
52
47 48
♨
(Contact Information: Bandaisan
Geopark
Council, 0241-32-3180)
Okinajima

65 66
67

70

71
Kawageta

Urabandai Highland
Goshikinuma
Ponds

Lake Onogawa

Lake
HibaraFigure 2■TEL: 0241-32-2850
達沢不動滝
IC (exit) of■Access: A 20 minute car ride from the Inawashiro
the Banetsu Expressway.
■Open Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (April through November)
9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (December through March)■Closed: Tuesdays (when a National Holiday falls on a Tuesday,then closed the falling day) and for the End of the Yearand New Year Holiday (from December 29 to January 3)■Admission Fee: Free-of-charge■Website: http://www.urabandai-vc.jp/

2

ListelSki Fantasia

Inawashiro Bandai
Kogen IC

Lake
AkimotoLake Sohara

Mt. Kawageta♨

Inawashiro

1404.0

みのわスキー場

The visitor center is located at the entrance to the Goshikinuma Nature Trail (Goshikinuma
Tanshōro), which many people visit in all four seasons. The center is a great place to collect a variety
of information that will help you to fully enjoy nature in Urabandai. The center provides information
not only about the highlights in each season and the local area, but also about proper conduct in anational park.

By starting one’s trip at the Urabandai Visitor
42 Center, visitors
50 can get more out of their♨54
experience by viewing the center’s displays and collecting
49information about the vicinity
Midori-no-Mura
before heading out on the trail.
56♨

土湯トンネル

Mt．
Nekomagatake

Akanuma
Pond

Visitor Center

Nagas

named after Bishamon (Vaiśravaṇa), the Buddhist god of warfare in Japan.

1636

Odakawa River

Potamogeton natans pondweed flourishes in the Midoronuma Pond.
15 Midoronuma (one of the Goshikinuma Ponds):1816●
16 Bishamonnuma Pond (one of the Goshikinuma Ponds): The largest of the Goshikinuma Ponds,●
Mt. Bandai

沼尻スキー場

母
成
グ
リ
ー
ン
ラ
イ
ン

Sukawa River35

Mt. Akahani

115 year.

♨

1816

1430

Mt.Kushigamine

these lakes and ponds was designated as

Bandai Asahi National Park in 1950 (Shōwa

Akanuma Pond

Mt. Bandai
Mt. Akahani

The area around Mt. Bandai that includes

A 30 minute bus ride from Inawashiro Station on the bus to Bandai Kōgen

pond, named after
BentenNametaki
Fall(Saraswati), the Hindu goddess of music.

高森山

known natural sightseeing spots.

Ba

h

Os

Lake Inawashiro

there, and the area may not have become

22 to have been formed in a volcanic
6 Lake Hibara: The largest dammed-lake in Japan●459 eruption, 37 km in perimeter
7 Lake Onogawa: Superb views of the countless number of boulders jutting out from the water at the river outlet●
23 the clear
8 Lake Akimoto: The lake into which●
25 waters of rivers like the Nakatsugawa River flow
21
Oguninuma Wetland
9 Lake Sohara: A lake with a tranquil lakeside reminiscent of Scandinavia●
Plant Community
32 of Mt. Bandai
Mt. Maruyama
spot where a sea of trees can27
be viewed against the backdrop of the crater
10 Nakasenuma Pond: A scenic●
Oguninuma Pond
♨Naka-no-yu
33 3D34
Flow Mound Outcrop: The internal30
structureof flow mounds
can be seen in the South Parking Lot at the Bandaisan
World Theater.
Mt. Kushigamine
11●
Nekoma20 19 Aonuma Pond (one of the Goshikinuma
Happodaiguchi
Ponds):
12
24 The pond is29covered in a type of moss known as Drepanocladus fluitans.
●
Mt. Nekomagadake
311404
Shimizu
Hutarea at the bottom of this pond. (Ruri means lapis lazuli )flourishes
over a wide
13 Rurinuma Pond (one of the Goshikinuma Ponds): Bog moss Kobo●
Ponds):
26
14 Bentennuma Pond (one of the Goshikinuma●
28 Potamogeton fryeri flourishes in thisMt. Kojogamine
Mt. Mayatake
Mt. Oguni
1271

dammed up the rivers. Thus were born thethat used to be in the ravine might still be

Mt. Sayanoki
1064

AccessFigure 1

been no eruption, the rustic mountain village

MRicollapse, resulting in a debris avalanchelakes and ponds (Figure 2). If there had

t.

wa

ga

wa

r
ve

edifice of a peak called Kobandai to

至福島

La Vie Spa Urabandai

459

iza

7

Kofunuma Pond

Mt. Kyogamori

Oshizawa

However, the eruption caused the volcanic(Explanation of Terminology, pg. 14) that17
♨ 18 ♨Morohashi Museum
11
8 Lake Akimoto
16of Modern Art♨ 12 15
14 Bishamon-numa Pond
13 Goshikinuma Ponds♨

Ikoi-no-moriGreenfield♨

Nakatsugawa Valley

Lake Onogawa♨

1404.0

Originally, this area was a ravine into♨

Nakasenuma Pond

Mt．
Nekomagatake

which many rivers flowed, as in Figure 1.

