Juniko Lakes

The Juniko Lakes are a set of 33 bodies of water in the Aomori prefecture. Juniko, literally meaning Twelve Lakes, was named by its original discoverers who'd only counted twelve lakes while surveying the area. Surrounded by such eye-catching dense green forest, missing 21 of the lakes is more forgivable. Reaching all of the lakes is admittedly difficult, requiring a menagerie of hiking and driving skills to get around Tsugaru Quasi-National Park. But for some sights, like the startlingly blue Aoike Pond, the trip is more than worth the trek. Calm and picturesque, be sure to bring a camera when visiting the Juniko's 12 or 33 lakes.