Bandai-san Geopark english1

The peak of Ko-bandai [Little Bandai] erupted due to a phreatic explosion that caused the body of the mountain to collapse (debris avalanche) and flow down the valley.477 people lost their lives and this was the biggest volcano disaster after the Meij i Res torat ion. In the nor th side of Mt . Bandai (Urabandai Highland), the debris avalanche dammed r ivers and formed lakes, including Lake Hibara

The collapsed wall(Explosion crater)

Mt. Bandai（Ō-bandai）

Ko-bandai’s Collapse and Formation of Lakes and Ponds

Ko-bandaiMt. Kushi-ga-mine

Mt. Kushi-ga-mine Mt. Bandai

Lake Hibara

Topography of Mt. Bandai before and after the eruption

Flow Mounds

Mt. Bandai Which Shows Inside the Volcano

The 1888 (Meiji 21) eruption of Mt.

Bandai made most parts of the old

and rich forests into a wasteland at

once. You can meet the ecosystem

at various levels of its changing into

stable forests. This process took over

a hundred years in Urabandai.

The watersid

eMarsh Moist

forest

Young forest

Stable

forest Farmland

Various Ecosystem Succeeded Since 1888

Nature Recovering from Wasteland

Mt. Bandai is a volcano formed of andesite magma. As this kind of magma has moder-ate stickiness, the volcano’s eruption becomes explosive and expels lava. This type of eruption can include the releasing of volcanic ash. Because of these features, the volcano becomes a beautiful stratovol-cano as it grows.However, an eruption which occurred about fif ty thousand years ago led the southwest part of Mt. Bandai to collapse and cause a debris avalanche which formed flow mounds at its foot. This debris avalanche also dammed up rivers which flowed into the Aizu basin in the west, and created Lake Inawashiro. The only island, Okinashima, in Lake Inawashiro is also one of those flow mounds.

The Hidden Past Behind itsGraceful Shape, the Mt. Fuji of Aizu

Flow MoundsLake Inawashiro

Okinashima (flow mounds)

Mt.Bandai 1816m

山体崩壊と流れ山

Flow Mounds

The Collapsed Wall(Explosion crater)

The Growth and Collapse of Mt. Bandai

❶The largest blooms of the　Asaza Lily left in Japan

❷Swans and their visiting places on Lake Inawashiro　(a National Natural Treasure)

The Fascination of Lake Inawashiro, the Mirror Reflecting Heaven

Every year more than 2,000 swans visit the northern coast of Lake Inawashiro, and spend the winter from early October to early April. Inawashiro Town set up “Conservation Society for Nature of Lake Inawashiro” in 2000（Heisei 12） and has worked on the conservation of the environment.

Asaza [fringed water-lily] is an aquatic plant which used to be seen in plenty of lakes and marshes, but is now designated as an endan-gered species in Japan.Asaza is said to have the effect of purifying water, prevention of erosion, and fish preser-vation. The scenery it creates is enjoyed as a key attraction of Lake Inawashiro.

Nature and Water Environment of Lake Inawashiro PeopleNatureLand

Proof of the Recovery fromthe Volcano Disaster

Living with the Volcano

Judging f rom the i l lus t rat ion of the mountain drawn r ight af ter the 1888 (Meiji 21) eruption, people must have not expected that vegetation would recover in a short period on the Urabandai High-land. However, with the help of a policy of the government at that time, many people star ted a reforestation project for this devastated area. Endō Jūjirō (Genmu) is the one who succeeded in reforestation, among those who tried. He planted over one hundred-thousand trees including Japanese red pines in the devastated land. Forests in Urabandai show both the recov-ering power of nature and the history of our predecessors who worked hard for this recovery.

