Tadami Line (只見線) is Japan’s most scenic local train line that runs between Aizu-Wakamatsu City (会津若松) in Fukushima Prefecture and Uonuma City (魚沼市) in Niigata Prefecture. No matter when you visit the Tadami Line, you will be amazed by the natural scenery of the Japanese countryside landscapes that haven’t changed much since a few centuries ago. Naturally, exploring the attractions along the train line is an intuitive thing to do. So, read on for the tourist attractions you might want to add to your itinerary.
Table of Contents
- Around Aizu-Wakamatsu Station (会津若松駅) and Nanukamachi Station (七日町駅)
- Aizu-Sakamoto Station (会津坂本駅)
- Bicycle Rental in Mishima (三島) and Yanaizu (柳津)
- Around Aizu-Yanaizu Station (会津柳津駅)
- Around Aizu-Nishikatat Station (会津西方駅)
- Around Aizu-Miyashita Station (会津宮下駅)
- Around Hayato Station (早戸駅)
- Around Aizu-Kawaguchi Station (会津川口駅)
- Around Station (只見駅)
- Around Echigo-Hirose Station (越後広瀬駅)
- Around Koide Station (小出駅)
The Must-Visit Spots on Nanukamachi-dōri Street (七日町通り)
In Aizu-Wakamatsu City, if you want to walk on a street lined with buildings from over a century ago, head to Nanukamachi-dōri Street. Historical warehouses and Western-style buildings are carefully preserved. While the street isn’t as lively as before, there is no doubt that it is where you can discover Aizu’s culture. Moreover, there are a few spots related to the members of the famous samurai group, Shinsengumi, in the area!
For more information, refer to our article on Nanukamachi-dōri Street!
Local Lifestyle Store Bikōdō (ローカルライフスタイルストア美工堂)
Bikōdō is a good spot to shop for souvenirs and items that combine traditional techniques with a modern aesthetic design in Aizu-Wakamatsu City. Unlike other souvenir shops, Bikōdō is a place to treasure hunt for craftware that can be used in your daily life and outdoor activities! The shop is filled with items you want to use forever and can be used for a long time.
The Products at Bikōdō
The owner, Seki-san (関 昌邦), cares a lot about protecting the craftware techniques passed down for centuries. Thus, he spent much time developing useful products for the modern lifestyle using the Aizu-Nuri liquoring (会津塗) techniques. The signatory wooden outdoor Nodate lacquerware series (ノダテシリーズ) is a good example. They were underwhelmed after attending a couple of outdoor gear festivals filled with items made from mostly artificial materials. Because the purpose of venturing out of the city is to enjoy and connect with nature, they wanted gears made from natural materials. Thus, they created the wooden Nodate mug.
Don’t underestimate the Nodate Mug. Not only does it not contain chemicals, but the lacquer layer strengthens the utensil and makes it resistant to strong acids and alkalis. Moreover, it is effective in killing germs!
Furthermore, clothes and items designed by popular designers made from the local specialty, Aizu Cotton Plain Weave (会津木綿), are also popular buys at Bikōdō. Compared to typical cotton, the Aizu cotton plain weave is less likely to shrink and fade. Because of its durability, it was often used for outdoor clothing in the past.
There are also shops in the complex selling interestingly designed lacquerware, tableware, and outdoor items from Northern Europe. When tired, rest at Bikōdō’s cafe or grab some bread from the bakery. Fresh fruits and vegetables might also be on sale at the cafe!
Bikōdō’s Business Hours and Access Information
- Bikōdō is open from 10 am to 6 pm from Thursday to Tuesday.
- It is best to drive to Bikōdō. But you can also take a bus from Aizu-Wakamatsu Station (会津若松駅) or Nanukamachi Station (七日町駅).
Aizu-Sakamoto Station (会津坂本駅)
While there isn’t a specific scenic spot around Aizu-Sakamoto Station, get your camera ready when the train approaches it. The station building is too unique to miss! Because of its specialness, the locals nicknamed it Daruma station (ダルマ駅).
