Early Fall at Lake Kitagata, Fukui

Fukuians' idyllic lakeside paradise

By Takako Sakamoto

Community writer

Lake Kitagata's new landmark, Iris Bridge (so named after the famous iris garden near here)

The view from Iris Bridge. The building in the center at the far end is the Cycling Center where you can rent bicycles

Humming Road (Cycling Road) of Lake Kitagata

You can take a swan-shaped boat into the lake!

Lake Kitagata and 'Kitagata Lakeside Hotel'

The garden of Kitagata Lakeside Hotel is equipped with barbecue grills

From June through July, this garden will be filled with beautiful irises in full bloom

The observation deck overlooking the iris garden and Lake Kitagata

Trees in the park are turning color already

Windmills on the hills and Lake Kitagata viewed from the observation deck

'Niman-do (20,000 miniature temple)' was built by locals praying for the souls of more than 20,000 samurai who died here in the battles fought between Heike Clan and Genji Clan

Small jizo statue with serene smile on his face

Lake Kitagata in Awara city is on the tip of northern part of Fukui, bordering Ishikawa prefecture. For its great views and unspoilt nature, local people of Fukui often come to this lake just to relax. The lake and the park surrounding it are beautifully landscaped, and there is a cycling road called 'Humming Road', which circles the lake and provides refreshing lake views while you are casually riding a bike (rental bicycles are available at the park office or at a nearby hotel for 300 yen/hour). Also, there is a spacious iris garden beside the lake, which has about 200,000 irises of 300 varieties. When I visited in late September, the iris season was of course over, but instead, I found some trees already turning autumn red. I have to come back again to see the autumn leaves at their peak of beauty!