(Machine translation by DeepL + adjustments by Gyegyopon, Translated article written for Japan without major changes, Sorry some Japanese language is still there)
Hello, this is Gyegyopon.
In August 2023, I went to Goshiki-numa in Fukushima Prefecture with my dog.
Goshiki-numa is a lake area in a national park and rich in nature. You can take your pet on a leash.
Although we went to Goshiki-numa, we only saw Bishamon-numa, which is the closest to the entrance.
I hope this article will be helpful for those who travel with dogs.
Main text
This is what Goshiki-numa is like
Goshiki-numa is located in Urabandai, northern part of Fukushima Prefecture.
According to the Urabandai Visitor Center website, the 20 to 30 lakes and marshes in this area are collectively called the Goshiki-numa Lakes. The area is designated as a special protection area within the national park (an area with particularly strict scenic protection).
The “Goshiki-numa Nature Trail” has been established around Goshiki-numa. This time, we walked along this scenic route.
Walking along the scenic route with my dog
We put our dog on a leash and walked along the scenic route together.
Pets are allowed on the scenic route. This was said on a sign at the entrance of the scenic route.
The “Frequently Asked Questions”Reference section of the “Urabandai Visitor Center” website also says, “Pets are allowed on the trails, but…” This is the same as the sign, “Pets must be kept on a leash when walking along the scenic route and excrement must be disposed of.
However, after “You may bring your pet with you,” it also says, “There is a risk of irritating wild animals such as bears and monkeys, or causing trouble with other visitors. Furthermore, the “About Bears”Reference page on the visitor center’s website states that one of the recommended actions to take to avoid encountering bears is to “not bring pets with you. When you take your pets along the scenic route, it would be a good idea to think about (and be prepared for) possible troubles, and to be very careful on the route.
Commemorative photo at Bishamon-numa
We took a commemorative photo at a place overlooking Bishamon-numa.
The cobblestones under the strong sunlight were very hot, so where the cobblestones were the only place to walk, we carried the dog in our arms.
Walking along the scenic route requires physical strength
There were places where the path was easy to walk, but there were also many narrow wooden paths and stone steps, and rocks and tree roots in the way, making it quite hard to walk.
We met a big tree and a carp
There was a big tree, so we touched it.
Because of its color, I had thought that the Bishamon-numa swamp was dissolved in high concentrations of metals and other substances, and that no living creatures could live there. However, there were many carp swimming around, some of which were over 30 cm in length.
Although we could not see them, there seemed to be a “carp that brings happiness” somewhere.
After all, we only saw Bishamon-numa
When it was time to move on from Bishamon-numa to the next swamp, I realized that more than 40 minutes had already passed since I started walking. We had only walked about a quarter of the way along the scenic route.
The sign said, “The journey will take about 1 hour and 30 minutes,” but with a dog companion, the walking speed would probably be about half of what it would be with just a person.
If we continue walking at this rate, it will take us 2 hours and 40 minutes to reach the other side of the scenic route. Moreover, since we did not bring any carry-ons for dog, with the intention of not taking the bus, we would have to walk back. By our calculations, it would take 5 hours and 20 minutes to get there and back. At least, we gave up to go to the other side and come back.
Then we thought about how far we would go. Perhaps because of the high temperature, the dog was already feeling a little tired. we thought it might be a good idea to walk a little further, but we decided not to go any further and headed back for lunch.
Related Information
Basic Information
Map of the Goshiki-numa area
Reference
- Urabandai Visitor Center
- FAQ (“Q. Can I bring my pet along?” for information on how to treat pets)
- About bears (it is recommended not to bring pets in “2. What you can do to avoid encountering bears”)
