【2013年12月25日】 再度 志田浜 へ ( 白鳥 、猪苗代湖 、そして 磐梯山 ) ( Dec. 25, 2013: Revisited Shidahama ; Swans , Lake Inawashiro, & Mt. Baidaisan, Fukushima Pref. )
This morning, the wind was calm and even clear sky could be seen from between clouds. That was why I decided to visit Shidahama Beach of Lake Inawashiro again. The owner of the Kohan Guesthouse Inn kindly drove me there. When leaving there I walked to JR Sekido Station which was about 30 minutes' walk and the snow had been removed, and then took a train of Ban-etsu West Line to Koriyama.
経路は、下の地図を参照。(経路と標高は、GPSログデータによる。地図は、クリックで拡大できます。)
The actual route was shown in the map below. (The route and altitude data were from GPS log data. The details of the map can be seen by clicking the map.)

本日の 志田浜 では、天候が穏やかなため、白鳥は湖水に入ったり、出たりしており、昨日とはまた違った光景でした。その様子を、以下紹介します。
Today at Shidahama, since the weather was pleasant, swans were in and out of the lake, thus I could see different view from yesterday. Those scenes were shown below.


猪苗代湖 で遊泳中の 白鳥 と、磐梯山 。
Above pictures show swans swimming in the Lake Inawashiro with Mt. Bandaisan in the background.
白鳥は、10分程遊泳したら、また浜辺に上がり休憩し、その繰り返しです。
After 10 minutes' swimming in the lake they moved to the beach for rest and this was repeated.

遊泳開始後の様子。
Above picture shows the view after the swans entering the lake.

浜辺へ戻る白鳥たち。
Swans were moving towards the beach.


雪の浜辺で休憩する白鳥たち。
Swans were taking a rest on the snow beach.
志田浜には、約50羽あまりの白鳥が来ています。地元の方の話では、猪苗代湖 北岸の 長浜 などにも来ており、湖全体では、約200羽程になるそうです。
There were more than 50 swans here at Shidahama. I heard from a local man that they flew to several other beaches of Lake Inawashiro such as Nagahama which was a northern beach, and the total number would count as much as about 200.
【2013年12月24日】 会津 の 冬景色 ( 会津若松 の 御薬園 、猪苗代湖 志田浜 の 白鳥 ) ( Dec. 24, 2013: Japanese Garden Oyakuen & Swans at Shidahama Beach of Lake Inawashiro, Fukushima Pref. )
Today I first visited Oyakuen Garden at Aizuwakamatsu City and then visited Shidahama Beach of Lake Inawashiro at which I expected to see swans. Since Aizu Area had been covered with deep snow, I thought it would be difficult to pedal over the pass because of freezing road thus I went by train.
経路は、下の地図を参照。(経路と標高は、GPSログデータによる。地図は、クリックで拡大できます。)
The actual route was shown in the map below. (The route and altitude data were from GPS log data. The details of the map can be seen by clicking the map.)
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まず、会津若松の 御薬園 を訪ねました。
First I visited Oyakuen at Aizuwakamatsu City.

郡山から 磐越西線 で会津若松行きに乗ります。
I took a train of Ban-etsu West Line bound for Aizuwakamatsu from Koriyama.

途中、中山峠 を越え、会津に入ったとたん、写真のような 雪景色 に変わります。
On the way after passing the Nakayama Pass and entering to Aizu Area the view suddenly changed to snow scene as shown in the picture above.
会津若松駅に着きます。
Soon I arrived at Aizuwakamatsu Station.


改札をでると、写真のような看板が出迎えます。
Passing through the ticket gate a welcome board as shown in the picture above appeared.

御薬園へは、市内循環バス「 あかべえ 」に乗ります。30分毎にあり、市内観光に大変便利です。
I took a city loop bus named "Akabei" to get to Oyakuen. This bus starts every 30 minutes thus very convenient for travelers.

御薬園 入口に到着。
I finally arrived at entrance gate of Oyakuen.


御薬園 は、国指定の名勝 で、薬草のある日本庭園です。冬期は、積雪のため、下の写真のような風景になります。
Oyakuen which was a Japanese garden with herbs had been designated as the National Site of Scenic Beauty. In winter the view looked as shown below due to snow.


会津若松市の 御薬園 の冬景色。
Pictures above show winter views of Oyakuen Garden.

帰りは、逆方向に回る市内循環バスの「 ハイカラさん 」で会津若松駅に戻ります。
For the return trip to Aizuwakamtsu Station I took another loop bus named "Haikarasan".