Aizu-Sakamoto Station’s station building was built using an abandoned freight car. If you drive through National Route 252, you can see the Aizu-Sakamoto Station building as well. But you probably won’t recognize it as a train station!
An opening was created on each side of the freight car to form a path leading to the platform. The space on the sides of the openings was partitioned into waiting rooms. You can see that the ceiling has a gentle arc shape, a characteristic of a freight car.
Of course, you can get to the platform without passing through the station building (´▽｀*).
Aizu-Sakamoto Station’s History
When Aizu-Sakamoto Station was opened in 1928, it had a wooden station building. The current freight car building replaced it in 1984. Why use a freight car? Because it was cheap to get at the time and strong against the wind and snow. The freight car was one of many unwanted ones sold cheaply by Japan’s national railway. Starting from Hokkaidō, many Daruma stations appeared in Japan in the late Shōwa period. But not many of these were left in mainland Japan because of the station renewal work completed one after another.
Bicycle Rental in Mishima (三島) and Yanaizu (柳津)
Because the number of services on the Tadami Line is limited, the train isn’t the best way of transportation to visit the tourist spots along the train line. If you don’t plan to rent a car, renting a bicycle can be an option to explore Mishima and Yanaizu Town. Rental bicycle pick-up and drop-off services between the two towns are also available.
In Mishima Town, you can rent an electric-assisted bicycle from Mishima Tourism Association (三島町観光交流舘からんころん).
- The rental bicycle service is available from 9 am to 6 pm from Tuesday to Sunday from April to December. If Monday is a public holiday, the service won’t be available the next business day.
- The cost is 500 yen for 3 hours or 1,500 yen daily.
- It will cost an additional 200 yen for to extend the rental for an hour.
- The luggage storage service costs 300 yen per piece.
Koike Confectionary Store (小池菓子舗)
One of the top specialties in the Aizu region is Awamanjū (あわまんじゅう), a slightly chewy bun filled with red bean paste. While manjū is a common traditional sweet that can be found across Japan, Awamanjū is only sold in Aizu, where it originates. Speaking of Awamanjū, Koike Confectionary Store is the most famous shop for Awamanjū in the area. The confectionery maker has over 100 years of history. At Koike Confectionary Shop’s main store, you can enjoy freshly made and steamed buns filled with lightly sweetened homemade bean paste made using domestically grown red beans.
For more information, refer to our Koike Confectionary Store article!
Mishima Town Local Crafts Museum (三島町生活工芸館)
Not far from the First Tadami River Bridge Viewpoint, Mishima Town Local Crafts Museum is a good place to visit for those interested in traditional crafts. Plants collected in the Aizu region‘s mountainous areas, such as wild grapes, sedges, and Actinidia polygamy, are used to make everyday items the locals used in the good old days.
When the area was covered by snow, the locals spent the long winter making items such as baskets and straw sandals using natural materials collected to earn a living. Don’t underestimate these handicrafts, they are very durable! So, the handicrafts made in the area known as Oku-Aizu Braided Work (奥会津編み組細工) were designated as national traditional crafts!
Apart from the crafts made locally, bags, wallets, and other items made by artists around Japan are also on display. If any craftwork catches your eye, check with the staff to see if it is on sale.
In addition to checking out the amazingly made exhibits, you can also reserve to make your craft. Depending on which craft you choose to make, it can take as little as 30 minutes to complete! For example, the phone strap made by brading the wild grapes’ bark and beads only takes between 30 to 45 minutes.
For more information about the handicraft workshops at Mishima Town Local Crafts Museum, refer to their Official Website.
- You can enquire and book your session by filling out the Online Form. The staff will rely on Translation Apps and hand gestures to walk you through the process.
- Calling the museum at +81-241-48-5502 is another way to make a reservation.
