Yashagaike Pond: A Mystical Mountain Pond of Dragon Legend

Straddling the border between Minami-Echizen Town in Fukui Prefecture and Ibigawa Town in Gifu Prefecture, Yashagaike is a mysterious pond that quietly holds its water on a ridge at a surface elevation of about 1,099 meters. It is said never to have run dry in any drought, and a dragon-god legend involving a dragon deity and the maiden Yasha-hime is still handed down today. It is one of the most quietly celebrated mountaintop power spots in Fukui Prefecture, and a special stillness spreads around it, met only by those who reach it on foot along the trail.

Highlights

• A mountaintop pond that never runs dry, resting mysteriously on the ridge
• A sacred atmosphere alive with the legend of a dragon deity and the maiden Yasha-hime
• Rare wildlife including the Yasha diving beetle, an endangered species endemic to the pond, and the forest green tree frog
• The magnificent ridge views enjoyed along with the sense of achievement from the climb

Seasonal Enjoyment

In summer the cool alpine breeze and greenery feel pleasant, and this is the heart of the climbing season. In autumn the mountainsides turn to colour, and the views open up the higher you climb. Because the elevation is high and the path is steep, it is safest to avoid the snowy season and days of bad weather, and the forest road is also closed in winter. The suitable period is roughly June to November. Visit in the fresh-green to autumn-colour season, with your health and equipment in good order.

Access and Basic Information

• Location: on the border of Minami-Echizen Town, Fukui, and Ibigawa Town, Gifu (surface elevation about 1,099 m)
• The common trailhead is the Yashagaike trailhead on the Gifu side (a parking area at the end of the Ikenomata forest road)
• About 3 km and roughly 90 minutes on foot from the trailhead to the pond, with a steep, rope-fitted rocky section just below the ridge
• A route from the Fukui side also exists but is longer and suited to strong walkers
• The forest road is closed in winter, and access may be impossible depending on the weather

Practical Travel Notes

• Best seasons are the fresh green to summer months of June to August and the autumn colours of October. Clear days after the rainy season are easiest to walk
• Allow about 3 to 4 hours round trip from the trailhead. Plan with room to spare, including rests and time by the pond
• This is a genuine mountain climb. Always prepare hiking boots, rain gear, plenty of drinking water, and trail snacks, and keep to a manageable schedule
• Mountain weather changes quickly, so an early start and an early descent are the rule. Going with others rather than alone is safer
• This is a home for rare plants and animals. Avoid picking plants or entering the pond, and always carry your rubbish out
• Budget feel: entry and climbing are free. The main costs are your equipment and transport to the trailhead

A Word of Advice

Prepare sturdy hiking boots, rain gear, and drinking water, and climb with a sensible plan. As the weather on this mountain turns easily, acting early is the rule. Take a deep breath by the pond you have reached, and you may feel the mystery of stepping into a world of legend.

📚 Sources

The information here is based mainly on the public information of related municipalities such as Minamiechizen town and Ibigawa town in Gifu and the tourism associations. The point that it is a mountaintop pond at about 1,099 meters, the legend of the dragon deity and the yasha princess, the precious flora and fauna such as the endemic endangered Yasha diving beetle, and the guidance on the trailhead and trail are also useful references. Because the winter closure of the forest road and the trail conditions may change, please confirm the latest details on each municipality's official information before you visit.

Visitor Checklist

• Estimated time needed: About 3 to 4 hours round trip from the trailhead to the pond. Plan with a margin, including breaks and time spent by the pond.
• What to bring: This is a full mountain hike. Be sure to prepare hiking boots, rain gear, plenty of drinking water, and trail food, and watch for the steep, roped rocky section just below the ridge. Because mountain weather changes easily, an early start and early descent are the basics.
• Suggested route: The basic plan is to climb from the common Gifu-side Yashagaike trailhead (the parking area at the end of the Ikenomata forest road) and savor the quiet by the pond. Since precious flora and fauna live here, avoid collecting or entering the pond, and always carry your trash out.

