Tohoku

Bandai-Asahi National Park

PIXTA

Bandai-Asahi National Park is the second largest national park in Japan in terms of land area, covering a vast area from the three mountains of Dewa, the Asahi mountain range, the Iide mountain range, the Azuma mountain range, Mount Bandai, and Lake Inawashiro. The three mountains of Dewa are famous for their mountain worship and historical charm. The Iide-Asahi mountain range retains a pristine natural environment and offers mountain views surrounded by majestic mountains, and the flower fields that you reach after a long approach are full of tenderness. The Agatsuma mountain range and Bandai mountain range are attractive for their powerful landscapes created by volcanoes and the varied and beautiful landscapes of large and small lakes, marshes, and forests. Also, the area is easily accessible from urban areas, and attracts many visitors as a recreational area where they can enjoy a wide range of activities such as mountain climbing, nature exploration, bathing in hot springs, and skiing. Bandai-Asahi National Park is full of attractions such as deeply forested mountains, powerful volcanic areas, lakes and marshes filled with abundant water, and mountain worship that has been handed down from generation to generation. The park's vast area offers a variety of mountains that can be enjoyed by climbers of all levels, from beginners to experts, and attracts many climbers. (Source: Ministry of the Environment website https://www.env.go.jp/nature/nationalparks/list/)

Access

How to get there

Bandai-Asahi National Park is Japan’s second-largest national park, stretching across Yamagata, Fukushima, and Niigata prefectures. It can broadly be divided into three areas: Dewa Sanzan/Asahi, Iide, and Bandai-Azuma/Inawashiro. In light of the park’s size and diverse highlights, renting a car is the best option to explore the area. However, public transportation is also available to some popular sites.

From Tokyo

Transportation times and methods depend on which parts of the park you earmark for a visit. One method is to select an initial destination then locate the closest shinkansen stop. Convenient stations from Tokyo include Koriyama Station (80 min) and Fukushima Station (95 min) on the Tohoku Shinkansen for the Bandai-Azuma/Inawashiro and Iide areas, respectively. Niigata Station, meanwhile, is less than two hours on the Joetsu Shinkansen and offers access to the Dewa Sanzan and Asahi areas. For the Asahi area, there are two train-and-bus routes via the Yamagata Shinkansen. From Kitayamagata Station, transfer to the Aterazawa Line at to Aterazawa Station. From Yonezawa Station transfer to the Yonesaka Line to Ogunimachi Station. Buses from both stations serve the Asahi area. It takes two hours between Tsuruoka Station on the Uetsu Main Line to the Awataki Trailhead in the Asahi mountain range (weekends only). To reach the trailhead on weekdays, take a train from Tsuruoka Station to the Otori Traihead, then a taxi to the Awataki Trailhead. It takes 40 minutes from Oguni Station on the Yonesaka Line to reach the Gomizawa Trailhead in the Asahi mountain range.

From Sendai

To reach the Bandai-Azuma/Inawashiro area and the Iide mountains, take the Tohoku Shinkansen to Fukushima Station or Koriyama Station then follow the instructions in the section above. The Dewa Sanzan area is best approached from Sendai; take a bus along the Sendai-Honjo line to Tsuruoka and alight at S-MALL Bus Terminal.

Getting Around

Due to limited public transportation and the size of the park, renting a car will help make the most of your visit. You can easily rent a car in midsize and large cities such as Koriyama, Fukushima, Aizu-Wakamatsu, Kitakata in the Bandai-Azuma/Inawashiro area, and at Shonai Airport or the Tsuruoka City in the Dewa Sanzan and Asahi areas. Whether you use a car or public transportation, double-check your routes ahead of time for seasonal changes and closures: The Bandai-Azuma Skyline closes during the harsh winter months, and buses including those that run to the Azuma Mountains do not operate during the winter. Conversely, the popularity of skiing in some parts of the park (such as Mount Bandai) increases some transportation options, especially shuttles offered by private resorts.