Ura-Bandai
Ura-Bandai is the name for the area north of Mount Bandai which was dramatically formed during the eruption of the volcano in 1888. The area contrasts greatly with the smooth southern slopes on the opposite side of the mountain. It is a plateau at 1200 meters above sea level and an area of outstanding natural beauty. There are over 200 lakes and marshes at Ura Bandai, the three main lakes being Lake Hibara, Lake Onogawa and Lake Akimoto. Around the biggest lake, Lake Hibara, you can find many hotels, guesthouses, and pensions etc. as the area is popular with tourists from all over Fukushima Prefecture and beyond. One of the most fascinating parts of Ura Bandai is called Goshikinuma (the marshes of five colors). During the massive eruption of 1888, streams of boiling mud melted minerals in the ground to form mysterious colored marshes of cobalt blue, emerald green etc. There are ten such marshes in a 4 kilometer area. Around these marshes is a pleasant hiking course which takes about an hour to complete. The surrounding woods are havens for many wild birds native to Japan and are exceptionally beautiful all year round.