The World Glassware Hall is located at the foot of Mt. Bandai, by the side of Lake Inawashiro.
About 25,000 handmade glassware items, imported directly from countries all over the world, are exhibited and sold at the World Glassware Hall. You can even try your hand at glass etching, or glass blowing.
Next to the Glassware Hall is the Inawashiro Original Beer Brewery and a sweets shop. Local Inawashiro beer has received the gold prize in an international beer competition, and can be purchased on site. In the sweets shop, you can try a line up of famous local delicacies.
| Website | http://www.world-glassware.com/(Japanese) |
|---|---|
| Contact | The World Glassware Hall (+81) 242-63-0100 |
| Best Season | All Year |
| Opening Hours | Open 365 days a year |
| Parking | Available (Space for 350 cars) |
| Entrance Fee | Free (30 min Glass-Etching Experience: 1080 yen) |
| Related info | Opening Hours Mar. 11 to Apr. 10: 9:30 am - 5:00 pm Apr. 11 to Jul. 10: 9:00 am - 5:30 pm Jul. 11 to Oct. 10: 9:00 am - 6:00 pm Oct. 11 to Nov. 10: 9:00 am - 5:30 pm Nov. 11 to Jan. 10: 9:30 am - 5:00 pm Jan. 11 to Mar. 10: 10:00 am - 4:00 pm |
| Access | Murahigashi-85, Mitsuwa, Inawashiro Town, Yama District, Fukushima Pref. 969-3284 View directions |
|---|---|
| Getting there | By Car: 7 min from Inawashiro-Bandaikogen I.C. exit off the Ban-etsu Expressway. By Train: 10 min taxi or bus ride from Inawashiro Station (JR Ban-etsu West Line) |
A panoramic view of the arch bridge stretches over the 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 each season.
Oku-Aizu Hydraulic Plaza “Miori” is a free public facility in Kaneyama Town that introduces the role of hydroelectric power in the Oku-Aizu region. It was opened in 2020 and is operated by Tohoku Electric Power Company. The center focuses on how the area’s rivers have been used to generate electricity and support everyday life in the region.Inside, visitors can learn about hydroelectric power through easy-to-understand exhibits that use videos, projection mapping, models, and interactive displays. These explain how electricity is made from water, the structure of dams and power stations, and why renewable energy is important for the future. The displays are designed so that both adults and children can enjoy them.The facility also introduces the history and culture of Oku-Aizu, showing how local communities developed alongside river and power station projects. There are exhibits about daily life in the region, traditional crafts, and the people who supported the area’s development over time, helping visitors understand the connection between energy and local life.The name “Miori” refers to a “water path,” symbolizing the rivers that flow through Oku-Aizu. The building is located next to a roadside station and is within walking distance of the nearest train station, making it an easy stop for travelers exploring the Tadami Line area.If visiting the Oku-Aizu region, Miori combines well with a visit to the Mishima Town Local Crafts Museum and the Tadami River No.1 Bridge.The museum is also located next to the Kaneyama michi no eki or roadside station, which offers local produce, souvenirs and a restaurant.
Established over 1,300 years ago, Higashiyama Onsen is a well-known retreat area in Aizu-Wakamatsu City. The recognized historical onsen town is said to have been founded by the Buddhist priest Gyōki. According to legend, he found the area by following a bird with three legs, an auspicious and mystical omen. The area was popular with people from all over Aizu during the Edo Period and was developed as a retreat area. Today it is listed among the top three onsen towns of old Tohoku. Being only 10 minutes by car from the heart of Aizu-Wakamatsu City, visitors are sure to enjoy their time at Higashiyama Onsen.The traditional Japanese ryokan (inns) of Higashiyama Onsen line both sides of the Yukawa River, giving the area a picturesque air. Let your mind and body relax in the warm sodium-sulphate waters and clean, crisp air. A visit in autumn treats ryokan and hotel guests to the fantastic experience of bathing in a hot springs while viewing autumn leaves.The ryokan in the area are a mix of modern and traditional, perfect to suit any taste. For sightseeing, there are plenty of shops and restaurants in the area for you to enjoy local goods and cuisine. Moreover, staying in Higashiyama Onsen is a great option for those who would like to sightsee in Aizu-Wakamatsu. Higashiyama Onsen is also home to geigi (geisha), whose traditions have been passed down through the generations. If you make a reservation, you can watch them perform. These classically trained entertainers are skilled in song, dance, and music. Their breathtaking performances reflect historical ballads and stories—the tale of the Byakkotai is especially popular. It is the tragic story of teenage samurai who committed ritual suicide at Mt. Iimoriyama.
Be transported back to the elegant Taisho Period at Kitakata’s Mitsuya District. Kitakata is famous as being a town of charming red brick kura (Japanese warehouses). The rich texture and distinctive color of the warehouse bricks are an integral part of Kitakata’s townscape. In the year Meiji 23 (1890), the connecting kilns of Mitsuya District were opened. As well as roof tiles, bricks made here were also painted a deep red color, giving the area a unique atmosphere and classic scenery. The area was registered as an Industrial Modernization Heritage Site by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. The large red brick climbing kiln, located inside the Wakana Family's home, is truly a sight to behold. This district has even been written about on the Michelin Travel website.
This crafts museum, deep in the heart of the beautiful Oku-Aizu region, specialises in braided wicker crafts that have been a staple of the area for centuries. The local people have a strong affinity for handmade crafts, passing techniques down from generation to generation. In addition to learning about the history of the crafts here, visitors can try their hand at it themselves, making a small strap souvenir to take home (1,000 yen per person; reservations required).There's also an expansive shop on site where visitors can buy baskets, bags, home ornaments and so on.A trip to Mishima combines well with seeing a passing train at one of Japan's most scenic railway bridges, the Tadami River Bridge No.1, accessible by parking at the Mishima roadside station.
Oku-Aizu Hydraulic Plaza “Miori” is a free public facility in Kaneyama Town that introduces the role of hydroelectric power in the Oku-Aizu region. It was opened in 2020 and is operated by Tohoku Electric Power Company. The center focuses on how the area’s rivers have been used to generate electricity and support everyday life in the region.Inside, visitors can learn about hydroelectric power through easy-to-understand exhibits that use videos, projection mapping, models, and interactive displays. These explain how electricity is made from water, the structure of dams and power stations, and why renewable energy is important for the future. The displays are designed so that both adults and children can enjoy them.The facility also introduces the history and culture of Oku-Aizu, showing how local communities developed alongside river and power station projects. There are exhibits about daily life in the region, traditional crafts, and the people who supported the area’s development over time, helping visitors understand the connection between energy and local life.The name “Miori” refers to a “water path,” symbolizing the rivers that flow through Oku-Aizu. The building is located next to a roadside station and is within walking distance of the nearest train station, making it an easy stop for travelers exploring the Tadami Line area.If visiting the Oku-Aizu region, Miori combines well with a visit to the Mishima Town Local Crafts Museum and the Tadami River No.1 Bridge.The museum is also located next to the Kaneyama michi no eki or roadside station, which offers local produce, souvenirs and a restaurant.
The Showa Nostalgia Museum (or 'Natsukashi-kan') is a museum in Aizu-Wakamatsu dedicated to the Showa period of Japanese history, 1926-1989. The museum features goods spanning the period and includes several rooms perfectly recreating the style that would have been common generations ago.The walls are plastered with classic movie posters and the shelves are heaving with old toys and model figurines. There is also a small shop at the front desk selling snacks and small ornaments.
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 'Aizu no Fuyu (Winter in Aizu)', the museum also holds four special exhibitions a year with about 90 works displayed on each occasion.