PeopleNatureLand

PeopleNatureLand

PeopleNatureLand

PeopleNatureLand

Stories of the Land, Nature, and People Connectedby Bandai-san Geopark

Inawashiro

Town, Ba

ndai Town

, and Kita

shiobara V

illage

Stories of the Land, Nature, and People Connected

by Bandai-san Geopark

Debris Avalanche, Flow Mounds, Lakes and Ponds: A Mountain of Treasures, Forever and Ever

Welcome to Bandai-san Geopark

View of Bandai Volcano

Topography of Flow Mounds

Asaza Lilly and Mt.Bandai

Swans and Lake Inawashiro

Immediately following the Eruption

Planting for around Goshikinuma

Endō Genmu Japanese red pines

Mt. Bandai（Ōbandai）

Mt.AkahaniMt.Kushigamine

Mt.Bandai from the north before the Eruption Modern-day Mt.Bandai and Lake Hibara

After the EruptionBefore the Eruption

Mt.Bandai on after a week the Eruption

An Anchor for One’s Spirit

Mt. Bandai used to be called ‘Mt. Iwa-hashi’ because it was as if a ladder [梯子: hashi-go] of rock [磐: Iwa] extends to heaven. A local deity, Bandai Myōjin is enshrined at the summit of the mountain, and you can visit the Iwahashi Shrine at the foot of the mountain.In the Hanitsu Shrine, Hoshina Masayuki, the First Aizu Lord, is apotheosized as a guardian god of Aizu. The ruin of Enichi-ji Temple, Enichi-ji Temple founded by a priest ‘Tokuitsu’,is Buddhist temple built at the foot of Mt. Bandai, can be seen in the east.It is said the temple was founded in 807, and it was abandoned in the early years of the Meiji period (1868). The establishment of these shrines and historic spots are deeply related to locations of Mt. Bandai. The existence of mountains of belief have been an anchor for our spirits.

Continuing Belief at the Foot of Mt. Bandai PeopleNatureLand

Bandai Myōjin Iwahashi Shrine

Hoshina Masayuki’s GraveHanitsu Inner Shrine

The reconstruction of ‘Yakushi-Nyorai-Zazō’

Mt.Kushigamine

Mt.Bandai

Mt.Akahani Mt.Kushigamine

Mt.Bandai

Lake Hibara

Lake Inawashiro

Mount Bandai is called “Mt. Fuji of Aizu” in the book Nihon Hyakumeizan [One Hundred Mountains of Japan], and is familiarly known as a mountain of treasures in a folk song: “Aizu-Bandai-san”. The highest peak is Bandai-san (also called as Ō-bandai, or Big Bandai) with an altitude of 1816m. There used to be Ko-bandai [Little Bandai] until the eruption in the Meiji era.

The Ryūgasawa Spring is a representative spring of the ‘Spring water sources at the western foot of Mt. Bandai’ which have been designated as one of the 100 Best Natural Waters of Japan. Based on a story that the spring water never dried up even during a drought, the Aizu-Han [Domain] would pray for rain at this place.

Mine-no-Ōishi [Mine’s Huge Stone] is an andesite boulder carried along by the mud flow caused by the eruption of Mt. Bandai in 1888 (Meiji 21). This is a national natural treasure, and still shows the power of the eruption.

The Hanitsu Shrine is a shrine that enshrines Masayuki Hoshina, the first domain lord of Aizu. The stone monument on which his achievements are inscribed is one of the largest in Japan. The shrine is located in the direction which saves Aizu, and is also a subordinate shrine to the Iwahashi Shrine dedicated to Mt. Bandai.

This is the center of the eruption of Mt. Bandai in 1888 (Meiji 21). The inside of the volcano can be seen because of Ko-bandai’s sectional collapse. Also the Aka-numa Pond is the source of the Goshiki -numa [five-colored] Lakes and Ponds.

A torii [the gateway to a shrine] appears only when Lake Hibara’s water recedes. This phenomenon tells the fact that there used to be the old Hibara Village which has now sunk and is at the bed of the lake. This was caused by rivers being dammed up by the eruption in the Meiji period.

Lake Inawashiro is the fourth-largest lake in Japan , and i s a l so ca l l ed ‘Tenkyō - ko [Heaven’s Mirror Lake]’ since it is l ike a mirror reflecting the sky. You can enjoy swimming in the lake in the summer. Its surface area is 103.3km² and surface eleva-tion is 514m.

En ich i -j i t emp le , founded by a p r i e s t Tokuitsu in the early Heian period, is one of the largest temples in the eastern part of Japan, and prospered as the birthplace of Aizu Buddhism culture. It has been desig-nated as a National Historic Site.

