Mt. Adatara is actually made up of multiple active volcanoes that form a broad mountain. It last erupted in 1996. Poems in the book Chieko-sho by Kotaro Takamura (1883-1956) helped make the mountain famous.
The summit of Mt. Adatara stands at an altitude of 1700 m, stretching about 9 kilometers in a north-to-south direction. Views of Mt. Adatara are lovely in and of themselves, but the views that visitors have of the surrounding area once they reach the summit are breathtaking. Chosen as one of Japan’s top 100 mountains, as well as one of the top 100 mountains for flowers, a view spot at an altitude of 1300 m can be accessed by gondola lift. This means that it is relatively easy to climb even for beginners.
On summer evenings, a light-up event inspired by the Milky Way and the flowers of Mt. Adatara is held, gracing those scaling the mountain by a gondola lift with a spectacular view. In autumn, visitors are afforded a stunning view of autumn leaves making it a popular place for scenic momiji-gari (autumn leaf viewing).
Kurogane-goya Mountain Lodge, which closed in August 2023, was a rest stop for visitors and served as lodging for longer hikes. The lodge’s public hot spring facility used naturally-sourced, cloudy hot spring water. The lodge is being torn down in 2025 and will be rebuilt anew for roughly a 2028 re-open.
| Website | http://www.nihonmatsu-kanko.jp/?p=462(Automated translation available) |
|---|---|
| Contact | Nihonmatsu Tourism Federation (+81) 243-55-5122 |
| Best Season | All Year |
| Parking | Available |
| Access | Okudake Onsen, Nihonmatsu City, Fukushima Pref. 964-0075 View directions |
|---|---|
| Getting there | The most popular trailhead for hiking Mt. Adatara is the Okudake Trailhead, starting at Adatara Kogen Ski Resort. By Car: 20 min drive from Nihonmatsu I.C. exit off the Tohoku Expressway Mountain and Travel Course Guide Useful Links |
There are well-known onsen in Tohoku, but Kashi Onsen, is treasured as one of this region's smallest, most off-the-beaten-track hot springs. In fact, Kashi Onsen home to only one ryokan inn: Daikokuya. Daikokuya’s oiwaburo (big-stone bath), which is measures 5m by 15m, with a depth of 1.2m, is gently warmed up from the source water that gushes up from the bedrock at the bottom of the bath, which is decorated with a number of large stones and small jewels.
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.
Newly opened in 2022, Michi-no-Eki Fukushima (道の駅ふくしま）is a great place to buy local produce, souvenirs, and eat delicious Fukushima foods! Or even just to pause for a break along your road trip.It is located near the Fukushima Fruit line, so you’ll find a good assortment of delicious fresh fruit on display. You can also go fruit-picking to the nearby orchards using the rental bicycles available.Click here for more information on fruit picking in Fukushima!There is a dog park and an indoor play area for children called Momo Rabi Kids Park, which has many cute wooden toys and structures for children to play at as well as an indoor sandpit.We recommend trying the unusual ice-cream flavors at ‘yukiusagi’, a sweets shop that sells delicious parfaits and desserts using local produce. They sell rice-flavored ice-cream, as well as a special flavor called “Fukushima’s Sky Milk”（ふくしまの空ミルク）, which has a salty milk flavor!
At Marusei Orchard, you can enjoy seasonal fruit picking as well as beautiful rural views. You can even treat yourself to delicious sweet treats made using fresh fruit at their onsite cafe! (The cafe menu changes by season).Fruit-Picking Experience Info & BookingSee more information about fruit picking in Fukushima City here.
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.
Jorakuen (浄楽園) is a traditional Japanese garden located in Fukushima City. It was completed by an expert gardener who worked on the famous Kinkaku-ji Temple in Kyoto, and it has a total area of about 25,000 square meters (over 269,000 square feet).The garden can be enjoyed in spring, summer and autumn. Spring brings about delicate cherry blossoms, irises, and rhododendrons; water lilies and lotus flowers adorn the ponds during the summer; and brightly colored trees decorate the park in autumn. No matter the season, the backdrop of the Azuma mountains makes for a spectacular sight at Jorakuen.There is a souvenir shop and traditional teahouse at the garden where visitors can enjoy matcha and Japanese sweets (‘wagashi’). The park remains closed during the winter season, from December 1st to March 31st.
Mogi Station is a small, unassuming train stop that transforms drastically in spring. Every year around mid-April, the bank of over 30 cherry trees south of the station bursts into full bloom, turning the area into a picturesque array of pink, white and blue. The blossoms are illuminated at night once darkness falls, drawing visitors and photographers from across the region.Only the final train of the day, arriving at 21:30 from the direction of Miharu, pulls into platform two, with the background of the blooming cherry trees. For many photographers and train enthusiasts, this is the shot they visit to get. Despite its modest size, Mogi Station has quietly earned its place as one of the most photogenic, if lesser-known, hanami spots in the region.
This arched iron bridge crossing the Abukuma River is famous as a viewing point for the fresh green of early summer and brightly colored autumn leaves. The bridge is 138.5 meters long, with a maximum height of 60 meters from the bottom of the valley, and you can enjoy the refreshing feeling of being totally enveloped in the surrounding scenery as you look down from the bridge.