ちょうど昼時で、駅中の蕎麦屋で、「 会津のねばり 」を注文。大変、おいしいそばでした。
At lunch time I ordered a hot soba dish named "Aizu-no-nebari" in the station restaurant. It was delicious.

次に、郡山行の磐越西線に乗り、猪苗代駅 で降りたときの、磐梯山 の様子です。 ここから、猪苗代湖畔の 志田浜 へ行きます。
Next I took a train of Ban-etsu West Line bound for Koriyama and I got off at Inawashiro Station. A view of Mt. Bandaisan from here was shown above. I then headed for Shidahama Beach of Lake Inawashiro.
志田浜には、期待通り、白鳥がおり、少しの晴れ間から磐梯山を背景に、写真をとることができました。(本当は、天気予報から明日の朝をピンポイントで狙っていました。)
There were many swans as I expected and I could take pictures with Mt.bandaisan in the back with some sunlight falling from between clouds.


志田浜 の 白鳥 と、磐梯山 。
Swans at Shidahama Beach with Mt. Bandaisan in the back.


滑空する 白鳥 と、磐梯山 。
Gliding swan with Mt. Bandaisan in the back.

猪苗代湖 と 白鳥 と、磐梯山 。
Picture of swans at Lake Inawashiro with Mt. Bandaisan in the background.

今夜は、近くの「 こはんゲストハウス 」に泊まります。 この近くで、冬場に一人旅などで、手軽に安く泊まれる貴重な宿です。 きれいで、近くの送迎もしてもらえます。
I stayed at nearby "Kohan Guesthouse Inn" tonight. This inn was one of very few inns at which even alone traveler could stay conveniently with reasonable charge. It was new, clean and with pickup and sending off service to nearby station.
【2013年12月13日】 郡山市 の 青松浜 (猪苗代湖畔) ( Dec. 13, 2013: Seishouhama Beach of Koriyama City , Fukushima Pref. )
Konan district which is the far east part of Koriyama City is on the edge of Lake Inawashiro. You can see a view of the Lake with Mt. Bandaisan in the back from Seishouhama Beach or Funatsu area. Today I went there with my bike.
経路は、下の地図を参照。(経路と標高は、GPSログデータによる。地図は、クリックで拡大できます。)
The actual route was shown in the map below. (The route and altitude data were from GPS log data. The details of the map can be seen by clicking the map.)
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郡山市街から、殆ど県道6号の一本道で行け、途中に多田野トンネル(293m)と、三森(さんもり)トンネル(1365m)があります。トンネル内は、明るく、凍結もなく、通り易かった。
The main route was local Route 6 from the center of Koriyama City with Tadano Tunnel (293m) and Sanmori Tunnel (1365m) on the way. The tunnels were safe for bike with clear site and no icy road.


多田野トンネル 。
Tadano Tunnel.

三森トンネル 。
Sanmori Tunnel.

午前中は、凍結道路も残っていました。
In the morning there were still icy spots left.

猪苗代湖畔の 船津 に着き、磐梯山を望むが、曇りで中腹にあるスキー場までしか見えず。
Arriving at Funatsu area on the shore of Lake Inawashiro I only could see ski slope area on the hillside of Mt. Bandaisan due to cloudy weather.

船津から青松浜へは、湖畔沿いの道路を通るが、一部写真のように凍結。このような所は、自転車は押して歩きました。
From Fnatsu to Seishouhama I took a road along the lakeside and it was freezing in some parts as shown in the picture above. I walked with my bike in those parts.

青松浜 は、湖畔に立派な松林がある。(上の写真の右寄り) 冬は、白鳥が飛来することでも有名だが、本日は一羽もいない。地元の方に聞くと、今日は皆田んぼにいるとのこと。近くの田んぼに行くと、いるわいるわ写真の光景でした。
Seishouhama had beautiful pine trees on the shore as shown in the right part of the picture above. This place was famous for swan arriving in winter. However, today I could find none. I asked the local man and he told me that he saw many swans in the rice field today. I went to nearby field and found many swans here and there as shown in the pictures below.



青松浜の田んぼの白鳥。
Swans in the field at Seishouhama.

最後に、青松浜 から望んだ、布引高原 (ここも郡山市だが、冬季は閉鎖)の風力発電の風車の光景である。
At last, a view of wind power generators at Nunohiki Height was shown above. The Height was also a part of Koriyama City but had been closed during winter season.