Nanko Park, a Nationally Designated Historic Site and Place of Scenic Beauty | Review by 黃國棟

This is one of the top cherry blossom viewing spots in Fukushima Prefecture, as well as an urban park where Koriyama residents usually go for leisurely walks and relaxation. Unfortunately, it wasn't cherry blossom season when I visited, so I missed the romantic sight of the trees covered in blossoms. The weather was also overcast that day, making the sky a little less bright, but the park was still peaceful and comfortable.

Strolling through the spacious grounds and enjoying the laid-back atmosphere, I could imagine how beautiful the entire park must look surrounded by a sea of pink blossoms when the cherry trees are in full bloom. If I have another chance to visit Fukushima, I'll definitely come back during cherry blossom season!

When visiting Lake Inawashiro, one of the most relaxing ways to enjoy it is to take a sightseeing boat and admire the vast natural scenery from the water. The weather that day was incredibly good, with blue skies, white clouds, clear lake water, and mountains in the distance. The whole scene looked just like a landscape painting.

As the boat slowly moved along, the breeze off the lake felt especially refreshing, and I never got tired of the scenery along the way. The sunlight sparkled on the surface of the lake, and the photos came out especially beautiful. Sometimes you don't need to plan too many activities on a trip. Finding a day with good weather, taking a boat ride, enjoying the scenery, and feeling the breeze is a simple kind of happiness.

The largest lake in the Urabandai area, it’s also a great place to admire the magnificent scenery on the other side of Mount Bandai. On this visit to the shore of Lake Hibara, the vast lake and surrounding mountains complemented each other so beautifully that I couldn’t help staying a little longer. The water changed color with the sunlight, while the distant mountains were reflected on the lake, making the whole scene especially peaceful and soothing.

Lake Hibara has a different charm in every season: the freshness of spring, lush greenery of summer, red maple leaves of fall, and snowy scenery of winter. Each season has its own beauty. You can also take a sightseeing boat on the lake to enjoy the scenery from a different angle and spend some relaxing time surrounded by nature.

When visiting Urabandai, don’t forget to set aside some time to walk around Lake Hibara, feel the breeze by the water, and look at Mount Bandai. You don’t have to do anything at all for it to be enjoyable.