“The right place, the right time, you will meet the most beautiful moment.”

That's what we thought. Originally, our travel program for the 3rd day was to take pictures of the train crossing the Tadami line bridge.

But when we arrived at Aizu-Wakamatsu Station, we found that we had missed the first train and had to wait for the next one in the afternoon. Haha.

This is the second time we've missed the train to our original destination because we didn't check the schedule beforehand.

But it's okay. We decided to bring forward the program for the 4th day, which is to visit the Five-Colored Pond (Goshikinuma).

But wait, as expected, when we opened the window curtain, we were hit by the tail of Typhoon No. 22. It was raining.

The rain was like this: it drizzled down, stopped, and then continued to pour all day. Let's go in this soggy condition.

To reach Goshikinuma (Five-Colored Pond), take the JR Ban-Etsusai Line to Inawashiro Station.

From Inawashiro Station, board the To To Bus and alight at Goshikinuma Iriguchi (Five-Colored Pond Entrance) bus stop.

The bus fare is 770 yen one way.

We purchased an Aizu Gurutto Card for 2,670 yen, valid for two days. Today is the second day of our card usage.

On the first day, we used the card to visit the Ouchi-juku Historical Village and To-no-hetsuri (Million-Year-Old Cliffs).

Therefore, we do not need to pay any additional train fare today.

Upon arriving at Inawashiro Station, I walked across to the back of the bus station, but I couldn't see any buses.

It was raining the whole way, and all I could see was the misty mountain view and the clouds swirling around.

The cold wind was unbearable, so I had to go back inside the station to wait for the bus.

The bus to Goshikinuma Iriguchi will arrive here in about an hour. I tried asking a taxi driver

if I didn't want to wait, because the Five-Colored Pond is only 15 kilometers from the train station. The taxi driver quoted a price of 5,700 yen, which is 1,710 baht in our currency. It's too expensive and unreasonable, so I'll just wait for the bus. 555

While waiting inside the room, we were kept warm by a heater. There was also a vending machine selling hot and cold drinks, as well as an ice cream machine. We couldn't resist trying some of the drinks and ice cream, and they were delicious.

We also tried the iced milk tea and the hot corn milk, which cost 120 yen (36 baht) each.

Unlike in Thailand, where there are coffee shops everywhere, here they have vending machines.

Next to the vending machines, there was a bin for disposing of cups. It was shaped like a cup, and you could pour out the water and place the cup in the slot perfectly.

It was very easy to dispose of the cups, and we loved the idea.

When the bus arrived, it cost 770 yen per person (231 baht). The bus route took us through villages and up into the mountains.

The scenery was beautiful, with colorful leaves and rain-soaked trees. It was truly a peak experience. ^^

We arrived at the right place at the right time, but it happened to be raining. We couldn't avoid it either, haha. When we arrived at the Goshikinuma Iriguchi sign (entrance to the Five-Colored Pond),

many people got off here almost all the way. Amidst the pouring rain, alternating with drizzle all the time, there is a walking path to the Five-Colored Pond.

As for us, we stopped by the tourist information center to look around and learn about the place first.

I can't read anything, of course, if it's in Japanese, but I can look at the pictures, the view, and the path we have to walk.

It's called the Five-Colored Pond Nature Study Trail, which has 9 View Points along a distance of 3.6 kilometers.

Then we walked on, walking and holding an umbrella, looking at the ground so as not to step on a puddle.

But I must say that the leaves on both sides of the road are changing color to a bright yellow that is very eye-catching.

Before embarking on the hiking trails, visitors will encounter a designated parking area, a convenience store, and a scenic viewpoint.

Accessibility is enhanced by the close proximity of the parking lot, requiring only a 2-3 minute walk to reach the starting point.

For those who prefer to avoid extensive walking, the parking area itself offers stunning views of the lake, adorned with vibrant autumn foliage.

This is a popular spot for tourists to check in and pose for photos. At that time, the place was bustling with the sound of Thai tourists who came in tour groups. Even during the rainy season, they were not deterred. The colors of the changing leaves here are truly spectacular.

At this moment, we're taking photos non-stop. We're holding umbrellas and taking photos. Oh my, it's so refreshing, but it's truly beautiful.

Local residents of Fukushima whisper that if you go to Lake Bishamonnuma or Lake Goshikinuma and find a fish with a heart-shaped pattern on its body, you will be blessed with good luck. So, if you come to this lake, don't forget to look for the heart-shaped fish.

Here are tourists looking for the heart-shaped fish.

We encountered a large fish, but we couldn't identify its species. It playfully swam near people.

However, standing on the wooden pier wasn't sustainable. The water kept rising, so we had to quickly move to higher ground. Observing from a distance was sufficient.

Lake Goshiki-numa (Urabandai Goshiki-numa Ponds), also known as the Five-Colored Pond, is a group of nine ponds located in Urabandai.

It is one of the most popular scenic spots in the area, with each pond boasting its own unique color, ranging from deep brown to dark blue.

The colors of the water change depending on the weather, time of day, and other factors. The trail around the ponds is 3.6 kilometers long and takes about 70 minutes to complete.

We spent a long time at the first point, and the evening light began to creep in. We hesitated whether to continue into the forest or not, amidst the rain and the muddy ground at points 2-9 of the five-colored lake. Finally, we made a decision. Let's go! We've come this far, haven't we? Let's start walking into the forest!

The path was soaked with water, but the surroundings were full of colorful trees, most of which were yellow at that time.

While walking through the colorful forest, we saw a house and a wooden pavilion on the right side of the path.

Curious, we decided to explore it.

This area is like a rest house for tourists to stay. We opened the house to see it, it was just a square room. There were no beds and the bathroom was outside. In the center, there was a water service point and various barbecue grills. We are not sure when it will be open to tourists, because when we were standing there, we can say that it was very deserted. Let's move on, there will be a View Point indicating which point it is. There will also be a symbol and a number indicating how many kilometers it is to the exit.

Here are some photos from the different points along the trail. We only stopped at each point for a short time, as we were racing against time and the sky was getting darker. But when we came across some really beautiful spots, we couldn't resist taking some photos. The streams and mist covering the area made it even colder.

Upon reaching a spot with numerous rocks, I impulsively ventured further in.

However, I lost my footing and stumbled, slightly twisting my ankle. To my surprise, a male Japanese tourist rushed towards me.

He spoke rapidly in Japanese, seemingly concerned. I thanked him and assured him that I could continue walking.

The captivating beauty of the facade drew us in instantly, without a moment's hesitation.

We enjoyed the 3.6 kilometers we walked. If you ask how the Goshikinuma, the five-colored pond, changes color, the color of the water at each point is different in terms of intensity and lightness, even on a cloudy and rainy day like today.

The 3.6 kilometers I walked were not tiring at all.

Perhaps it was because I was enjoying the scenery along the way, plus the cool weather, single digits, and the fog that kept rolling in.

That's what made me forget about being tired right away. If it was hot and I was sweating, that would be a different story. 555

From the entrance to the exit, there is a bus that goes directly to Inawashiro Station, where we took the train.

It is very convenient. There are shops, restaurants, and souvenir shops, as well as clean restrooms.

Another day of sightseeing in Fukushima Prefecture has come to an end, showcasing its stunning beauty.

The phrase "right place, right time" still applies to this trip. Even though it rained today, it wasn't a major issue for our travels.

See you in the next episode of > Autumn Fukushima < Day 4! ^^

Thank you for watching.