Urabandai Site Station

♨

e

w Lin

ra Vie10

Osawanuma Pond

Kobanndai

1636

Kannonji Temple

Hokyoin Pagoda

至福島Road Blocked

Hiba

Lake Sohara

1816

1430

Riv
er

Kotakamori

Yacho-no-mori

Mt. Hachimori

O

吾妻小富士

Ōbanndai
Mt. Akahani

Mt.Kushigamine

Nag
ase
gaw
a

B Area

sugaw
a Riv
er

Yo

Nakat

z

ne

ld

a

aw

K

Lake Inawashiro

River

Toyamajo 5
CastleRemains
Nunotaki
Fall
1．The
Birth of the Lakes and Ponds in Urabandai・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・♨
Nukazukajima
Mt. Owasezawa
Iwayamajo
2．The 1888
(Meiji21)
Eruptionof
Mt.
Bandai・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・
2 Castle Remains

Okawa River

The Birth of the Lakes and Ponds in Urabandai

１ The Birth of the Lakes and Ponds in Urabandai
至福島● Geological features,Mt. Bandai, a stratovolcano composed of andesite, became volcanically

active roughly seven-hundred thousand years ago. From Lake Inawashiro on

the south side of the mountain, one can gaze out upon the graceful outline of

the mountain as it stretches wide across the horizon. However, on numerous

occasions in the past, portions of the mountain collapsed due to phreatic explosions (Explanation of Terminology, pg. 14). The eruption that occurred on July

Photo 1. Modern-day Mt. Bandai

15, 1888 (Meiji 21) was of this type. Before this eruption, Mt. Bandai consistedof four peaks, Ōbandai, Kobandai, Mt. Kushigamine and Mt. Akahaniyama.

Earthquakes began occurring one week before the eruption, but the local

people did not recognize these as precursors to the eruption. The groundstarted to shake around 7:00 a.m. on the morning of July 15, and the mountainbegan erupting at 7:45 a.m. As a result of a phreatic explosion, the peak of

Kobandai collapsed and the ensuing debris avalanche enveloped a settlement
at the north foot of the mountain. The debris avalanche and the volcanic mud
flow at its leading edge reached as

far as the town of Inawashiro on the
Lake
HibaraThere was little research being

performed on volcanos during that

Lake Onogawa
Goshikinuma
Ponds

period, so the people were aston-Lake Akimoto

ished by the sudden eruption.

Because the debris avalancheadvanced at the same speed as thatof an automobile, 477 people wereMt．
KusigaineŌbanndaiunable to escape and perished.

The damage caused by this erup-tion was on a scale larger than any

other eruption in Japan’s history since
the Meiji Period. The damage was

spread out over an area of 10km east

Figure 3. Extent of the damage caused by the 1888 eruption(from “Report on the 1888 Eruption of Mt. Bandai”)

to west and 16km north to southscale, the volcanic activity ceased after only a few hours. In the afternoon, a

new mountain appeared under the pitch-black skies of volcanic smoke thatenveloped Mt. Bandai. As you can see in Figure 4, Kobandai disappeared

without a trace, leaving the rough surface of the mountain exposed. What did
the people of the time think when they saw this? Now, beautiful lakes andponds such as Lake Hibara are situated in front of the dignified, rugged
contours of the mountain (see Photo 1).

Lake
Soharasoutheast side of the mountain.

centered on Kobandai (Figure 3). Although the damage was on such a large

Mt. Bandai Eruption Memorial Museum■TEL: 0241-32-2888■Access: Approximately 20 minutes by car from theInawashiro IC (exit) of the Banetsu Expressway■Open Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (April through November)
9:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (December through March)■Closed: Open-year round■Admission Fee: Adults: 600 yen,
Junior and SeniorHigh School Students: 500 yen,
Elementary School Students: 400 yen■Website: http://www.bandaimuse.jp

This museum was built in 1988 (Shōwa 63) on the 100th anniversary of the eruption of Mt.
Bandai. The museum contains reproductions of the 1888 (Meiji 21) eruption, such as large scalemodels and videos, for visitors. Other exhibits include the results of volcanic research done at thetime and a large number of photographs of eruptions. There are also storytelling events for kids inwhich the folktales of the Mt. Bandai area are told through picture-story shows. Volcanos fromJapan and all over the world are introduced, and there is even a model of the firstseismometer on display. Planned exhibitions are run on a seasonal basis, andnature walks and volcano walks are held several times a year.

