Inawashiro

Inawashiro is a lakeside town in Fukushima Prefecture, northern Japan, spread between Mount Bandai and the shore of Lake Inawashiro, the country's fourth-largest lake. The water is so clear that locals call it the Heavenly Mirror, and the town moves to a calm, rural rhythm.

In winter, migrating swans settle along the shore while skiers take to the slopes on the mountain above. The town is the birthplace of Hideyo Noguchi, the bacteriologist on the 1,000 yen note, and his preserved farmhouse anchors a memorial museum. The colored ponds of Goshiki-numa lie a short drive into the highlands.

Summer brings swimming beaches and lakeside campgrounds, and autumn ridges the mountains in color. Trains on the Ban-etsu West Line link Inawashiro with Koriyama and Aizuwakamatsu, so the lake pairs naturally with the samurai town next door. It suits travelers who want Tohoku scenery without crowds.