Ougoku Numa, surrounded by majestic mountains, boasts a vast marshland and a breathtaking spectacle of Nikko daylilies blooming profusely from late June to early July.
Overview
Ougoku Numa is a lake located in Kita-Shiobara Village, Fukushima Prefecture, and is part of the Bandai-Azuma National Park. Situated at an altitude of 1,090 meters (3,576 feet), it's surrounded by beech forests. Ougoku Numa is located in the caldera of Mount Komagatake. While once considered a caldera lake formed by a collapsed caldera, it's now believed to have formed when the ancient Mount Komagatake experienced a massive landslide to the northeast 500,000 years ago, creating a maar (explosion crater). Subsequent volcanic activity formed the current peak of Mount Komagatake, and Ougoku Numa formed in the resulting depression.
The main attraction of Ougoku Numa is the vast expanse of Nikko daylilies that bloom spectacularly from late June to early July. The sight of these vibrant yellow flowers covering the entire area is breathtaking and captivates many visitors. In early summer, Japanese lilies (Rengetsuji) also bloom, adding to the colorful array of flowers around Ougoku Numa.
In recent years, the area has also gained popularity among mountain skiers and snowshoers in winter. Ougoku Numa is a nature-rich area that displays a different beauty in each season.
From Kanazawa Pass (a 30-minute drive from Kitakata city center), it's a 30-minute walk to the vast Nikko Daylily colony. However, bus transportation is also available. Other common routes include the one starting from Yukozawakuchi in Kita-Shiobara Village (Ougoku Seseragi Hiking Trail; a 1-hour walk to Ougoku Numa, then another 30 minutes to the Nikko Daylily colony), the route from the Rabispa Urabandai hot spring facility via Mount Ougoku (Ougoku Panorama Hiking Trail; a 1.5-hour walk to Ougoku Numa), and the route from Happoudai, midway along the Bandai-san Gold Line, via Mount Komagatake (Komagatake Yamabiko Hiking Trail; a 2.5-hour walk to Ougoku Numa). Parking is available at each trailhead. There's also an unmanned emergency shelter called the Ougoku Numa Rest House to the north of Ougoku Numa. Show route
INFO
During the Nikkōkisuge (daylily) season (roughly from early June to mid-July), general vehicle traffic is restricted on the forest road leading to Kanazawa Pass, and a substitute bus service is provided. To protect the natural environment, please refrain from entering areas outside of designated walkways.