You’d never know today was spent in what seems like a disaster area. We cycled around and on Mount Bandai.
Mount Bandai (Bandai-san) last erupted on July 15, 1888. The cataclysmic event involved a massive steam-driven explosion that triggered a collapse of the northern side of the mountain. The resulting debris avalanche wiped out several villages, claimed hundreds of lives, and dammed rivers to create the scenic Urabandai lake district, including Lake Hibara and the Goshiki-numa (five-colored) ponds. Since then, the volcano has remained dormant, thankfully.
Then there’s the Fukushima nuclear plant in 2011. I wonder why this lodges more in my memory than the tsunami which caused it.
Known in Japan as the “Great East Japan Earthquake Disaster” – 19,759 deaths. The earthquake was the most powerful ever recorded in Japan, and the fourth most powerful recorded in the world since modern seismography began in 1900. It triggered a powerful tsunami waves that may have reached heights of up to 40.5 meters (133 ft) and which traveled at 700 km/h (435 mph) and up to 10 km (6 mi) inland.
Today it’s a gorgeous ride, busy with a rather testy cycling event going the other way. Their challenge is 197 km (why not 200?) and 4750m of ascent. Most of them waved cheerily to us. The chap doing it on a Brompton seemed not to be so relaxed.
We didn’t get to see the 5 different colours of the lakes. Just a thick cloud we cycled down through. Atmospheric and freezing.
A local street party welcomed us, or rather the sumo wrestling win.
Travelling reflections 