There is a special bus running from Fukushima Station to the Jododaira plateau while the mountain is open. Please visit the Jododaira Sky Access page for more details.
Jododaira and the Bandai-Azuma Skyline mountain road are open from April 21, 2026.
Jododaira Visitor Center, located at an altitude of 1500 m, stands partway along the Bandai-Azuma Skyline sightseeing road. Jododaira acts as a base to spend the day hiking nearby mountain routes, including Mt. Higashi-Azuma (1,975 m) and Mt. Issaikyo (1,949 m). For those who don’t fancy a long hike, the 1-hour round trip walk up and around the crater at Mt. Azuma Kofuji (1,705 m) is perfect, as it is a very short walk from Jododaira Visitor Center. The Azuma mountains are all totally unique, and are great places to enjoy local flora and fauna. If hiking in this area, please be mindful that the altitude reaches close to 2000 m, so make sure to take equipment necessary in the event of a sudden weather change. The Jododaira area is also prone to high volcanic gas levels, so it is a good idea to check whether the area is open to visitors before making the drive up the mountain roads.
| Website | https://www.f-kankou.jp/en/discover/nature/358/ |
|---|---|
| Contact | Jododaira Visitor Center (+81) 24-563-5554 |
| Best Season |
|
| Opening Hours | Closed during the winter (closing coincides with that of the Bandai-Azuma Skyline road) |
| Parking | Jododaira Parking Area (Paid parking) |
| Related info | Best season: June-October |
| Access | Washikurayama 1, Tsuchiyu Onsen-machi, Fukushima City, Fukushima Pref. 960-2157 View directions |
|---|---|
| Getting there | By Car: 1 hour drive from the Fukushima-Nishi I.C. exit off the Ban-etsu Expressway Mapcode for Car GPS: 475 180 388*43 Useful Links |
In spring, this 150-year-old weeping cherry tree looks so different from one hour to the next. Viewed during the day, it is framed against a backdrop of snow-topped Azuma mountains. During the cherry blossom viewing season, Nakajima Jizozakura is lit up at night, its reflection glittering enchantingly on the surface of surrounding rice paddies.
Fukushima is renowned for its delicious fruits, and a wide variety of direct-sale farmer's fruit stalls, 30 minute all-you-can pick tourist orchards, and other fruit attractions can be found among the vast fruit fields and orchards that line the "Fruit Line," which is the nickname for a road that runs for 14 km along the base of Mt. Azuma, and the "Peach Line (National Road 13)," which runs along the train tracks. Come and enjoy the bounty of cherries, peaches, Japanese pears, grapes, and apples of Fukushima City, known as the Fruit Kingdom of Japan!Check out our full updated guide to Fukushima fruit picking here.See below for when each fruit is in season: Strawberries....January to May Cherries..........June to July Peaches..........July to September Nashi Pears....August to October Grapes............August to October Apples.............October to DecemberFruit Picking at Marusei Orchard: Info & Booking
Azuma Orchard is located along the Fruit Line (a road in Fukushima City which is surrounded by orchards). Here visitors can pick their own fruit, such as cherries from early June, peaches from mid-July, nashi (Japanese pears) and grapes from early September, and apples from October.The grounds of Azuma Orchard include a shop which has been recently renovated. Visitors can also enjoy soft-serve ice-cream in a range of seasonal flavors.
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.
The Ayu Suspension Bridge is a long-beloved symbol of Yamatsuri Town, located near Yamatsuriyama Station. From the bridge, visitors can enjoy magnificent views of the Kuji River and the surrounding mountains. It is worth coming to see in any season. The riverbank around Ayu Suspension Bridge is a popular spot for anglers.
Shiki no Sato (Village of Four Seasons) is a lawn-covered agricultural park of about 8 ha in size. There are western-inspired brick buildings in the center, which house a traditional crafts gallery. The gallery includes a glass workshop and kokeshi (traditional wooden doll) exhibit. You can learn to make blown glass, see kokeshi being made by local artisans, and try your hand at decorating a doll of your own. Shiki no Sato also has an ice cream shop offering seasonal ice creams made with the local fruits of Fukushima. In addition to ice cream, you can try a variety of locally-produced beers at the Shiki no Sato's beer hall. The seasonal flowers are a highlight of a visit to Shiki no Sato, which is loved by families and young couples alike. The summertime firework displays and the winter light-ups in the park are some of the most popular times to visit.
Ishikawa Town is famous in the Tohoku region for its long river walks under rows of riverside cherry blossoms. The blossoms continue for over six kilometres and over 2,000 cherry trees.The cherry blossoms are illuminated during the blooming season (usually early- to mid-April), including the section alongside the Moto Gakko community centre. Lanterns are also hung up along the road.
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.