Kitashiobara Village, Fukushima Prefecture. One of the four lakes in Urabandai, Lake Hibara.
Standing by the lakeside, the northern slope of Mount Bandai quietly reflects on the lake's surface. This might be a familiar scene that has been used in tourism posters many times.
However, did you know that beneath that water lies a once-thriving village?
Lake Hibara is not a lake created by nature over a long period. It is a lake that was born from the eruption of Mount Bandai on July 15, 1888 (Meiji 21). And at the bottom of that lake was a settlement called Hibara Village.
On the morning of July 15, 1888
On July 15, Meiji 21, shortly after 7 AM.
The peak known as Kobandai, located on the northern side of Mount Bandai, suddenly collapsed. It was a landslide caused by a steam explosion.
The fallen rocks and debris flowed down like an avalanche towards the villages at the foot of the mountain. This is referred to in geology as a rockslide. The amount of debris that flowed down is said to be equivalent to about 1,000 Tokyo Domes.
This rockslide blocked several rivers, including the Hibara River, which flows at the northern foot of Mount Bandai. The water that lost its way gradually, but surely, swallowed the villages in the valley.
This is how Lake Hibara, which appeared within a few days, came to be. It is the largest lake among the Urabandai Four Lakes (Hibara Lake, Sobara Lake, Ono River Lake, Akimoto Lake), and at the same time, around three hundred ponds of various sizes were born on that day. Goshikinuma, Nakase-numa, Aonuma, and Bishamon-numa were all lakes that were created from this day onward.
The vanished village, Hibara Village
Hibara Village, which sank to the bottom of Lake Hibara, was not just an ordinary cold village.
During the Edo period, this was a key post town along the Yonezawa Highway that connected Yonezawa and Aizuwakamatsu. It was a village where travelers from the Yonezawa domain would take a break before crossing the last steep pass towards Aizu. Alternatively, it was a village where travelers heading from Aizu to Yonezawa would stop for lodging before tackling the pass.
There were houses lined up, a shrine, a temple, rice fields, and paths where children ran around. Such ordinary life sank beneath the water.
The number of people who lost their lives in this eruption was 477. It is recorded as one of the largest volcanic disasters in Japan since the Meiji era.
Some people fled with their families but were too late. Others were out working in the mountains when their homes were swept away. There are tragic stories of those who witnessed the eruption of Mount Bandai while working in the fields and had to flee, leaving their elderly mothers at home. Such stories are still passed down in the local community.
Things that appear when the water recedes
Lake Hibara is a lake where the water level fluctuates greatly, like a dam lake. There are times in early spring when meltwater flows in or at the beginning of winter when snow accumulates, causing the water level to drop significantly.
At that time──in the shallow areas of the lake, the roots of trees that were once planted along the approach appear. The second torii gate that sank to the lake bottom reveals itself.
During the spring to early autumn period when the lake is full from meltwater, this scenery cannot be seen. The lake still holds that memory deep at its bottom.
When we usually bring customers to this lakeside, we make it a point to say, "There is a village beneath this water" as the first line. Most people stop and take another look at the lake. What seems like an ordinary lake transforms into a place of memory from that moment.
Seeing Lake Hibara after knowing its story
If you look without knowing anything, Lake Hibara is just a beautiful lake. A mirror-like surface, the shadow of Mount Bandai, flocks of wild birds in early summer, and autumn leaves.
However, once you know that there was a village beneath this water, the exact same scenery begins to look different.
The wind that crosses the water's surface feels like it carries someone's voice. The lakeside path seems to connect to a road that someone has walked before. There are moments when the overlapping time of the land, rather than the words of a sightseeing guide, suddenly appears.
I think that's what travel is all about in the end. It's not about where you travel, but how much you know and walk. What you know changes the scenery you see.
If you visit Lake Hibara
Lake Hibara is located about 30 minutes by car from Inawashiro Station on the JR Ban'etsu West Line. While there are train and bus options, traveling by car is convenient if you want to enjoy the scenery while circling the lake.
Walking the Lake Hibara Lakeside Trail (about 1 hour and 15 minutes)
On the eastern shore of the lake, the "Lake Hibara Lakeside Trail" maintained by the Ministry of the Environment stretches for about 4 km. It takes about an hour and a half on foot. This is a path that walks right next to the lake surface, which you can't see from a car.
The quiet sound of water, the voices of birds, the scent of the forest. As you slow down, the things you can feel increase. "The sounds and scents of Urabandai that you can't see from a car" are here.
The season when the water level drops (November to April)
If you want to see the remnants of the former Hibara Village, the recommended time is from November to April when the water level drops.
Places you want to visit together
- Goshikinuma Nature Trail ── A path that takes you around five ponds that change color, born from the same eruption in 1888.
- Nakase-numa Trail ── A unique landscape created by rock debris, where a hill (flowing mountain) floats in the pond.
- Bandai Mountain Geopark ── Learn about the landforms created by eruptions from a geological perspective.
Would you like to join me on a journey to encounter stories?
At Tabinoito, guide Catherine, who has lived in Aizu for half a century, shares stories of the land that are not found in guidebooks, providing a unique experience for one group per day.
Whether you want to explore the memories of Hibara Village together or take a leisurely walk along the shores of Lake Hibara, we will tailor the pace of the tour to your physical condition and interests. You can leave all the long-distance driving and arrangements to us.
"I want to explore slowly with my spouse," "I want to take my parents on a trip," "I want to learn more about history"—whatever your request, please feel free to consult us. Just consulting is fine; we will not engage in any pushy sales tactics.
👉 Get a free consultation via LINE:
https://page.line.me/tabinoito
👉 View travel plans for senior couples:
https://tabinoito.com/senior/
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https://tabinoito.com/oyakouko/
Reference materials
- Bandai Mountain Geopark Official Site
- Eruption of Mount Bandai (Wikipedia)
- 1888 Mount Bandai Eruption Disaster Lessons (Cabinet Office Disaster Prevention Information)
- Bandai Asahi National Park (Ministry of the Environment)
- Urabandai Visitor Center Local Exhibits and Interviews
- Local coverage (visit and interviews by Tabinoito guide Catherine)
Author of this article
Catherine ── A guide who has lived in Fukushima Prefecture, Urabandai, and Aizu for half a century. She runs the private tour company "Tabinoito." With over 30 years of guiding experience, she is deeply knowledgeable about the local nature, history, and cultural beliefs. She provides tours of Urabandai and Aizu while sharing stories of the land that are not found in guidebooks, limited to one group per day.