1430.0m1430.0m

Bandai Azuma

Lake Line

Bandai Azuma

Lake Line

-797m--797m-

-736m--736m-1221.0m1221.0m

Cycling RoadCycling Road （About 3.6km）Cycling RoadCycling Road （About 3.6km）

OnbasamaOnbasama

Michi-no-ekiUrabandaiMichi-no-ekiUrabandai

Inawashiro-shidahama Spa Inawashiro-shidahama Spa

Akai Marsh LandAkai Marsh Land644.8m644.8m

1261.0m1261.0m

1403.8m1403.8m

1359.0m1359.0m

1271.3m1271.3m

1287.9m1287.9m

999m999m

1709.3m1709.3m

1728.0m1728.0m

1481.9m1481.9m

Mt.DoubaMt.Douba899.0m899.0m

Mt.OguniMt.Oguni

Urabandai NekomaSki Area

Urabandai NekomaSki Area

Mt.NekomagadakeMt.Nekomagadake

Mt.NaguraMt.Nagura

Kohan-no-MoriKohan-no-Mori

JyūrokkyoBridge

JyūrokkyoBridge

Debris Abalanche OutcropDebris Abalanche OutcropBandai Kawahigashi ICBandai Kawahigashi IC

Urabandai Site StationUrabandai Site Station

Mt.KojogamineMt.Kojogamine

Minamigaoka DailyMinamigaoka Daily

Okinashima St. Okinashima St.

HakucyogahamaBeach

HakucyogahamaBeach

TenjinhamaBeach

TenjinhamaBeach

JR Ban-etsu-West LineJR Ban-etsu-West Line

IwahashiShrineIwahashiShrine

Ōshika-ZakuraŌshika-Zakura

Lake OnogawaLake Onogawa

Bisyamonnuma PondBisyamonnuma PondKITAKATAKITAKATA

BANDAIBANDAI

Kitakata City officeKitakata City office

Kitakata St.Kitakata St.

Aizu-toyokawa St.Aizu-toyokawa St.

Monument of TonokuchiharaOld Battlefield

Monument of TonokuchiharaOld Battlefield

ŌshioŌshio

Hirota St.Hirota St.Hirota St.Hirota St.

Iimori-yamaIimori-yama

Cemetery of Matsudaira, feudal load of AizuCemetery of Matsudaira, feudal load of Aizu

Kitashiobara Viillage officeKitashiobara Viillage office

Higashinagahara St.Higashinagahara St.

Aizu-muraAizu-mura

Takizawa PassTakizawa Pass

Ubado St.Ubado St.

Shiokawa St.Shiokawa St.

Oikawa St.Oikawa St.

Dojima St.Dojima St.

Aizuwakamatsu ICAizuwakamatsu IC

Aizuwakamatu St.Aizuwakamatu St.

Aizuwakamatsu City officeAizuwakamatsu City office

Tsurugajo CastleTsurugajo Castle

Old Yonezawa Kaido RoadOld Yonezawa Kaido Road

Mt.HayamaMt.Hayama

Hira-ishiHira-ishi

Bandai Town officeBandai Town office

Michi-no-eki BandaiMichi-no-eki Bandai

Bandai-machiSt.Bandai-machiSt.