Tip: You might run into the Furusato Aizu Craftsman Festival (ふるさと会津工人まつり) if you visit the museum in early June. The event sees over 150 handicraft artists gathering at Mishima Town Local Crafts Museum, selling their woodwork, ceramics, glass, metalwork, and more to the visitors. Workshops are also held throughout the 2-day event.
Mishima Town Local Crafts Museum’s Opening Hours and Access Information
- Mishima Town Local Crafts Museum is open from 9 am to 5 pm from Tuesday to Sunday.
- If Monday is a public holiday, it closes on the next business day.
- The museum also closes on the next business day of any public holiday as well as between the end of December and the beginning of January.
- Mishima Town Local Crafts Museum is a 15-minute walk from Aizu-Nishikatat Station (会津西方駅).
Mishima Town Tourism Association Karankoron (観光案内所 からんころん)
After snapping photos of the Miyashita Arch Sankyōdai Bridges, visit the Tourist Information Center Karankoron before leaving the Miyashita Arch Sankyōdai Bridges Viewpoint and Aizu-Miyashita Station. It is a great spot for a break with a cup of coffee brewed with water filtered through charcoal from the local Aizu paulownia tree. You might even want to try their mulberry leaf tea!
Karankoron is run by the locals. While they might not be proficient in English, the staff are very friendly and go beyond their responsibilities to help tourists. You can ask them anything about Mishima Town. The tourist information center, renovated from an old house, is filled with local specialties, especially the craftworks. In addition, you will also find the original Miyashita Arch Sankyōdai Bridges t-shirt here!
The only public toilet close to the station is also located in Karankoron. The luggage storage service is also available for 300 yen. Furthermore, electric-assisted bicycles can already be rented from early April to early December, depending on the snow conditions. As the number of bicycles is limited, it is best to email [email protected] to reserve. You can also send them an online enquire form HERE.
- The cost to rent an electric-assisted bicycle is
- 500 yen for 3 hours
- 200 yen for each extra hour
- 1,500 yen per day
- 500 yen for 3 hours
If you visit Karankoron on the 2nd and 4th weekend, you can enjoy freshly made soba noodles from 11 am to 2 pm or until sold out. The noodles are offered by the local volunteer group “Miyashita Soba and Tofu Association (みやした蕎麦と豆腐の会)”.
Mishima Town Tourism Association Karankoron’s Opening Hours and Access Information
- Mishima Town Tourism Association Karankoron is open from 9 am to 6 pm from Tuesday to Sunday.
- If Monday is a public holiday, it closes the next business day.
- It is closed from December 31 to January 3.
- The tourism association is a 2-minute walk from Aizu-Miyashita Station (会津宮下駅).
Tip: You can utilize the Commuter Town Bus to get to Ozekaido Mishima Juku Roadside Station near (道の駅みしま宿) near the First Tadami River Bridge Viewpoint.
Hayato Station (早戸駅)
Hayato Station is a station that you won’t mind waiting for the train for a little bit longer, as long as you like the natural scenery. The view of the Tadami River and the surrounding mountains spread below the platform, making it hard to pull your attention away. Moreover, the station building is stylish!
Sitting in the station’s waiting room, the floor-to-ceiling window is like a picture frame, with the breathtaking scenery as the photo.
Mugenkyō Gorge (霧幻峡)
Mugenkyō Gorge is on the border of Mishima Town (三島町) and Kaneyama Town (金山町). You can easily get to the Mugenkyō Gorge Hayato Ferry Pier (霧幻峡の渡し早戸船着き場) from Hayato Station. Its name came from how the valley is shrouded in mist in the early mornings and evenings in summer. The scenery resembls a traditional ink painting.
Instead of the modern ferry, a traditional rowing boat is waiting for you at the pier. The usual course takes around 45 minutes for a return trip to the Tadami River. If you understand Japanese, you can also reserve the boat and sightseeing course for the boatman to take you around the area.
Things to Note About Mugenkyō Gorge Ferry
- The Mugenkyō Gorge Ferry only operates from 7 am to sunset from mid-April to late November.