Flow Mound Outcrops(South side parking lot of Bandaisan 3D World)

Figure 4. Mt. Bandai as seen from the north side three weeks after the eruption (from “The Eruption of Bandai-san 1889”)

3

In the 1888 (Meiji 21) eruption of Mt. Bandai,
the peak called Kobandai collapsed, sending adebris avalanche down the north side of Mt.
Bandai. As a result, a large number of slightly
elevated hills known as flow mounds (Explanationof Terminology, pg. 14) were created. Countless
flow mounds exist on the north side of Mt. Bandai,
but because most of them are covered by plantlife, it is not possible to see cross-sections ofthem. The only place where cross-sections arevisible is in the south side parking lot of Bandaisan 3D World.

4

The 1888 (Meiji 21) Eruption of Mt. Bandai

The 1888 (Meiji 21) Eruption of Mt. Bandai

２ The 1888 Eruption of Mt. Bandai

To Inawashiro

Lake Hibara

The greve of Endō Genmu
Yanaginuma
Pond
Hahanuma Pond
Chichinuma Pond
To Kitakata
Yarokunuma Pond（１）The Rurinuma, Aonuma, and Bentennuma Group

Midoronuma Pond
Akanuma
Pond

Tatsunuma Pond

AonumaPond
Bentennuma Pond

Bisyamonnuma
Pond

Goshikinuma Nature Trail

RurinumaPond

The Goshikinuma Lakes and Ponds area is well-known as a tourist spot representative of the Urabandai Area. The area contains around 30 large and smalllakes and ponds that are scattered along the 3.6km long nature trail that winds its
way east from the Uranbandai Products Hall on the southern lakeside of Lake
Hibara. You can see over ten ponds and lakes along the path, and the sceneryvaries from season to season. Like Lake Hibara, the ponds and lakes in this area
where formed in the 1888 (Meiji 21) eruption.
Most of these ponds are connected by an underground water source thatoriginates at Akanuma (Copper) Pond near the mouth of Mt. Bandai. The
Akanuma Pond and a number of these ponds are acidic because the hydrogensulfide produced by Mt. Bandai’s volcanic activity turns into sulfate ions which
dissolve in the water in large amounts. Some of the ponds are made up of
mixtures of water from different sources, including the water that flows down from
Mt. Azuma into Lake Hibara, and the deep strata groundwater of Mt. Bandai. As
a result, the water quality in each of these ponds slightly differs. In a number of
the Goshikinuma Lakes and Ponds, the lake or pond water scatters short wavelengths of visible light, making the ponds appear blue. It is thought that thisphenomenon occurs because of the large amounts of extremely minisculeparticles of aluminum silicate (known as allophane) in the water. In addition tothese variations in the water quality of each lake and pond, the colors of the lakes
and ponds will be different in each season depending on other factors such as theplants around or on the bottom of the pond or lake, the color of the sky, and thewind. Therefore, visitors can enjoy the beauty of distinctly different scenery eachtime they come.
The ponds and lakes of Goshikinuma are divided into four groups based on
their water quality and the plant-life that they support. The first group is the
Rurinuma, Aonuma, and Bentennuma group (also known as the Akanuma(copper pond) type). This type includes ponds and lakes that are strikingly transparent and contain large amounts of highly acidic ions and little plankton.
Rurinuma Pond, Aonuma Pond, and Bentennuma Pond are included in thisgroup. A defining characteristic of these lakes and ponds are the large mats ofmosses, including the moss Prepanocladus fluitans, which grow on the bottom of
the ponds.
The remaining groups of lakes and ponds are called the Goshikinuma type.

5

They are divided into different groups based on the type of aquatic weeds thatgrow in them. The groups include (1) the Akanuma (“red pond”) group, (2) the
Bishamonnuma, Tatsunuma, and Midoronuma group, and (3) the Yakuronuma,
Chichinuma, Hahanuma, and Yanaginuma group.

This group is known as the Akanuma (copper pond) type. These beautiful,clear-blue bodies of water contain large amounts of calcium and sulfuric acidions. Mosses known as Drepanocladus fluitans and Polytrichum commune var.
swartzii flourish at the bottom of these lakes and ponds. The largest moss mat is
a 10 meter-long (in diameter), 5 meter-thick mat that blankets the bottom of the
Rurinuma Pond. This moss mat rivals the green alga in Lake Akan known as
Aegaropila linnaei in its rarity.
Colonies of pondweed plants known as Potamogeton distinctus are scatteredin the eastern portion of Bentennuma Pond. From the banks of all three ponds,
colonies of reeds and willows extend out into the center of the ponds. It is here
where visitors can see the continual process of pond succession up-close.
As volcanically acidic ponds where the development of plant colonies on thebottom of the ponds can be observed up-close, these ponds are unique andtherefore important objects of academic study.

