Yanaizu Town is best known as the birthplace of the legend of the lucky red cow Akabeko, but it is also known for its famous manju (sweet steamed buns). Hot in Yanaizu is a center with a bit of everything; it sells local products, has sightseeing information, rest areas, and an eatery. They even have an "experience area".
It goes without saying that, at Hot in Yanaizu, you can paint your own Akabeko, but you can also make manju with the help of the facilities' kind staff (Read more here). Hot in Yanaizu have staff that can speak English, but please make sure to contact them in advance, as you might not be able to do the experience without placing a booking.
Please take your time & enjoy the slow pace of Japanese countryside life in Yanaizu Town.
| Website | http://www.okuaizu.net/spot/985/(Japanese) |
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| Best Season | All Year |
| Related info | <b><u>Opening Hours</b></u> Shops: Apr. to Nov.: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM / Dec. to Mar.: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM Restaurant: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM Foot Bath: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM Closed on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month. |
| Access | 151-1 Yanaizu Shimodaira, Yanaizu Town, Konuma-gun, Fukushima Pref. 969-7201 View directions |
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| Getting there | By Train: 20 min walk from JR Aizu-Yanaizu Station. By Car: 30 min drive from central Aizu-Wakamatsu City via the Aizu-Bange I.C. exit off the Ban-etsu Expressway. |
This hall features exhibits on both sides of the Boshin War, from the defenders of the Aizu Domain loyal to the shogun, to the imperial government forces and their Western support. There is a focus on documents related to the Byakkotai, the young 'White Tiger Corps' of 16- and 17-year-old samurai, as well as many documents of the Seigun (Western Army) and Shinsengumi (elite Aizu troops).
The Goshiki-numa ponds of Urabandai are a cluster of five volcanic lakes at the foot of Mt. Bandai. When Mt. Bandai erupted in 1888, Goshiki-numa - which translates as "Five-Colored Ponds - were formed.In actuality dozens of lakes were created due to the 1888 eruption, but the Goshiki-numa Ponds are the most famous. It was thanks to the eruption that the lakes each took on rich color; the various minerals found in each lake give them a unique color and create a mystical aura.The colors of the Goshiki-numa Ponds also change throughout the year depending on weather and time of day, a truly mysterious phenomenon. The lakes have become a popular tourist destination. The five main lakes are Bishamon, Aka, Ao, Benten, and Midoro, and their colors range from a lime green to deep turquoise to a topaz blue. A scenic walking route guides visitors around the ponds. At 3.6 km in length, this walking route - which will take you past many of the ethereal colors - takes about 70 minutes to complete.If you’d like a view of all five lakes at once, why not take the 4 km walking trail from Bishamon-numa (largest of the five lakes) up to nearby Lake Hibara. Alternatively, if hiking is not on your itinerary, enjoy a simple rowboat out on Bishamon-numa. It’s especially lovely in autumn as the color of the autumn leaves reflects on the deep green surface of the lake. In winter, there are even snowshoe trekking tours offered. The color of the lakes looks particularly vivid in winter, seeing as the minerals in some of the lakes stop them from freezing over, meaning you can see their colors contrasted with the white of the snow.Be sure to stop by the Urabandai Visitor Center, which is a large and well-equipped facility. You can find great information here about tours as well as the various geography, wildlife, and even the history of the area. It’s a great chance to learn more about the ecosystem that makes up the Goshiki-numa Ponds.
Kaneyama Town is a scenic, rural town surrounded by woods. One of the most famous things about Kaneyama Town is its well of naturally carbonated water. Such water is rarely found in Japan. Small bubbles are infused into the water, giving it a gentle and smooth taste. Locals and visitors take empty bottles to the well to fill and take back home. There is a pot at the well that can be used to collect water from the base of the well. Pulling up water from the bottom with a rope definitely makes for a fun and unique experience! Why don’t you try this natural sparkling water while enjoying the beautiful scenery in Kaneyama?
A tranquil onsen town located between Mt. Bandai & the west side of the Adatara mountains. Nakanosawa Onsen shares its onsen source with nearby Numajiri Onsen town. The volume of onsen water that springs up at Nakanosawa Onsen is absolutely huge, even compared to other onsen in Japan.
Human Hub is a hip, two-floored shop in the east of Aizu-Wakamatsu, in the same region as common sightseeing spots like Tsurugajo Castle and Oyakuen Garden. The first floor features a baked good section and a cafe space serving hand-drip coffee, while the second floor is home to a coworking space, large-format print lab and a woodworking workshop for local craftsmen.Matching this eclectic mix of disciplines, the first floor shop sells a wide variety of independently-sourced goods, from household items like cushions or fabrics, local produce like oils, teas and jams, outdoor and garden products, and a clothes section.
A roadside station standing along National Route 252. Here you can buy fresh, seasonal local produce, local crafts goods, and other specialty products. You can also eat oyako-don chicken and eggs over rice made with Aizu jidori chicken. Visitors pass through this roadside station in order to visit the famous No. 1 Tadami River Bridge Viewpoint.
This shop uses Aizu-grown peanuts in their delicious confectionery sweets. There’s a sampling corner for you to try their creations. Our top recommendation is the peanut soft-serve ice cream!
Tsurugajo Kaikan is a shopping complex next to Tsurugajo Castle. Here you can try local cuisine, from Wappa Meshi and Sauce Katsudon, to soba noodles and Kitakata Ramen. The French restaurant "Racines" is also on the premises, so that both Japanese and western-style cuisines can be enjoyed in one location. The restaurants have seating for approximately 1,000 guests.The first floor contains a tax-free shop that sells local Aizu goods and souvenirs, from ready-to-cook Kitakata Ramen, soba noodles, Japanese pickles, and sweet treats, to traditional crafts like Akabeko lucky red cow.You can even try painting your own akabeko cow (a traditional folk toy which is said to bring luck), and take it home as a souvenir of your trip. Painting an akabeko takes about 30 minutes, and a reservation is required for groups. The parking area accommodates full-size buses as well as personal vehicles.