Hibara Historical MuseumHibara Historical Museum

Oshizawagawa RiverOshizawagawa River

Neko-ishiNeko-ishi

Mt.UmayaMt.Umaya

Kagami-ishiKagami-ishi

KoishigahamaBeachKoishigahamaBeach OkinashimaOkinashima

FukushimaGeihinkanFukushimaGeihinkan

Nakadahama BeachNakadahama Beach

Nippashigawa RiverNippashigawa River

Mt.ZaimokuyamaMt.Zaimokuyama

Maboroshi-no-taki FallMaboroshi-no-taki Fall

ALTS Bandai Ski AreaALTS Bandai Ski Area

Inawashiro-Shiokawa LineInawashiro-Shiokawa Line

Mt.TakamoriMt.Takamori

Bandaisan SABandaisan SA

Nishi-Azuma Sky-VallyNishi-Azuma Sky-Vally

Lake Hibara-822m-

Lake Hibara-822m-

Lake SoharaLake Sohara

WasezawaWasezawa

Inawashiro Resort Ski AreaInawashiro Resort Ski Area

Tobitaki FallTobitaki Fall

Flow Mounds View pointFlow Mounds View point

Nametaki FallNametaki Fall

Gran-Deko Snow ResortGran-Deko Snow Resort

Onogawa Fudotaki FallOnogawa Fudotaki Fall

NakatsugawaVally

NakatsugawaVally

Nakatsugawa VallyRest house

Nakatsugawa VallyRest house

Nakatsugawa VallyRest house

Nakatsugawa VallyRest house

NumanotairaNumanotairaNumanotairaNumanotaira

Mt.AkahaniMt.Akahani

Lake Akimoto Lake Akimoto Mt.shirabu Mt.shirabu

Mt.KushigamineMt.Kushigamine 1636.0m 1636.0m

Aqua Marine InawashiroKawasemi AquareumAqua Marine InawashiroKawasemi Aquareum

Monument for Spirit of MartyrsMonument for Spirit of MartyrsNekoma-happodaiNekoma-happodai

NagahamaPlesure Boat PortNagahamaPlesure Boat Port

KanizawaKanizawaNishikuboNishikubo

World Glass HallWorld Glass Hall

Mt.MaruyamaMt.Maruyama

Rengenuma PondRengenuma Pond

Nakasenuma PondNakasenuma Pond

SanchūhiMonumentSanchūhiMonument Midori-no-MuraMidori-no-Mura

Urabandai Tourist Association Urabandai Tourist Association

UrabandaiSki AreaUrabandaiSki Area

Iwahashi-kanIwahashi-kan

Michi-no-ekiInawashiroMichi-no-ekiInawashiro

Breadcrust BombsBreadcrust Bombs

Inawashiro Ski AreaInawashiro Ski Area

Family Snow ParkBandai×2 Family Snow ParkBandai×2

NumanokuraPower StationNumanokuraPower Station

Ban-etsu Expressway Ban-etsu Expressway

Inawashiro Tourist Association Inawashiro Tourist Association

Art Museum of HajimariArt Museum of HajimariArt Museum of HajimariArt Museum of Hajimari

Inawashiro Town officeInawashiro Town office

Kamegajo Castle RemainsKamegajo Castle Remains

Inawashiro St. Inawashiro St.

Kobirakata Tenmangu Shrine,Historic sites of Inawashiro KensaiKobirakata Tenmangu Shrine,

Historic sites of Inawashiro Kensai

Kobirakata Kobirakata

Inawashiro Bandai Kogen ICInawashiro Bandai Kogen IC

Neko-ishiNeko-ishi

Nagasegawa RiverNagasegawa RiverListel ski FantagiaListel ski Fantagia

Kannonjigawa RiverKannonjigawa River

Inawashiro Harb GardenInawashiro Harb Garden

Kannonji TempleKannonji TempleKawageta St. Kawageta St.

Sukawa RiverSukawa River

Odagawa River

Odagawa River

ShidahamaBeach

ShidahamaBeach

Sekito St.Sekito St.

Mt.MizunashiMt.Mizunashi

JokohamaBeach

JokohamaBeach

Joko St.Joko St.

Nakayamajuku St. Nakayamajuku St.

