The Bandai-Azuma Skyline is a 29-kilometer sightseeing road to the west of Fukushima City. The roadway makes for a lovely drive as it weaves its way through the Azuma Mountain Range, tying together Takayu Onsen and the Tsuchiyu Mountain Pass. It has even been nicknamed “the road that runs across the sky” as it offers such spectacular panoramic views of Fukushima City and the beautiful countryside.
The road opens for the season in early April, coinciding with cherry blossom viewing season in Fukushima City. At Fukushima City's Hanamiyama, you can see the rare combination of cherry blossoms and snow in the course of a single day.
| Website | https://fukushima-guide.jp/discover/bandai-azuma-skyline/ |
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| Contact | Fukushima City Tourism & Convention Association (+81) 24-563-5554 fukushima.guide@f-kankou.jp |
| Best Season |
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| Parking | Parking is available at Jododaira Rest House. |
| Related info | The road is closed during the winter season, from mid-November until mid-April. Best season: The first ten days of April, immediately following the annual reopening of the Bandai-Azuma Skyline. The snow thaws steadily, so it is best to come early. |
| Access | Torikodaira, Chinai, Tsuchiyu Onsen-Machi, Fukushima City, Fukushima Pref. View directions |
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| Getting there | By Car to the Skyline Takayu Gate: From Fukushima Nishi I.C. exit off the Tohoku Expressway, take Route 115 toward Takayu Onsen for about 25 min. It takes around 30 min to reach the Snow Corridor after passing through the Takayu Gate. |
Mt. Ryozen is a spiritual, historic mountain with beautiful scenery. Since the Muromachi Period, Ryozen Temple has been used as a training grounds for Buddhist monks. Apparently, monks-in-training used to tie themselves to cliff-edges as part of their training in self-discipline!Hikers can park at the Mt. Ryozen Trailhead Parking Lot.
Licca Castle houses a production studio and museum both dedicated to Licca dolls (Japanese fashion dolls). In this building designed in the image of a European castle, you can find out everything there is to know about the five generations of Licca dolls.
Iwase Yumoto Onsen has been treasured as a hot spring resort for a long time. The rustic ryokan of Iwase Yumoto Onsen have quaint thatched roofs and are particularly photogenic lined up side-by-side. This old-fashioned area’s nostalgic atmosphere is definitely not to be missed if you would like to feel as if you have been transported back into the Japan of centuries gone by.
Approximately 5,000 colorful hydrangeas bloom here every summer. Nicknamed by locals as 'Hydrangea Alley', this is a great place for relaxing or taking photos. Doaidate Park routinely makes lists of best places to see hydrangeas in Tohoku every year thanks to its sheer number of bushes and tranquil atmosphere.There is also a play park for children and an old shrine within the park grounds, while the west side of the park offers excellent views over Mt. Adatara.Parking is available for roughly 40-50 cars by the slope leading to the park entrance.In an average year, the best time to see hydrangeas fully in bloom is between the end of June and beginning of July.
This tree is located on the grounds of a temple dedicated to the Buddhist deity Acala (known as Fudo Myoo in Japan), and is thus known locally as the Fudo Cherry Blossoms. The tree is about 350 years old and is considered to be a descendant of the Miharu Takizakura, a famous cherry tree located in nearby Miharu Town. Photography tip: Angle your camera so you capture both the cherry blossoms and the yellow canola flowers.
There are 1,000 Yoshino cherry blossom trees planted along both sides of the Natsui River, giving the area the name of 'Natsui Senbon-Zakura', which translates as 'Natsui's 1000 cherry trees'. The view of the river stretching out in the distance is calming. The cherry blossoms actually line the river for a distance of 5 km. Natsui Senbon-Zakura offers good spots for taking pictures. Take a walk along the promenade near the banks of the Natsui River for some beautiful shots of the contrast between the glistening river and the cherry blossoms.
Majyo-no-hitomi, or The Witch's Eye Lake, is a volcanic lake that was formed during a volcanic eruption many years ago. Unique minerals in the water cause the lake to appear different colors, giving the lake its official name of Goshiki-numa (Five Colored Lake), but most often it is a bright blue. The nickname of “Witch's Eye” comes from the unique appearance of the lake that is visible in late spring when the snow melts enough so that only a white ring remains around the lake to form the white of what appears to be an enormous single eye.This lake viewpoint can be reached by an intermediate hike up Mt. Issaikyo that begins at the Jododaira Visitors Center, stop by for a map and safety information before hiking.
The Totsube Sakura tree is one of the best-known cherry blossom spots in Fukushima. Standing alone in a field in Yamatsuri Town, its wide branches and soft pink flowers create a striking scene against the surrounding countryside. The tree is especially famous for blooming slightly earlier than many other cherry trees in the area and is seen as a symbol of the spring season starting in the prefecture.Believed to be more than 600 years old, the tree is an Edohigan cherry tree and has been designated a natural monument by the prefectural government. It stands around 18 metres tall, with a trunk more than six metres in circumference, showing both its great age and remarkable size.For generations, local farmers used the blooming of the Totsube Sakura as a sign that it was time to begin spring work in the fields. Because it flowers from late March to early April, it became closely tied to the rhythms of life in Yamatsuri and remains an important symbol of the town today.The tree is also popular with photographers, especially because the nearby Suigun Line railway passes behind it. During blossom season, many visitors gather to capture the sight of a local train passing beneath the ancient cherry tree.