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Which trailhead to use: On the Fukui Prefecture side, the Yashagaike trailhead lies beyond Hirono Dam in Iwaya, Minami-Echizen Town, along the municipal Iwaya road. The trailhead on the Gifu Prefecture side (Ikenomata, Ibigawa Town) is announced as closed for the time being because of disaster recovery works
• Road restrictions on the Fukui side: The municipal Iwaya road (Hirono Dam to the Yashagaike trailhead) is closed in winter. Minami-Echizen Town announced that it reopened on June 7, 2026 (Reiwa 8). As the timing varies from year to year, always check the latest information with the Minami-Echizen Town Construction and Maintenance Division (0778-47-8003) or on the town's official website before you set off
• Access (Fukui side): About 35 minutes by car from Imajo Station on the Hapi-Line Fukui railway to the trailhead, or about 40 minutes by car from the Imajo IC on the Hokuriku Expressway
• Parking and toilets: There is a car park for hikers at the trailhead on the Fukui side, and toilets are provided there too. There are no toilets around the pond
• Fees: Entering the mountain and viewing the pond are free of charge. Your only costs are transport and equipment
• How long to allow: This is a proper mountain hike. Allow at least half a day, including the round trip and a rest by the pond. For reference, Ibigawa Town states that it is about 3 km and about 90 minutes on foot from the trailhead on the Gifu side to the pond
• Footwear and clothing: Hiking boots, rain gear and plenty of drinking water and snacks are essential. Some sections involve walking over rocks
• Strollers and wheelchairs: These cannot be used on the mountain trail. The route is not suitable for small children either
• In rainy weather: There are no buildings to shelter in. Mountain weather changes quickly, so the rule is to start early and come back down early. On days when bad weather is forecast, be prepared to call it off
• What not to do at the pond: Ibigawa Town prohibits the use of fire (including gas stoves and cigarettes), camping, playing in or washing things in the water, littering, relieving oneself, bringing pets, catching or releasing living creatures, and breaking branches or picking flowers. Please use the toilets at the trailhead before setting off
• If you are driving: The road to the trailhead on the Gifu side is narrow for about 13 km from National Route 303, and Ibigawa Town asks visitors to refrain from coming in large vehicles, including microbuses
• Address: Iwaya, Minami-Echizen Town, Fukui Prefecture (the pond straddles the boundary between Minami-Echizen Town in Fukui Prefecture and Ibigawa Town in Gifu Prefecture)
• Enquiries: Minami-Echizen Town Imajo Tourism Association 0778-45-0074

Information Sources

The closure of the Gifu-side trailhead for the time being because of disaster recovery works, the stated elevation of 1,100 meters, the distance of about 3 km and walking time of about 90 minutes from the trailhead car park to the pond, the road width from National Route 303 to the trailhead and the request that large vehicles refrain from coming, the best times to see the day lilies and the autumn colours, and the list of prohibited acts at the pond were checked on the Yashagaike page of the tourism section of the official website of Ibigawa Town (updated January 19, 2026). The winter closure of the municipal Iwaya road on the Fukui side and its reopening on June 7, 2026 come from the Minami-Echizen Town website notice on the lifting of the closure of the municipal Iwaya road. The location, the pond's circumference of 230 meters and depth of 7.7 meters, the roughly 35 minutes by car from Imajo Station on the Hapi-Line Fukui railway and about 40 minutes from the Imajo IC on the Hokuriku Expressway, and the enquiry contact come from the spot information on Fukui Dot Com, the official tourism website of Fukui Prefecture. That the Yashagengoro diving beetle is a species endemic to Japan found only at Yashagaike, its naming in 1985, its designation as a nationally rare wild species, and the captive breeding and ex-situ conservation work begun in 2006 come from the Minami-Echizen Town website page introducing the Yashagengoro. The 16 hectares of protected forest and the installation of the boardwalk, and the mountain-opening ceremony on the Fukui side, were checked in material published by the Kinki Chugoku Regional Forest Office of the Forestry Agency. Conditions on the trail and forest roads can change greatly from year to year, so always check the official information from each local authority before you set out.