Mikata Five Lakes

Blue water shifts subtly from lake to lake here, especially when you see them together from above. The Mikata Five Lakes stretch across Mihama Town and Wakasa Town in Fukui Prefecture, within Wakasa Bay Quasi-National Park, and include five lakes—Lake Mikata, Lake Suigetsu, Lake Suga, Lake Kugushi, and Lake Hyuga. The area is also designated as a National Place of Scenic Beauty.

From Lake Hyuga, which connects to Wakasa Bay, to Lake Mikata, the most inland of the five, each lake differs in water type—freshwater, seawater, and brackish water—as well as depth. Because of this, the lakes are sometimes nicknamed the “Five-Colored Lakes,” as the water surface can appear in five different shades of blue.

Reached by taking a lift or cable car up from the First Parking Lot along the popular driving route Prefectural Route Mikata Five Lakes Rainbow Line, the summit park is a prime viewpoint with 360° panoramic views over the five lakes and Wakasa Bay. Don’t miss the spectacular scenery from five terraces, each offering a different view, along with on-site amenities such as sofas, a footbath, and a café. The park also offers plenty to see, including a rose garden that blooms twice a year in spring and fall and the “Bell of Happiness,” selected as a “Sacred Place for Lovers.”