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Destination Spotlight

Visiting the Mitsuishi Shrine (Three Stones Shrine)

A red Tori gate marks the forest trail that leads up through a dense forest where a shrine seems to hide among the rocks and trees. Here, in the Mitsuishi Shrine where three stones and three rituals wait for you to improve yourself and also wish for love or connection. Ichinoiwa (The First Sto...

Visiting the Mitsuishi Shrine (Three Stones Shrine)
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5 reasons to go River Trekking in Tadami Town

1. Safely explore the river and forest with a local guide! The river and trail are unmarked, but luckily there are local guides that are affordable and available to guide you! Even if you don’t speak Japanese, guides can help you through the trail with gestures and a little bit of Englis...

5 reasons to go River Trekking in Tadami Town
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The Sunken Village of Hibara

The mystery beneath the surface of Lake Hibara...  Today, if you visit Lake Hibara, you’ll see a beautiful lake with pebble beaches and forested banks. In winter the lake freezes over, making it a popular destination for ice fishing! However, beneath the surface of the water, or ...

The Sunken Village of Hibara
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I joined a Bicycle Race in Japan! (And You Should Too!)

I joined a cycling event/road race in Fukushima, Japan and cycled the popular hill climb course up the Bandai-Azuma Skyline to the Jododaira Visitors Center.  I was super nervous; I have been cycling for several years but this was my first road race ever. The other cyclists were all so fr...

I joined a Bicycle Race in Japan! (And You Should Too!)
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Cycling in Iwaki

Cruising along the beautiful coastline of Iwaki, it’s easy to forget that this coast was once ravaged by the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami. Since then, the area has been rebuilt and is once again a beautiful place to explore! The coastline of Iwaki has been fortified with sea w...

Cycling in Iwaki
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Visiting the most Extreme Wild Onsen in Japan!

The Extreme Onsen: Nakanosawa-numajiri Onsen Possibly the greatest wild onsen in Japan, or the world?  This massive onsen river in the mountains is the largest of its kind in all of Japan! With the help of a professional guide, visitors can traverse unique volcanic terrain to reach this ...

Visiting the most Extreme Wild Onsen in Japan!
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Experience Rice Planting in Fukushima, Japan!

A land of mirrors... Driving around Fukushima in the springtime, you might think you’ve wandered into a world of mirrors. Vast rice paddies flooded with water reflect the mountains, sky, and any cars that travel by creating a beautiful scenery. Due to the hills and valleys, its common to...

Experience Rice Planting in Fukushima, Japan!
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Mr. Ueno's Nanohana Flower Maze

Today, in Minamisoma City, fields of bright yellow nanohana flowers seem to stretch as far as the eye can see. Laughter and joy fill the air where children, adults, and elders come to walk through the mazes of these bright flowers. But this was not always a place of joy. After the Great...

Mr. Ueno's Nanohana Flower Maze
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Exploring the Kasumigajo Castle Park!

When we arrived at the Kasumigajo Castle Park (Nihonmatsu Castle) I immediately felt drawn in by the sweet smell of the blooming sakura trees. The whole park is full of sakura trees, making this a great place for cherry blossom viewing (Hanami, in Japanese)!  Before you walk in throug...

Exploring the Kasumigajo Castle Park!
Destination Spotlight

Fukushima x SIGMA: A Photographer's Paradise Route

This route through part of Fukushima has it all, fantastic autumn views, history, and adventure! Follow the route that we took to produce our video, "Fukushima x SIGMA: A Photographer's Paradise."  Grab your camera, and LET'S GO! Tsuruga...

Fukushima x SIGMA: A Photographer's Paradise Route
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The Sake Brewing Process at Niida Honke

Niida Honke Sake Brewery Founded in 1711, Niida Honke has seen eighteen generations of master brewers, each bringing their own personality and subtle changes to the company and its sake. The current head brewer is Yasuhiko Niida, an incredibly nice person with an awe inspiring passion for...

The Sake Brewing Process at Niida Honke
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[EVENT] Fukushima EXPO “FUKU-EXPO” 2020 in Aizu

In Fukushima Prefecture, in the Aizu region, we are holding a tour-type expo event called [Fukushima EXPO “FUKU-EXPO” 2020 in Aizu] to promote traditional crafts and local industries in Fukushima! Here, guests can explore the history and development of traditional culture in Fukushima...

[EVENT] Fukushima EXPO “FUKU-EXPO” 2020 in Aizu
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Getting to Ouchi-juku

  Tokyo to Ouchi-juku (Via Shin-Shirakawa) Koriyama to Ouchi-juku Fukushima to Ouchi-juku Aizu-Wakamatsu to Ouchi-juku Please note that all times are rough estimations and do not include accurate waiting times between stops. All prices listed below should be treated as...

Getting to Ouchi-juku
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JR Tadami Line

Station list and timetable for the JR Tadami Line (Updated April 2020) ABOUT SERVICE DISRUPTIONS Replacement bus service runs between Aizu-Kawaguchi Station and Tadami Station. TIMETABLE (FROM AIZU-WAKAMATSU TO KOIDE, VIA TADAMI) Station name Aizu-Wakamatsu ...

JR Tadami Line
Destination Spotlight

Mt. Iwatsuno’s Gankakuji: Amazing Buddhist Mountain Temple

I discovered Mt. Iwatsuno by accident. I did a farmstay in Motomiya City, and when I asked my farmstay host about her favourite place in Motomiya, she told me about Mt. Iwatsuno. My farmstay host described Mt. Iwatsuno as a mountainside scattered with huge rocks that had either been e...

Mt. Iwatsuno’s Gankakuji: Amazing Buddhist Mountain Temple

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