Majyo-no-hitomi (The Witch’s Eye Lake)

Majyo-no-hitomi (The Witch’s Eye Lake)

Majyo-no-hitomi, or The Witch's Eye Lake, is a volcanic lake that was formed during a volcanic eruption many years ago. Unique minerals in the water cause the lake to appear different colors, giving the lake its official name of Goshiki-numa (Five Colored Lake), but most often it is a bright blue. 

The nickname of “Witch's Eye” comes from the unique appearance of the lake that is visible in late spring when the snow melts enough so that only a white ring remains around the lake to form the white of what appears to be an enormous single eye.

This lake viewpoint can be reached by an intermediate hike up Mt. Issaikyo that begins at the Jododaira Visitors Center, stop by for a map and safety information before hiking.

Venue Details

Venue Details
Websitehttps://fukushima-guide.jp/discover/jododaira/
Contact

Jododaira Visitor Center

(+81) 24-563-5554

Best Season
  • Spring
  • Summer
  • Autumn
Opening Hours

Closed during the winter (closing coincides with that of the Bandai-Azuma Skyline road)

ParkingJododaira Parking Area (Paid parking)
Related infoBest season: June-October

Access Details
AccessWashikurayama 1, Tsuchiyu Onsen-machi, Fukushima City, Fukushima Pref. 960-2157
View directions
Getting there

By Car: 1 hour drive from the Fukushima-Nishi I.C. exit off the Ban-etsu Expressway

Nearby

The World Glassware Hall
Nature & Scenery

Jododaira Visitor Center

Jododaira Visitor Center, located at an altitude of 1500 m, stands partway along the Bandai-Azuma Skyline sightseeing road. Jododaira acts as a base to spend the day hiking nearby mountain routes, including Mt. Higashi-Azuma (1,975 m) and Mt. Issaikyo (1,949 m). For those who don’t fancy a long hike, the 1-hour round trip walk up and around the crater at Mt. Azuma Kofuji (1,705 m) is perfect, as it is a very short walk from Jododaira Visitor Center. The Azuma mountains are all totally unique, and are great places to enjoy local flora and fauna. If hiking in this area, please be mindful that the altitude reaches close to 2000 m, so make sure to take equipment necessary in the event of a sudden weather change. The Jododaira area is also prone to high volcanic gas levels, so it is a good idea to check whether the area is open to visitors before making the drive up the mountain roads.
The World Glassware Hall
Nature & Scenery

Irimizu Limestone Cave (Irimizu Shonyudo)

Visitors looking for a cool and adventurous experience should consider visiting the Irimizu Limestone Cave (入水鍾乳洞) in Tamura City.Perhaps less known than the nearby Abukuma Cave, the Irimizu Limestone Cave offers visitors the opportunity to venture into its depths—the narrow cave is 900 m in total and is divided into three courses (A, B and C), each more extreme than the previous one.Visitors should bring adequate clothing and shoes, as the inside of the cave is wet and slippery with irregular rocky ground and gushing streams.Course A is the least extreme, and the way into the cave is lit, although there are puddles and wet spots, and you will need to duck in some places since there are short and narrow spots. Course A is 150 m long and takes approx. 30 minutes to complete.Courses B and C go through an area of the cave where there is less conditioning. Visitors have to walk while having water up to their knees and go through slippery and narrow gaps by candlelight or flashlight.Course B is 450 m and takes about 60 minutes to complete, while course C is 300 m and takes about 90 m to complete. Visitors hoping to undertake course C, the most difficult of the three, have to make a reservation before their visit, as the course can only be completed alongside an experienced guide. *Course C is not available and is not taking reservations as of May 2023.The temperature inside the cave is typically between 10 and 15 degrees regardless of the season.There are candles, rubber shoes, flashlights and other items available for renting at the entrance.Prices are as of March 2023.The cave has been designated as a National Natural Treasure, and it’s easy to see why. You’re bound to become a geology enthusiast after experiencing the charms of the cave.
The World Glassware Hall
Nature & Scenery

Kashi-Ohashi Bridge

Nishigo Village is truly blessed with breathtaking scenery and view spots, such as Kashi-Ohashi Bridge.Kashi-Ohashi Bridge stretches for 199 m against a backdrop of mountains, colored with fresh spring greenery or bright red leaves, depending on the season. Home to the water source of the Abukuma River, and filled with primeval forest trees, the beauty of Nishigo Village area was even praised by the feudal lord Matsudaira Sadanobu in centuries gone by. A bridle path has been constructed near Kashi-Ohashi Bridge, and lots of hikers come to visit every summer and autumn.
The World Glassware Hall
Gourmet & Shopping

