Sakuratoge Pass was created in 2001 when 2,001 cherry trees were planted on the site of the former Sakuratoge Farm to celebrate the birth of Aiko, Princess Toshi of Japan. Sakura owners gather from throughout Japan to diligently care for the trees directly.
| Website | https://www.urabandai-inf.com/en/?page_id=24982 |
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| Contact | Urabandai Tourism Association (+81) 241-32-2349 |
| Best Season |
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| Parking | Available |
| Entrance Fee | Free |
| Related info | Cherry blossom viewing period: Late April to early May |
| Access | Sakuratoge Oshio, Kitashiobara Village, Yama District, Fukushima Pref. 966-0402 View directions |
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| Getting there | By Car: 40 min from the Inawashiro-Bandaikogen I.C. exit off the Ban-etsu Expressway. By Bus: Approx. 26 min. from the Onogawako Iriguchi Bus Stop by Aizu Bus (get off at the Fukushi Center-mae '福祉センター前' bus stop).
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<p>This museum is dedicated to the works of the world-renowned woodblock print artist Kiyoshi Saito. Housing a collection of 850 of his works, including his well-known series '<em>Aizu no Fuyu</em> (Winter in Aizu)', the museum also holds four special exhibitions a year with about 90 works displayed on each occasion.</p>
Untouched natural marsh surrounded by beech trees. Komado is a small and lovely marsh located at the top of Komado Pass in Minamiaizu Town. Although small, it is an ideal place for exploring moorland vegetation. You can see a variety of plants from one season to the next, and can enjoy spectacular views of the highlands as well. The marsh was designated as a National Natural Treasure in 1970.
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.
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?
<p>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.</p><p>Imperial Prince Arisugawa Takehito decided to build Tenkyokaku after being impressed by the beauty of <a href="https://fukushima.travel/destination/lake-inawashiro/5">Lake Inawashiro</a> 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.</p><p>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.</p><p>Despite being restored in 1984, the building retains many of its original features, including the impressive chandelier which can be seen below.</p><p>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.</p><p>For only 1000 yen, you can dress up in a traditional outfit and take as many photos as you would like in the building!</p>
<p>Japan's fourth-largest freshwater lake, Lake Inawashiro is situated in Bandai Asahi National Park. It is also known as the “Heavenly Mirror Lake” and has a surface area of 104 square kilometers! The combination of Lake Inawashiro and <a href="http://fukushima.travel/destination/mt-bandai/12">Mt. Bandai</a> form one of Aizu's representative landscapes. And being less than three hours from Tokyo by shinkansen and local train means that you have easy access from a major transport hub.</p><p>The lake offers year-round fun. Enjoy cherry blossoms in spring at Iwahashi Shrine, one of Aizu’s five famous cherry trees. Summer at Lake Inawashiro is slightly cooler than the rest of Fukushima, so take advantage of camping by the lakeshore, and a wide variety of marine sports. Colored leaves and hikes are the popular thing to do in autumn, view the fiery hues and take in the crisp air. In winter, visitors can enjoy fresh powder snow and winter thrills in the form of skiing and snowboarding; and you can even catch a glimpse of migrating swans on the shores.</p><p><img alt="" src="/img/edit/images/%E7%8C%AA%E8%8B%97%E4%BB%A3%E6%B9%962.jpg" /></p><p>It’s truly a beauty no matter when you decide to visit. There are also a wide range of scenic spots from where visitors can take photographs and soak in the view. It’s a great place to escape from the stress of work and life or just to experience Japanese nature and landscapes.</p><p>Lake Inawashiro's size means that it is accessible from a number of sightseeing spots, including <a href="https://fukushima.travel/destination/tenkyokaku/152">Tenkyokaku</a> stately house and <a href="http://fukushima.travel/destination/hideo-noguchi-memorial-museum/18">Hideo Noguchi Memorial Museum</a> (a museum dedicated to the life and work of a Japanese scientist famous for his research on yellow fever). There’s plenty more to do nearby: view some amazing works by international artists at the <a href="http://fukushima.travel/destination/morohashi-museum-of-modern-art/197">Morohashi Museum of Modern Art</a>, or visit the rainbow-colored <a href="http://fukushima.travel/destination/goshiki-numa-ponds/13">Goshiki-numa Ponds</a>.</p><p><img alt="" src="/img/edit/images/%E7%8C%AA%E8%8B%97%E4%BB%A3%EF%BC%BFsunset.jpg" /></p>
With a diameter of 3.5 km, Lake Sohara is the fourth largest lake in the wetlands of the Urabandai highlands. Blessed with bountiful plankton and aquatic plants such as potamogeton distinctus and water shield, many wild birds flock to its waters. Walking the shores of this lake, you can feel as if you're in a wild highland oasis.
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.