Rurinuma Pond
［ DATA ］
Altitude of water surface: 815m
above sea level
Maximum Depth: 9m
Area: 18,100 m2
The water of this clear-blue pond
contains large amounts of calcium andsulfate ions. A moss called Drepanocladus fluitans blankets the bottom of
the pond.

Aonuma Pond
［ DATA ］
Altitude of water surface: 815m
above sea level
Maximum Depth: 6m
Area: 5,750 m2
The water in this pond is extremelytransparent and contains large
amounts of calcium and sulfate ions.
Looking through the surface, visitors
can see the mat of Drepanocladus
fluitans that covers bottom of the pond.

6

The Goshikinuma Lakes and Ponds

The Goshikinuma Lakes and Ponds

３ The Goshikinuma Lakes and Ponds

Bishamonnuma Pond
［ DATA ］［ DATA ］

Altitude of water surface: 780m
above sea level
Maximum Depth: 13m
Area: 150,000 m2

Altitude of water surface: 810m
above sea level
Maximum Depth: 7m
Area: 30,300 m2

Among the Goshikinuma Ponds, thisis the largest pond and it occupies
about one third of the nature trail.
Compared to the other ponds, theacidity of the water in this pond is low.
Potamogeton fryeri and Myriophyllum
verticillatum grow in pond, and many
Solix jessoensis Seemen (whitewillows) and Populus tremula sieboldii(aspens) grow around the pond.

The water quality and biota in thislake vary from place to place. A mat of
the moss Drepanocladus fluitans is
spread out along the bottom of the westside of the pond. In the east side, there
is a colony of Potamogeton fryeri.

（２）The Akanuma (Red Pond) GroupAkanuma (Red) Pond

Midoronuma Pond
［ DATA ］
Altitude of water surface: 790m
above sea level
Maximum Depth: 5m
Area: 12,700 m2［ DATA ］
Altitude of water surface: 790m
above sea level
Maximum Depth: 4m
Area: 2,500 m2
The water quality in this pond issimilar to the water quality in the pondsof the Akanuma (copper pond) groupnear the crater of the volcano. This
pond contains high levels of iron andmanganese. Due to its acidity, there
are very few life forms. The red colored
elements in the water are particularlybold, and the rhizomes of the reeds thatgrow around the pond are the color ofrusted-iron. In recent years, theamount of metallic ions in the water has
been gradually decreasing, so the colorof the pond has been fading.

（３）The Bishamonnuma, Tatsunuma,
and Midoronuma Pond GroupThe distinctive feature of these ponds is that moss does not grow in them.
Instead, they have colonies of plants like Myriophyllum verticillatum and Potamogeton fryeri. The ponds are rich in plankton, and a relatively large variety ofbenthic animals inhabit the brushwood under the reeds and willows. Fish that
inhabit the pond include the downstream fat minnow and the Japanese dace.
The water quality of the Shimizunuma Pond that connects to the Bishamonnuma Pond from the southeast is significantly different from the water quality inthe Bishamonnuma Pond. The pond is supported by water that has seeped outof rotting leaves. In the Bishamonnuma and Midoronuma Ponds, water flows into
the pond through the bottom of the ponds. In different places in the ponds where
the water quality is different because of these springs, one can observe different
types of aquatic plants.

7

The water on the west side of thepond is a murky blue-green color andcontains a colony of Potamogeton fryeri
moss. In contrast, the east side is clear
and is densely covered in Potamogeton
natans moss. Within the pond, thewater quality and types of biota varyfrom place to place.

（４）The Yarokunuma, Chichinuma,
Hananuma, and Yanaginuma GroupThe water quality of these lakes and ponds are neutral and many different substances
are dissolved in the ponds. The water quality is the same as that of water taken for
irrigation from ponds or lakes that extend across flatlands. As a result, there are both alarge variety and amount of plankton that live in the pond. The water is an opaque, lightgreen color. The pond has a high level of productivity. In addition to shrimp and othersmall aquatic animals that
depend on the plankton for food,there are many fish like crucian
carp and Japanese dace.

Yarokunuma Pond
This is the only pond among theGoshikinuma Ponds that was named
after a person. The name was takenfrom the Professor of Silviculture(Forestry), Nakamura Yaroku, who
rendered distinguished service to theefforts to reforest Urabandai.

