Hiking
Hike to the 1,949-meter summit of Mount Issaikyo to observe alpine plants and a beautiful crater lake
The Jododaira area, full of volcanic landscapes and floral wetlands, is an hour from Fukushima Station by bus. It has a visitor center with information about local flora and fauna, numerous hiking and walking trails, and an astronomical observatory. The Mount Issaikyo hiking trail is particularly popular for its views of the sapphire-blue Lake Goshikinuma.
Lake Goshikinuma, "the eye of the witch"
Start your hike at the Jododaira parking lot, taking the walkway that winds through the Jododaira Wetlands. After ascending a steep slope to the Sugadaira Mountain Hut, take the path leading to Mount Issaikyo. The summit stands at 1,949 meters and offers striking views of the Azuma mountain range and Lake Goshikinuma, also known as "the eye of the witch."
The path from Mount Issaikyo to Kamanuma Marsh
Descend the same path until you reach Sugadaira Mountain Hut, then take the trail on the right, which will take you to Kamanuma Marsh. The serene marsh is particularly beautiful on clear days when Mount Higashi-Azuma is reflected on its surface. On the way, you can observe flowering clusters of cotton grass and miyamarindo (Gentiana nipponica).
Jododaira
Ubagahara, to the south of Kamanuma Marsh, is a grassland plateau rich in a variety of alpine plants. From Ubagahara, trails lead to Mount Higashi-Azuma, Yajidaira, and Jododaira. Take the path to the Jododaira parking lot to return to the hike's starting point.