TakamoriTakamori

Mt.ŌtakiMt.Ōtaki

Takamorigawa RiverTakamorigawa River

Boshin WarMartyrs CnotaphBoshin War

Martyrs Cnotaph

Tatsusawa Fudotaki FallTatsusawa Fudotaki Fall

Numajiri Ski AreaNumajiri Ski Area

Bonari PassBonari Pass

Bonari-toge Old BattlefieldBonari-toge Old Battlefield

Tsuchiyu PassTsuchiyu PassYokomuki-Onsen

Ski AreaYokomuki-Onsen

Ski Area

Minowa Ski AreaMinowa Ski Area

Shiraito-no-taki FallShiraito-no-taki Fall

Mt.KimenMt.Kimen

Mt.MinowaMt.Minowa

NumanotairaNumanotaira

Mt.TetsuzanMt.Tetsuzan

1699.9m1699.9mMt.AdataraMt.Adatara

JR Banetsu-saisen Line

JR Banetsu-saisen Line

Mt.B

andai G

old Line

Mt.B

andai G

old Line

598.5m598.5m

Bandai Azuma Sky Line

Bandai Azuma Sky Line

AkimotoPower StationAkimoto

Power Station

1370.0m1370.0m

To KōriyamaTo Kōriyama

To FukushimaTo Fukushima

To FukushimaTo Fukushima

AIZUWAKAMATSUAIZUWAKAMATSU

KITASHIOBARAKITASHIOBARA

INAWASHIROINAWASHIRO

Mt.kawagetaMt.kawageta1413.2m1413.2m

3

ŌyamazumiShrineŌyamazumiShrine

Goshikinuma Lakesand Ponds

Goshikinuma Lakesand Ponds

Mt.Bandai Eruption MuseumMt.Bandai Eruption Museum

Bandaisan Enichi-ji MuseumBandaisan Enichi-ji Museum

Ryugasawa Spring WaterRyugasawa Spring Water

Ruin of Enichi-ji TempleRuin of Enichi-ji Temple

-514m--514m-

TenkyokakuTenkyokaku

18 Lake InawashiroLake Inawashiro

Mt.BandaiMt.Bandai1816.3m1816.3m

AkanumaPondsAkanumaPonds

15

1410Tenkyo-dai（Syowa-no-mori）Tenkyo-dai（Syowa-no-mori）

Hanitsu ShrineHanitsu Shrine

Mine-no-ŌishiMine-no-Ōishi

5

16

17

11

13

12

98 Aizu Folk MuseumAizu Folk Museum

2

6 Urabandai Visitor CenterUrabandai Visitor Center

FukushimaMuseumFukushimaMuseum

1

Oguninuma PondOguninuma Pond-1089m--1089m-

4

7 Hideyo Noguchi Memorial HallHideyo Noguchi Memorial Hall

この地図の作成に当たっては、国土地理院長の承認を得て、同院発行の2万5千分の１地形図を使用した。実際の縮尺とは 異なります。 （承認番号　平25情使、第72-GISMAP31878号）

Animals & Plants

Geology &topographyGeology &topography

History, Culture,& Industry

What is a Geopark?A geopark is called “a park of the land” where you can enjoy and learn world-wide valuable geographical features and about the nature of the soil, the history, and culture of animals, plants, and people living on the land. Moreover, from it we can learn its con-nections to and stories about local special-ties and places like hot springs. etc..

Stories of the Land, Nature, and People Connectedby Bandai-san Geopark

People

NatureLand

Welcome to Bandai-san GeoparkInawashiro Town, Bandai Town, and Kitashiobara Village

Mt. BandaiMt. BandaiMt. BandaiMt. Bandai Ryūgasawa Spring WaterRyūgasawa Spring WaterRyūgasawa Spring WaterRyūgasawa Spring Water Mine-no-ŌishiMine-no-ŌishiMine-no-ŌishiMine-no-Ōishi Hanitsu ShrineHanitsu ShrineHanitsu ShrineHanitsu Shrine Mt. Bandai’s Collapsed Walland Aka-numa Pond

Mt. Bandai’s Collapsed Walland Aka-numa Pond

Mt. Bandai’s Collapsed Walland Aka-numa Pond

Mt. Bandai’s Collapsed Walland Aka-numa Pond Ōyamazumi ShrineŌyamazumi ShrineŌyamazumi ShrineŌyamazumi Shrine Lake InawashiroLake InawashiroLake InawashiroLake InawashiroHistoric Spot： The Ruin of

Enichi-ji TempleHistoric Spot： The Ruin of Enichi-ji TempleHistoric Spot： The Ruin of Enichi-ji TempleHistoric Spot： The Ruin of Enichi-ji Temple

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

1 FukushimaMuseumFukushimaMuseum 2 Bandaisan

Enichi-ji MuseumBandaisanEnichi-ji Museum 3 Goshikinuma Lakes

and PondsGoshikinuma Lakesand Ponds 4 Oguninuma

PondOguninumaPond 5 Mt.Bandai

Eruption MuseumMt.BandaiEruption Museum 6 Urabandai

Visitor CenterUrabandaiVisitor Center

7 Hideyo NoguchiMemorial HollHideyo NoguchiMemorial Holl

9 TenkyokakuTenkyokaku 10 Tenkyo-dai（Syowa-no-mori）Tenkyo-dai（Syowa-no-mori）

8 AizuFolk MuseumAizuFolk Museum