8

The Goshikinuma Lakes and Ponds

The Goshikinuma Lakes and Ponds

Bentennuma PondadFudoutaki Fall

ld

Magarisawanuma Pond

Kotakamori

Yacho-no-mori
Mt. Hachimori

sugaw
a Riv
er

５ Lake Hibara, Lake Onogawa, and Lake Akimotone

Yo

Lake Hibara, Lake Onogawa, and Lake Akimoto

Ka

Nakat

o

id

a

w
za

4

La Vie Spa UrabandaiOThe land on the north side of Mt. Bandai
Lake Sohara
Osawanuma Pond
that was devastated in the 1888 eruption
Nakatsugawa Valley
was state-owned. The government created♨
Lake
Urabandai Site Stationa plan to sell the land at a low price to any
HibaraRoad Blocked
member of the public who could succeed inMichi-no-eki
Nakasenuma Pond ♨Lake Onogawa
Urabandaibringing plant life back to the devastated
♨
♨
神楽岩
e
n
area.
Li
w
ra VieToriage Toge
Hiba
459
The first person to step forward was local♨
Kashiwagijo
Satō Eijirō. He worked with Shirai Tokuji♨♨
Castle Remains
Morohashi Museumof Modern Art
Lake Akimotofrom the town of Shiokawa. They borrowed♨
Bishamon-numa Pond
Photo 2. Endo Genmu
money from a wealthy residence of WakaMt. Kyogamori
Goshikinuma Ponds
matsu and tried to reforest the area, but their endeavor ended in failure. The♨
459
Mt. Sayanoki
next group to try was a sake brewery owner from Kitakata named Yabe1064r
2
Chōkichi and his son, Zenshirō. They used their entire fortune on the attempt,veiPerimeter:
37.5kmArea:
10.8kmMaximum
Depth:
About
31m
R
［
DATA
］
a
Lake
Hibaraw
Altitude of water surface: 819m above sea levelga
but in the end they also failed.
wazahi
After that, the person who received authorization to reforest the land wasOs
22Mt. Oguni
459 that were formed in theLake Hibara is the largest lake among the around 300 lakes
1271
Endō Jūjirō (Genmu) (Photo 2) from Aizu Wakamatsu, who began his attempt♨
eruption of 1888 (Meiji 21). On the east side of Lake Hibara is the lake with the third
Sukawa River23
in around 1910 (Meiji 43). Under the guidance of Professor of Silviculture andlargest area, Lake Onogawa, followed25by Lake Akimoto, which has the second largest
21
Oguninuma Wetlandarea.
politician Nakamura Yaroku, Endō planted over one hundred-thousand trees, Plant Community
32
Mt. Maruyama
Lake Hibara is longand narrow shaped, approximately
1km east to west and 18km
Oguninuma Pond
27
including Japanese red pines, Japanese cedars, and lacquer trees (Photo 3).
Naka-no-yu Mt. Kushigamine
33 34 narrow.
30♨
north
two lakes, Onogawa
and Akimoto, are also long and
19 to south. The other
Nekoma20
The soil left after the eruption was suitable for growing Japanese red pines, so
24 lakes 29
Mt. This
Nekomagadakeis owing 31
to the factHappodaiguchithat all threewere formed from relatively large mountain1404
Kobo Shimizu Hut
the pines grew successfully and the government was finally able to sell off thestreams that were dammed up. Many of the lakes, including Lake Hibara, were not
26
28 puddles initially formed and graduallyformed in an instant. As you can see in Photo 5,
government-owned land in 1919 (Taishō 8). Endō worked with Miyamori Daza- Mt. Kojogamine Mt. Mayatake
35
Mt. Ichinoyama
Fall
Mt. Akahani
the volume of waterNametaki
in eachpuddleOriginally, two lakes had formed in what
Mt.increased.
Bandaiemon and other residents of (Aizu) Wakamatsu to found the Bandai Forest
1816 axes. On the north side was Lake Hibara andare now the lakes with long north to south
Management Association. Rather than focusing on immediate profits fromon the south side was Lake Oshizawa. In the spring two years after the eruption, thetourism, the group developed a system of sustainable forest management.
two lakes became one due to water from♨melting snow.
Because of their contributions to reforesting the area, Endō and Miyamori
Because the watershed
45in43which Lakecan perhaps be called the pioneers of tourism at Urabandai. Endō is♨53Fudotaki Fall♨
44 arable
Hibara lies has few settlements and51
36
entombed under a boulder northwest of Aonuma Pond, one of the Goshi42
50
land, there is little pollution, and♨ because
54
49
kinuma Ponds. (Photo 4) (Map pg. 5)
t h e w a t e r i s o l i g o t r o p h i c ( l a c k i nMidori-no-Murag inFreshwater Fish Aquarium 55 56
nutrients), it is inhabited by very♨few plank38 37♨
46♨
ton and benthic organisms. Approximately
52
Michi-no-eki 41 40
47 48♨
Higashi-Nagahara
Bandai17 types of fish live in the lake,
includingIkoi-no-moriGreenfield

Kofunuma Pondt.

