What to know
Urabandai (literally "behind Bandai"), also known as the Bandai Highlands, is a highland area dotted with ponds north of Mount Bandai. It's a popular outdoor destination with beautiful scenery, plenty of walking and hiking trails in summer, and skiing in winter.
Urabandai is also a great spot for autumn colors. Because of the varying elevations, you can usually see colorful foliage somewhere in the region throughout October.
The most popular walking trail is the Goshikinuma Walk, or "Five Colored Pond Walk." This flat, well-maintained nature trail winds through forest and passes many ponds, some of which shimmer in different shades of blue. The trail is about 4 kilometers long, takes about an hour to walk, and starts and ends at different points.
Other trails follow the shores of Lake Hibara, the largest lake in the highlands, and lead past another pond and marshland to Hotel Kyukamura Urabandai. A much more challenging option is climbing Mount Bandai, which takes about 8 hours round trip from Urabandai and requires proper hiking gear.
Another way to enjoy the scenery is to drive along the sightseeing roads. Originally toll roads, they are now free to promote tourism. The Bandai-Azuma Lake Line offers panoramic views over the highlands and passes the scenic Nakatsugawa Gorge before reaching the even more spectacular Bandai-Azuma Skyline.
A small resort town sits among the lakes and ponds of Urabandai, offering a range of accommodations from small family-run pensions to large ryokan with hot spring baths. The town also has a museum about Mount Bandai and its last eruption.
Visitor information
Practical details to check before planning this stop.
- Hours
- Closed
- Admission
- English name
- Original name
- Urabandai (Bandai Kogen)
Verify details before visiting. Currency conversion is indicative and may vary over time.