- A reservation is essential. You can book a spot via Mugenkyō Ferry Official Website. The reservation is only confirmed after you receive a confirmation email.
- Reservations can be made up to 5 days in advance.
- Depending on the reservation status and weather conditions, the ferry company may call you to adjust the reserved time.
- If you want to cancel your reservation, you can do so by filling out an Enquiry Web Form or by calling
- Kanayama Town Tourism and Products Association (金山町観光物産協会) at +81-241-42-7211 on weekdays
- Kaneyama Town Tourism Center (金山町観光情報センター) at +81-241-54-2855 on weekends and public holidays
- Please call to cancel if you want to cancel on the day or the day before. Note a cancellation fee may apply.
How to Get to Mugenkyō Gorge Hayato Ferry Pier
Mugenkyō Gorge Hayato Ferry Pier is a 3-minute walk from JR Hayato Station (早戸駅).
Hayato Onsen Tsuru no Yu (早戸温泉つるの湯)
For those who love hot springs, you can enjoy the onsen after your boat ride to Mugenkyō Gorge at Hayato Onsen Tsuru no Yu. It is open for day visitors and has open-air hot spring baths overlooking Tadami River. Unlike many hot spring facilities, Tsuru no Yu’s onsen is completely free-flowing from the source. Your skin will definitely become much smoother after indulging in Tsuru no Yu’s hot spring!
For more information, refer to our article on Hayato Onsen Tsuru no Yu!
Kaneyama Fureai Hiroba (かねやまふれあい広場) and Aizu-Kawaguchi Station (会津川口駅)
If you want to get close to the Tadami River, Kaneyama Fureai Hiroba is a great spot to visit. The spot is by the side of the National Route 252. The Tadami River flows next to the Tadami Line Railtrack just below you. Depending on where you take the photo from, you can also capture the Ōshi Hamlet (大志集落) afar.
You can also walk to the bridge near Kaneyama Fureai Hiroba for photos of the river and the Tadami Line from a different angle.
In fact, Aizu-Kawaguchi Station’s platform is by the Tadami River. Just like Hayato Station, it is where you can adore Aizu’s natural scenery while waiting for the next train.
Kaneyama Fureai Hiroba is around a 10-minute walk from JR Aizu-Kawaguchi Station (会津川口駅).
Close to Aizu-Kawaguchi Station, there is a hidden spot around a 5-minute walk from the station to see the trains running on the Tadami Line. Follow National Route 252 and walk towards the direction of Tadami Station, you will see a tunnel at the other end of a bridge. There should be a small road to the right before the bridge. Follow that small road and you should be able to get very close to the Nojirigawa Bridge (野尻川橋梁), which the trains cross.
Ōshi Hamlet (大志集落) from the Shirifuki Pass (尻吹峠)
A spot to overlook Ōshi Hamlet is from the Shirifuki Pass. It is around 2-km from Aizu-Kawaguchi Station. While it is difficult to get to even with a car, the view from there is spectacular. The hamlet with houses of colorful roofs would remind you of the villages dotted in Switzerland’s mountains. There is no wonder why the view called Ōshi Fukan (大志俯瞰) is one of the representative views of the Tadami Line.
Important: The shortest route is a rough, unpaved road with hairpin curves. Thus, it is better to take a detour from the direction of Kaneyama Ski Resort (かねやまスキー場).
Explore the Attractions in Tadami Town
If you plan to take the Tadami Line, the train will stop at Tadami Station for 10 to 30 minutes. Why? So the passengers can explore the area around the train station. Located in the second half of the Tadami Line, the town makes a great place to spend a night after exploring the scenic spots along Japan’s most picturesque local train line!
For more information about what to do and to see there, refer to our article on Tadami Town!
Okashi Kōbō Marumiya (お菓子工房まるみや)
If you have a sweet tooth, head to Okashi Kōbō Marumiya after getting off the train at JR Echigo-Hirosa Station. The baked sweet shop founded in 1926 is so popular that you can hardly find anyone in the area who doesn’t know about it.