M

The History of Reforestation in Urabandai

４ The History of Reforestation in UrabandaiRoscenic sites● Plants and animals● Parks and gardens● Industries● Historical sites● Shrines and temples● Cultural facilities

Ba

n dai

Gold Line

Akanuma Pond

egawa

Nagas

River

Local Beer Hall

Hirota会津若松I.C至新潟

Photo 3. Urabandai immediately after reforestation work

49

Otsukayama Kofun

9

至下郷・南会津294

Aizuwakamatsu

Former Takizawa Honjin

118
121

Mt. Iimori(Graves of Byakkotai members)

World Glass Plaza

pond smelt, Japanese dace, Masu trout,
Okinajimaand crucian carp. Because the slope of then water♨ ♨is clean andiselakeside is steep
and
the
39
Sa
su
et
nJR BaAizu-muraBan-etsu Expressway
oligotrophic, very few aquatic plants live inthe lake. Lake 57
Hibara is the most upstream
Bandaiof all the many lakes in Urabandai and
Kawahigashi IC♨
65 in66thedistributes water to the other lakes
58 and animals that live in thearea. The plants
Minamigaoka
Nippashigawa Riverlake spread to other lakes and ponds
Dairythrough Lake Hibara’s drainage channel.
60
Because of this, Lake Hibara plays a critical61
role63in preserving the plant and animal life in
49
Photo 4. The grave of Endō Genmu.
Urabandai. 62
Bandai Town

Kamagajo
Castle Remains

Aizu Domain
School Nisshinkan

59

ListelSki Fantasia

Inawashiro

70

Inawashiro Bandai
Kogen IC

67

71

10

Kannonji Temple

Hokyoin Pagoda

Kawageta

Photo 5 Gazing at Mt. Bandai from a Distance,
hoto taken by Endō Rikurō
69 Prefectural Library)(Archives of Fukushima
SekitoTonoguchihara
Kosenjo64

Mt. Kawageta♨

68 Kobiragata

Tenmangu Shrine

72

Ban

-ets

u Ex

pres

73
Inawashirokohan

To Shirakawa

Lake Inawashiro

To KonanswayPerimeter: 9.8km Area: 1.4km2 Maximum Depth: About 22m
Altitude of water surface: 794m above sea level［ DATA ］

Lake Onogawa is a long andnarrow shaped lake, oriented on anortheast to southwest axis. The
lake was formed by the damming ofrivers and streams like the Nakano
Stream (Nakanozawa) and the Ono
River (Onogawa) that flow downfrom Mt. Nishiazuma. The debris
avalanche at the time of the eruption
reached as far at the center of thelake and a number of flow mounds(see Explanation of Terminology, pg.
14) peek out of the surface of thelake. The settlements on the Ono
River were submerged and as a result had to be moved. When the water level in the lake is low,
the submerged gravestones that lie at the bottom of the lake can be seen.
Currently, a number of waterways, including the Ono River, and the drainage water from Lake
Hibara, flow into Lake Onogawa. In addition to the Nagase River (Nagasegawa), the waterways
that take water from the lake include a tunnel built the shortest possible distance between Lake
Onogawa and the lake to its east, Lake Akimoto. The water that drains through the tunnel isused for hydroelectric power generation.
Because the water of Lake Onogawa is made up of water collected from Lake Hibara andfrom the rivers and streams flowing down from the mountain located on the north from the lake,
Mt. Nishiazuma, it is a mesotrophic lake (a lake with an intermediate level of productivity ) andcontains a relatively large number of plankton and benthic organisms. There are 18 species offish that inhabit the lake including pond smelt, Japanese dace, Masu trout, and crucian carp.
At one time, freight trains carried lumber from Dekodaira to Mt. Kengamine along the northside of this long and narrow lake. Traces of the path of the railroad can be found in a forest ofKonara oak tree and as part of the Goshikinuma Nature Trail.

