Compare the colors of the five lakes
From the Rainbow Line summit park, take in the five differently colored lakes and the Sea of Japan all at once.
GETAWAYS — Wakasa / Mikata Five Lakes
The colors of five lakes, one by one
Near Wakasa Bay, the Mikata Five Lakes lie side by side, each a different color owing to differences in salinity and depth. Within Wakasa Bay Quasi-National Park, the summit of the Rainbow Line gives a sweeping view over all five lakes and the Sea of Japan. Moving between both faces — sea and lake — in a single day is the way to spend time in Wakasa.
What kind of place
The Mikata Five Lakes are Mikata, Suigetsu, Suga, Kugushi, and Hiruga. Because each has different water, the lakes' colors shift a little with the angle you view them from and the light.
By day, look down over the five lakes from the summit park of the Rainbow Line; go a little farther and the white sands of Suisho Beach are there. Buy freshly landed fish at the evening harbor and grill it by the lake. The sea's bounty and the lake's quiet coexist within a short distance.
Roadside stations and RV parks sit near the lakes, and traffic is light at night. Watch the stars fall onto the water's surface and pass the night with the tailgate open.
What you can do here
Grill the sea's bounty by the lake
Buy freshly landed fish at the evening harbor and grill it by the lake — precisely because it's a night without driving.
Head out to the white-sand beach
About 30 minutes by car to the clear waters of Suisho Beach. Both Wakasas — sea and lake — in a day.
Spots to stop by
* See the scenery on the map. Tap a pin for anywhere that catches your eye.
三方五湖
Five lakes of differing colors.
レインボーライン山頂公園
A sweeping view of the five lakes and the Sea of Japan.
水晶浜
A beach with clear waters.
道の駅 三方五湖
Right beside Lake Mikata.
Nearest RV park
RVパーク HESTA三方五湖
Central Wakasa. About 20 minutes by car to the Rainbow Line, 30 minutes to Suisho Beach.
※ For a quiet, free stay, the nearby Michi-no-Eki Mikata Goko is also a popular overnight spot (some slope — check first).
Trip tips
From the garage
About 1.5 to 2 hours from the garage in Nagaokakyo, Kyoto (using the expressway, as a rough guide).
Best seasons
Year-round; especially on clear days when the lakes' colors show, and from early summer to autumn when you can enjoy the sea too.
Notes on staying
Stay overnight only at designated places such as the RV park or roadside station above. Avoid entering private land or farmland by the shore.
Head out to Wakasa / Mikata Five Lakes with your companion.
It starts by choosing your dates and checking availability.