BRITOMART

BRITOMART is a stylish and rural shopping and restaurant complex in Miharu Town, Tamura district. It makes for the perfect place for a pit stop, or to take a coffee or lunch break if you’re visiting nearby tourist attractions, such as the Miharu Takizakura or the Koriyama Museum of Art. Its many wooden storefronts blend wonderfully with the surroundings.BRITOMART includes a bakery, a coffee shop, an interior shop, a restaurant, a home and garden shop, and more. Relax and enjoy the natural environment in the heart of Miharu, a beautiful rural town in central Fukushima prefecture, known for having splendid displays of flowers in the spring, and thousands of sakura trees.
Discover Central Area

You might also like

Doaidate Park
Nature & Scenery

Doaidate Park

Approximately 5,000 colorful hydrangeas bloom here every summer. Nicknamed by locals as 'Hydrangea Alley', this is a great place for relaxing or taking photos. Doaidate Park routinely makes lists of best places to see hydrangeas in Tohoku every year thanks to its sheer number of bushes and tranquil atmosphere.There is also a play park for children and an old shrine within the park grounds, while the west side of the park offers excellent views over Mt. Adatara.Parking is available for roughly 40-50 cars by the slope leading to the park entrance.In an average year, the best time to see hydrangeas fully in bloom is between the end of June and beginning of July.
Hanamiyama
Nature & Scenery

Hanamiyama

Hanamiyama Park is a privately-owned field for flowering and ornamental trees, in southeast Fukushima City.The park is located within a satoyama-type landscape i.e. managed woodland hill country close to human habitat. What originally began more than 60 years ago with local farmers planting flowers and trees, has grown into a beautiful scene. The landowner generously turned the area into a park in 1959 to allow visitors to enjoy the beautiful flowers there.Hanamiyama Park, and the wider Hanamiyama area, is now visited by thousands of admirers every year!Springtime visits see cherry, plum, and forsythia trees paint everything in vivid colors. A gentle pink and purple landscape waving in the breeze with the picturesque snow-capped Azuma Mountains in the distance makes for an amazing sight.The riot of spring colors is spectacular enough to merit calling this park Fukushima's very own paradise.The flowering landscape moves all who see it and has been preserved through the cooperation of the local residents. Enjoy a leisurely one-hour stroll that will take you from the foot of the hill to the summit. Travel through groves of flowering trees and other vibrant flowers in full bloom.Hanamiyama is the perfect getaway for a day for nature lovers, hikers, or people trying to escape for a short time.The best part is that spring isn’t the only beautiful time to visit. Marvel in wonder during the lush green summer foliage or the dappled colors of autumn. When you visit this fairytale-like wonderland, it is recommended that visitors wear comfortable walking shoes as the terrain includes graveled paths, steep slopes, and slippery areas. Mid- through late April is the peak season, so ready your camera and your heart for the beauty that awaits.
Kassenba's Weeping Cherry Tree
Nature & Scenery

Kassenba's Weeping Cherry Tree

These two weeping cherry trees are said to be the grandchildren of the great Miharu Takizakura weeping cherry tree in nearby Miharu Town. They bloom with fantastic pink flowers. When they are in full bloom, the trees are if a waterfall of blossoms is cascading from their branches. These trees are estimated to be around 170 years old. We recommend taking photographs from the bottom of the slope, so you can capture the pink of the blossoms, together with the blue of the sky, and yellow of the canola flowers.

Ja no Hana Gardens
Nature & Scenery

Ja no Hana Gardens

The Ja no Hana Gardens (蛇の鼻) are located in Motomiya, in the central area of Fukushima. From spring to autumn, this vast park features a display of natural wonders like cherry blossoms, wisteria, roses, hydrangeas, water lilies, and autumn leaves. It is particularly famous for its 500-year-old wisteria tree that typically blooms in May.There is also a historical residence, Ja no Hana-goten (Ja no Hana mansion), which is a registered tangible cultural property of Japan. Built in 1904, the impressive residence has intricate wooden carvings in the front entrance, and houses artworks and calligraphy works, often housing exhibitions. Visitors can enter the house and look at the artwork up close.Best season: Cherry blossoms: Early to late April Tulips: April to early May Peonies: Early to mid May Japanese wisteria: Early to late May Azaleas: Early to mid May Roses: Most varieties reach their peak around late May; from then until November, other varying kinds might be in bloom Water lilies: June to July Autumn leaves: Late October to November
View All
Top