Lake Akimoto［ DATA ］

Perimeter: 19.8km Area: 4.6km2 Maximum Depth: About 34m
Altitude of water surface: 736m above sea level

６ Nakasenuma Pond, Rengenuma Pond, and Lake Sohara
Lake Sohara Nature Trail

Lake Sohara

Lake Hibara

Kyūkamura Hall
Rengenuma Pond Nature Trail
multi- purpose square
Urabndai
Sight Station

Rengenuma
Pond

Hibara Lakeside Nature Trail

Nakasenuma Pond ●Lookout Station

Hasunuma
PondKyūkamuraūmain building
Kyūkamura Nature Trail

Himenuma
Pond
Nakasenuma
Pond
Nature Trail

Nakasenuma Pond

Nakasenuma Pond ［ DATA ］Altitude of water surface: 820m above sea level

The debris avalanchethat occurred in the 1888
(Meiji 21) eruption of Mt.
Bandai struck the settlements in Akimotohara andan entire village wasburied. The damming of
the Nagasegawa River due
to the debris avalanche
resulted in the birth of Lake
Akimoto, which was filled by the end of October.
The water in this lake is collected from many lakes in Urabandai, including the rich watersof Lake Hibara and Lake Onogawa that flow down from the Azuma Mountain Range.
The lake is classified as a mesotrophic lake, inhabited by a type of phytoplankton known
as diatoms and several types of benthic organisms from the Chironomidae family. 17
species of fish, including Masu trout, Japanese char, and rainbow trout inhabit the lake insizable populations. Many varieties of willows such as Salix integra and Solix jessoensis
Seemen (white willow) grow on the lakeside. A variety of Cyperus microiria as well as rushgrow at the water’s edge. In addition to endangered species such as Myriophyllum spicatum, a large colony of Najas yezoensis grows across of wide swath of the lakebed in theshallow waters of the lake.

The ponds of Nakasenuma
and Renge and Lake Sohara
are located in the area
between Lake Hibara andLake Onogawa. Compared tolakes like Lake Hibara, they
are relatively small, but containbeautiful scenery and are
popular places for tourists towalk next to in order to enjoy
the views and flora and fauna.
Nakasenuma Pond acts as a channel for water flowing downstream from Lake Hibara toLake Onogawa. Water flows into the pond from the sluice of Lake Hibara on the north side.
The pond has islands and an intricate coastline. On a slightly raised hill on the north side of
the pond is a structure known as the Azumaya, an attractive observation deck for tourists toview Nakasenuma Pond. The classic view of Mt Bandai from Urabandai is the view fromthis observation deck of the forest that extends out from the south side of the deck andsurrounds Nakasenuma Pond, and Mt. Bandai’s explosive caldera in the distance.
Because water flows into the pond from Lake Hibara, the water quality is oligotrophic(lacking in nutrients). Around the pond, Alnus japonica (Japanese alders) and reeds
flourish. Many different aquatic plants such as Potamogeton distinctus (a variety of
pondweed) and Nymphaea tetragona live on the water’s surface. There are also a large
number of fish and other wild animals that inhabit the pond.

11

12

Nakasenuma and Rengenuma Ponds and Lake Sohara

Lake Hibara, Lake Onogawa, and Lake Akimoto

Lake Onogawa

2Nakasenuma and Rengenuma Ponds and Lake Sohara

The Rengenuma Pond is a small pondon the south side of Uranbandai Site
Station, but it an inviting place from which
to observe the rich natural beauty of thearea. There is a 700 meter-long barrier
free boardwalk installed around the pondso even those in wheelchairs can enjoy
the variety of flora and fauna in the area.
Forests of Japanese alders and willow trees proliferate across the slightly elevated hills
around the boardwalk. There also many vines, including grapevines, Asian poison ivy, andAkebia quinata. The autumn leaves are particularly lovely. In the pond, aquatic plants
such as water shields, Potamogeton natans, and Nymphaea tetragona grow inabundance. With inhabitants like the Japanese bush warbler, the narcissus flycatcher, thegreat spotted woodpecker, and water birds that fly to the pond, it is also a place wherevisitors can enjoy wild birds close-up in all four seasons.

Lake Sohara

Area: 0.35km2 Maximum Depth: 12m［ DATA ］ Altitude of water surface: 825m above sea level

This pond on the northern edge ofBandai Kōgen lies at the furthest edge ofthe debris avalanche that resulted fromthe 1888 (Meiji 21) eruption. The areawith a forest of broad-leaved trees that
extends out from the west side of the pond
and a Japanese larch plantation was
spared from the eruption. As such, thearea is rich in large Mongolian oaks and many other plants that have been growing near theforest since long ago. This is in direct contrast to the vegetation that proliferates acrossBandai Kōgen, an area that was struck by the debris avalanche. The vegetation at Bandai
Kōgen is mainly made up of pampas grass, Japanese alder, and a variety of willows.
Lake Sohara is a dystrophic lake that stores water from the forest of beech and Mongolian oaks that proliferates on the north side of the lake. The water in the lake is a murkybrown color due to the substances that are released from decomposing tree leaves.
Despite the murky appearance of the lake, plankton propagates in abundance and it is full ofaquatic plants like Potamogeton fryeri and water shields and frequented by many wild birds.
A boardwalk has been put in place around the pond and visitors enjoy the scenery of theforest and lake in peace while thoughtfully observing the flora and fauna. When you standnear the boat landing on the south side of the lake and gaze out at the forest and thesurface of the lake, you may feel that you are looking out upon a Scandinavian landscape.

