Central Nippon Expressway Company

Mikata Five Lakes

Mikata Five Lakes is the general term for the five lakes Mikata, Suigetsu, Suga, Kugushi, and Hiruga that are located in-between Mihamacho of Mikata county and Wakasacho of Kaminaka county in Fukui. On November 8th of 2005, it was acknowledged worldwide for its importance as a waterfowl habitat for rare species and was designated as one of the areas protected by the "Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance." Each of these lakes contains a different type of water like freshwater, seawater, or brackish water. Even among the brackish water lakes, there is a difference in the ratio of freshwater to seawater. Kugushi lake is connected directly to the Sea of Japan, Suga lake is located the furthest inland, and Suigetsu lake is between the two. Thus, the scenery of each lake from Baijodake Peak (Mikata-Goko Lake Rainbow Line Observation Platform) is a different color of blue. The road around Mikatago Lake was also chosen as one of a selection of 100 roads of Japan.