Okashi Kōbō Marumiya is best known for its Baumkuchen made using 100% Koshihikari rice flour from Uonuma. In other words, the Baumkuchen is gluten-free. Although bread made from rice flour isn’t uncommon in Japan, you probably won’t find many places that make Baumkuchen from rice.
Instead of relying on machines, Baumkuchen at Marumiya is handmade. Compared to the regular Baumkuchen, Marumiya’s Baumkuchen tastes chewier and more refreshing. Furthermore, it isn’t overly sweet, so many who have tasted it become repeat customers. The product is so popular that sweets lovers living in Tokyo would travel for it! In addition to the original flavor, unique flavors, such as sake and ice cream Baumkuchen, are also on offer!
Other than Baumkuchen, many would also grab some cream puffs and pudding. In fact, the cream puff is the shop’s top-seller.
Important: If you want to get the Baumkuchen, it is best to head to Marumiya as early as possible. Due to its popularity, it can be sold out by noon.
Okashi Kōbō Marumiya’s Business Hours and Access Information
- Okashi Kōbō Marumiya is open from 10 am to 6 pm from Wednesday to Sunday.
- The sweet maker is around a 10-minute walk from JR Echigo-Hirosa Station (越後広瀬駅).
Uwappara Cosmos Park (上原コスモス園)
If you plan to ride the Tadami Line between mid-September and mid-October, stop by Uwappara Cosmos Park in Uonuma City (魚沼市). It is where brightly colored cosmos bloom across the vast plateau. From the park, you will also get a panoramic view of Mt. Gongendō (権現堂山) and the Three Mountains of Echigo (越後三山) as the backdrop.
With an overwhelming size of 4 hectares, approximately one million cosmos are planted at Uwappara Cosmos Park. There are two species of cosmos here: the single-colored Cosmos Sensation and the two-colored Akitsuki Cosmos (アカツキ コスモス). Because many cosmos in the park have single-colored flowers, it might take you a while to find two-colored flowers!
If the timing is right, you will spot the train running on Tadami Line from Uwappara Cosmos Park!
Important: There is no toilet in the park.
Tip: The cosmos season usually peaks in mid-October.
How to Get to Uwappara Cosmos Park
- Uwappara Cosmos Park is around a 10-minute drive from JR Echigo-Hirosa Station (越後広瀬駅) or a 15 to 20-minute drive from JR Koide Station (小出駅).
Koide Park (小出公園)
If you take the Tadami Line between mid-April and early May, get off the train at Koide Park for cherry blossoms and Dogtooth violet. Lanterns are lit at night, so visitors can enjoy the cherry blossoms the entire day. The park on a hill is also where you can get a clear view of the cityscape with the Three Mountains of Echigo (越後三山) at the back. Besides the cherry blossoms and Dogtooth violet, various flowers bloom from April to October, with the fall foliage season starting in late October. You can refer to HERE for the types of flowers you can expect to see.
While in Japanese only, HERE is Koide Park’s map. It marks the promenade, hiking routes, and where you can find cherry blossoms and Dogtooth violet. The flowering information is updated on the Uonuma City Tourist Association’s website in spring.
In addition, Koide Park Spring Festival is held on May 5 each year. Every year, there are brass band performances by local students, playground equipment, mochi rice cake pounding, and stalls selling food and drinks. At 7 pm, fireworks are launched as a highlight of the day.
You can even pay to ride a helicopter to see the natural scenery from above!
How to Get to Koide Park
Koide Park is an 8-minute walk from JR Koide Station (小出駅).
Explore the Stunning Scenery Along the Tadami Line
Tadami Line is Japan’s most stunning train line. From the local train’s window, which runs through the mountains, breathtaking natural views unfold one after another throughout the year. Several tourist spots worth checking out are also dotted along the Tadami Line, enriching your visit to Japan’s rural towns.
So, refer to our Tadami Line article for more information on expanding your itinerary to include a couple of scenic spots!