Explanation of Terminology
Debris Avalanches

A debris avalanche is phenomenon in which a volcanic edifice collapses on a large scale and at a highspeed. Debris avalanches differ from pyroclastic flows and mud flows in that they are made up of broken up
large and small rocks and contain no magmatic matter and little to no water. In place in which the debris
from the avalanche accumulated, rugged, hilly terrain (flow mounds) formed.

Phreatic Explosions

Underground water within the volcano is heated up by magma and turns into steam. The pressure fromthe steam causes an explosion. In contrast, an explosion in which the magma directly touches the waterand causes an explosion is known as a phreatomagmatic eruption. However, the 1888 eruption of Mt.
Bandai was of the former type, known as a phreatic explosion.

Flow Mounds

Volcanic eruptions and earthquakes can trigger debris avalanches. Flow mounds are small hills of
accumulated debris from these avalanches.

Akanuma (Copper) Pond

The Akanuma (Copper) Pond is a dammed-lake, located at the explosive caldera of Mt. Bandai that wasformed after the 1888 eruption. The pond is also a water source for the Goshikinuma Ponds.

Works Cited“1888 Bandaisan Funka Hōkokusho” (Report on the 1888 Eruption of Mt. Bandai). Chūō Bōsai Kaigi(Central Disaster Management Council), 2005.
“Kyōdō Kikakuten Aizu Bandaisan” (Joint Exihibition: Aizu Bandaisan). Fukushima Kenritsu Hakubutsukan,
Bandaisan Funka Kinenkan, Noguchi Hideyo Kinenkan (Fukushima Prefectural Museum, Mt. Bandai
Eruption Memorial Museum, and The Dr. Hideyo Noguchi Memorial Hall), 2008.
“Bandaisan no Ikari 1888” (The Wrath of Mt. Bandai 1888). Nen Bandaisan Funka Kinenkan (Mt. Bandai
Eruption Memorial Musuem), 1998.
“Fukushima Koshō Seibutsu Saiensu” (The Science of Organisms in the Lakes and Ponds of Fukushima).
Fukushima Ken Hoken Kankyō Bu Kōgai Kisei Ka (Contamination Regulation Division, Health and Environmental Department, Fukushima Prefecture), 1992.
Kikuchi, Y. and Sekiya, Seikei , “The Eruption of Bandai-san”. Journal of the College of Science, Imperial
University (1889)

Bandai San Shiki no Utsuroi (Seasonal Changes at Mt. Bandai), Rekishi Shunjū Sha (Shunjusha Publishing
Company), 2003.
“Urabandai Echizu” (Picture Map of Urabandai), Urabandai Chiku Pāku Boranteia Uneikyōkai (Urabandai
District Park Volunteer Management Association)

List of Document Providers

Fukushima Prefectural Library and Hokkaido-Chizu Co, Ltd.

B
Bandaisan Geopark Area Guide Book □Urabandai Lakes and Ponds Area
Published March, 2014

Sight Station■Written and Edited by■TEL: 0241-32-2411■Access: A 25 minute car ride from the Inawashiro IC (exit)of the Banetsu Expressway.
■Open Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (April through October)
9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (November through March)■Closed: Every Wednesday (when a National Holiday falls on
a Wednesday, closed the following day)
■Admission Fee: Free-of-charge(the restrooms are pay-restrooms)

The Urabandai Sight Station is located in the vicinity of the Renge Pond and provides information
to visitors about trekking. From the front of the Sight Station, visitors can gaze out upon magnificent
views of Renge Pond and Mt. Bandai. Visitors can freely use the rest corner inside the building or
the benches outside to rest, for a meal, or other like activities.

13

Abe Takeshi (Member of the Botanical Society of Japan)
Sato Hiroshi (Director of the Mt. Bandai Eruption Memorial Museum)Taketani Youjirou (Curator at Fukushima Prefectural Museum)■Published by

The Bandaisan Geopark Council
Kitashiobara Village Nature and Environmental Utilization Center
1093 Aza Kengamine, Oaza Hibara, Kitashiobara-mura, Fukushima Prefecture 969-2701
TEL：0241-32-3180 FAX：0241-32-2927■Printed by

Aidex Co., Ltd.

14

Explanation of Terminology, Works Cited, List of Document Providers

10,000 m
Rengenuma Pond ［ DATA ］ Area:
Altitude of water surface: 825m above sea level