Speaking of Aizu-Wakamatsu‘s tourist attractions, Tsuruga Castle has to be at the top of the list. Although the castle was largely damaged during the Boshin War (戊辰戦争), the castle keep was restored in 1965. After restoring the castle’s red roof tiles in 2011, Tsuruga Castle regained its glorious appearance before being dismantled in the late […]
Tsuruga Castle: The Only Red-Roofed Castle in Japan Read More »
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
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The east and west sides of Tadami Station have completely different vibes. The west side is filled with nature. Apart from the Tadami Sky Resort (只見スキー場), the main reason people venture out of the town center is Mitsuishi Shrine (三石神社) and hiking. The shrine buried in a low mountain near the station is where you
Mitsuishi Shrine in Tadami and Its Interesting Ritual Read More »
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
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For those who love hot springs, you can enjoy the onsen at Hayato Onsen Tsuru no Yu (早戸温泉つるの湯) after your boat ride to Mugenkyō Gorge. The onsen ryokan is within walking distance from Hayato Station. It is open for day visitors and has open-air hot spring baths overlooking Tadami River. Unlike many hot spring facilities,
Hayato Onsen Tsuru no Yu: A Ryokan Overlooking Tadami River Read More »
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 (小池菓子舗) is the most famous shop
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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 (七日町通り). The 800-meter-long street stretching west from Nanukamachi Station (七日町駅) was a busy street in Aizu from the Edo period to the early 20th century. Historical warehouses and Western-style buildings are carefully
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Checking out traditional confectionery shops is a must in an area like Nanukamachi, which is filled with traditional buildings. While the types of confectionery usually don’t vary by too much, each region has its way of making sweets; hence, they can taste different. You might even have some unique or rare finds as you browse
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The Aizu region produces good sake wine. If you have a sweet tooth and love sake, Kyō (蔵喫茶 杏) is the cafe in Nanukamachi that you must visit. Operating by a sake brewery founded in the Edo period, the cafe has the finest sake sweets waiting for you to enjoy. Moreover, you won’t get many
Kyō: A Cafe in Aizu-Wakamatsu to Enjoy Sake Infused Sweets Read More »
A nice cafe to stop by in Nanukamachi is Aizu Ichibankan (會津壹番館). In addition to its good coffee, it is a spot related to the guy printed on the old Japanese 1,000 yen notes (the new one was issued in 2024). The guy with the curly hair was named Noguchi Hideyo (野口英世). He was a
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