A panoramic view of the arch bridge stretches over Tadami River. On clear winter days, the bridge is reflected in the river, surrounded by deep, glistening snow. Spring's fresh leaves, summer's lush greenery, autumn's red leaves… the view changes with each season.
| Website | http://www.okuaizu.net/en/tadami-line/ |
|---|---|
| Contact | Mishima Town Tourism Association (+81) 241-48-5000 mishima@oboe.ocn.ne.jp |
| Best Season | All Year |
| Parking | Parking available at the Michi-no-Eki Ozekaido Mishima-juku |
| Entrance Fee | Free to visit |
| Access | Kawai, Mishima, Onuma District, Fukushima Prefecture 969-7515 View directions |
|---|---|
| Getting there | By Car: 20 min drive from the Aizu-bange I.C. exit off the Ban-etsu Expressway. By Public Transport: 10 min walk from Michi-no-Eki Ozekaido Mishima-juku, which can be reached via bus or taxi from Aizu Miyashita Station. |
This one-day trip in Oku-Aizu departs from Aizu-Wakamatsu Station, and features a visit to the No.1 Tadami River Bridge View Point and Enzoji Temple, so you can enjoy a full day out in Oku-Aizu! Please note, the times below are correct as of the April 2020 Tadami Line timetable. See here for more information about visiting the No. 1 Tadami River Bridge View Point.
Yanaizu is a rural temple town that has flourished thanks to the renowned Enzoji Temple. Many lodges were built in Yanaizu Town for travelers taking part in temple pilgrims. Many of these lodges have been repurposed as onsen ryokan inns. Yanaizu Town is now the largest onsen town on the Tadami River. Visitors come from far and wide to be enchanted by the fine river mists found on the Tadami River in the early summer, and the brilliantly-colored leaves in the autumn.
This honjin served as a rest house used by daimyo lords when they traveled to Edo (Tokyo) as part of the Sankin-kōtai system of alternate attendance, or when they conducted inspection tours. During the Boshin War, Domain Lord Matsudaira Katamori took command and the Byakkotai defended their city. The building still has sword marks and bullet holes from the war. The Former Takizawa Honjin is recognized as a nationally-designated Important Cultural Property.
This hot spring resort town is well-known for its beautiful vallies, and the high quality of the abundant hot water that gushes from the town's natural hot springs. Ashinomaki Onsen is a convenient place to stay overnight for those visiting sightseeing spots such as Ouchi-juku, To-no-hetsuri, and Aizu-Wakamatsu City, as the town is located in between these key places. After enjoying a full day of sightseeing in Aizu, visitors can relax and lose track of time while bathing in a hot spring bath at a resort hotel or quaint ryokan.
The tracks of the now-closed Nicchu Railway Line have been restored as a cycling and walking path, from which you can view 1,000 weeping cherry blossom trees along a 3 km stretch. A steam train is also displayed near the Kitakata Plaza.
The Bandaisan Gold Line road connects Bandai Kogen, a highland rich with lakes diverse in shapes and size, and various alpine plants, and the Aizu area, which has an immensely rich and fascinating history. This submontane sightseeing road offers diverse views of Mt. Bandai (known in Japanese as 'Bandai-san') and can lead visitors to either the mountain's rugged caldera or to the picturesque Lake Inawashiro. Visitors can discover new hidden gems every time they explore the Gold Line by car, making it a very popular spot to return to among tourists and locals. The area surrounding the road is known as a foliage-viewing spot with hairpin curves that carve through the woodlands. On the walking trail that leads to Baya-ike, a "phantom" waterfall, visitors can take in the beauty of the landscape as they hike. The most highly recommended walking course extends from Happodai to the Oguninuma wetlands, where in late June, visitors are greeted by ban array of beautiful, broad dwarf day-lilies.
The rock slides caused by the steam eruption of Mt. Bandai in 1888 blocked countless rivers, and lead to the creation of over 300 lakes and ponds spread throughout the area. Lake Hibara is the largest of these lakes, and with a length of 10 km running along the ravine of the Hibara River, and a shoreline of 37 km, it is Japan's largest lake to be created by natural dams caused by a volcano eruption. Lake Hibara is now the focal point of tourism in the Urabandai region, and from rambling along sightseeing trails in summer to Japanese pond smelt fishing in the winter, there are countless ways for visitors to refresh and invigorate themselves. Guides are available with a reservation.
The tracks of the now-closed Nicchu Railway Line have been restored as a cycling and walking path, from which you can view 1,000 weeping cherry blossom trees along a 3 km stretch. A steam train is also displayed near the Kitakata Plaza.
Named by the Crown Prince Yoshihito upon its opening in 1907 as “The Palace of Heaven’s Mirror”, Tenkyokaku is a decadently decorated former villa. Imperial Prince Arisugawa Takehito decided to build Tenkyokaku after being impressed by the beauty of Lake Inawashiro during a visit to the Tohoku District. His family, the Arisugawa-no-miya Family, owned the villa until 1952, when it was granted to Fukushima Prefecture. Tenkyokaku has since been used as a meeting hall and a space for lectures and exhibitions. The former villa, its annex and its front gate have been specified as important cultural properties of Japan. Despite being restored in 1984, the building retains many of its original features, including the impressive chandelier which can be seen below. Despite no longer being able to see Lake Inawashiro from the windows of Tenkyokaku, the luxurious renaissance-style architecture and liberal use of all things gold and glittery means that visitors will by all means feel that its name still rings true. For only 520 yen, you can dress up in a traditional outfit and take as many photos as you would like in the building!
