This is a continuation of my summer vacation photo walk in Aizu/Urabandai.
I have been visiting this area every year and have become familiar with it, so I have fewer chances to pick it up and look at it by myself these days, but when I get a sightseeing guide of Aizu/Urabandai, “hiking in Goshiki-numa” is highly recommended as the main event of sightseeing in the area.
The rock avalanche that occurred during the eruption of Mt. Bandai in the Meiji era (1868-1912) dammed up the river and created numerous lakes and marshes at the northern foot of the mountain. The name “Goshiki-numa” (five-colored swamp) is derived from the fact that the surface of the water in each swamp appears different colors depending on the season and the amount of light, due to differences in the composition of the water from the volcano. The “Goshiki-numa Nature Trail” hiking trail has been developed around some of the swamps known for their beautiful colors and scenery, and has become one of Urabandai’s representative tourist resources.
Goshiki-numa is not the name of five specific swamps, but a generic name for hundreds of lakes and marshes in this area. Among them, there are many waterside areas that are worth visiting, even if they are off the hiking trails mentioned above.
One of them is Yaroku-numa.
The scenery is so beautiful and “postcard-worthy” that everyone who comes here ends up taking a “postcard-worthy” picture. I am a bit of an unaware photo enthusiast, but I like the pictures I take every time.
Yaroku-numa itself is not private property because it is in a national park, but the lakeside is the front yard of the Urabandai Kogen Hotel, so it is effectively a “private swamp” that only hotel guests are allowed to enter. Since I was a guest of the hotel, I was able to take pictures of the private swamp with a big smile on my face. I used Lumix G99, Leica DG12-60, and Leica DG50-200 for this article.
I’ve been here several times and it seems to be a swamp where the wind is rarely completely calm. The slight rippling water mirror is also a good thing (or so I tell myself).
Autumn silver grass in full bloom and swaying in the wind is nice, but young silver grass like this? I think it is also quite tasteful to see young silver grass like this shining in the sunlight.
Since this is a hotel garden, there will be some staged items available. This is a picture of this.
At Goshiki-numa, you will encounter dragonflies of all kinds. As usual, I don’t know the names of the creatures, but this dragonfly was predominant at this location at this time on this day.
I took a lot of pictures, so if I’m not careful and post them sloppily, the article will become redundantly long again. The last one is a 180 degree look back at the chic appearance of the Urabandai Kogen Hotel against the summer sky.
I have no interest or affiliate relationship with them, but I recommend them, as well as the allure of private swamp photography.
