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.
| Website | http://nishigo-kankou.jp/shizen/index.html(Japanese) |
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| Contact | Nishigo Village Tourism Association (+81)-248-25-5795 |
| Best Season |
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| Related info | Best time to see the autumn leaves: Late Oct. to early Nov. |
| Access | Yuigahara 499, Tsuryu, Nishigo Village, Nishishirakawa District, Fukushima Pref. 961-8081 View directions |
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| Getting there | By Car: 25 min drive from the Shirakawa I.C. exit off the Tohoku Expressway By Train: 25 min by taxi from Shin-Shirakawa Station on the JR Tohoku Shinkansen Line |
This beautiful cherry blossom tree stands alone in the centre of a field. The small temple next to the tree is dedicated to the Buddhist deity of child safety & childbirth. This scenery is so beautiful - it has even been used in Japanese movie posters. Ozawa Sakura usually reaches full bloom at the end of April.
One of the defining sights of the charming Iizaka Onsen resort, the wooden frontage of Sabakoyu was famous for long being Japan's oldest wooden public bathhouse, before being renovated in 1993. The bath facilities are open to the public, giving visitors the chance to enjoy the authentic hot spring water straight from the source. The water here can reach temperatures of up to 50 degrees Celsius, giving it something of a reputation amongst the locals as too hot for first-timers to handle.The bathhouse is closed on Mondays, excepting public holidays. Guests should buy a ticket from the machine inside the entrance, and soap / shampoo are not provided, so bathers should bring their own.
The Kunitaya Miso Factory is a small shop that was founded in 1777 to produce miso paste for the local community. Miso is one of the most (if not the most) popular flavor for foods in Japan. Many people drink miso flavored soup at least once a day and it isn’t uncommon to find miso soup present in every meal of the day. Before grocery stores and convenience stores were as widespread as they are today, people would go to their neighborhood miso shops to source this kitchen staple Today, many of these small shops have disappeared, however at Kunitaya Miso Factory, the owners want to preserve their small business and the unique culture of small batch local miso makers.The small scale operation allows for more freedom and diversity in flavors. At the café next door, “Kura Café,” you can try different variations and flavors of the miso that they produce at the Kunitaya Miso Factory.The brewery is housed in an old fashioned Japanese ware-house style building with a red lattice front. Years ago, during festivals, the red lattice front was removed to make the building more open to the street and the public. If you are interested in getting a more in depth experience, consider joining a tour of the brewery! Contact us if you are interested.
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.
These two weeping cherry trees are said to be the grandchildren of the great Miharu Takizakura weeping cherry tree in nearby Miharu Town. They bloom with fantastic pink flowers. When they are in full bloom, the trees are if a waterfall of blossoms is cascading from their branches. These trees are estimated to be around 170 years old. We recommend taking photographs from the bottom of the slope, so you can capture the pink of the blossoms, together with the blue of the sky, and yellow of the canola flowers.
This huge Japanese cherry tree is over 400 years old and has been designated as a national Natural Treasure. The tree has a trunk circumference of about 7.2 meters and stands 20 meters high, and was thus selected as one of the "100 Giants of the Forest" by Japan's Forestry Agency. Koshidai Cherry Blossom Festival is held every year on May 3. A Yabusame horseback archery event accompanied by taiko drumming takes place during this festival, and local organizations set up food stalls.Photo tip: Try taking photos from the south side of cherry blossoms.
The Ja no Hana Gardens (蛇の鼻) are located in Motomiya, in the central area of Fukushima. From spring to autumn, this vast park -- six times the size of Tokyo Dome -- features a display of natural wonders like cherry blossoms, wisteria, roses, hydrangeas, water lilies, and autumn leaves. It is particularly famous for its 500-year-old wisteria tree that typically blooms in May, and its rows of over 500 maple trees that make for a stunning sight in autumn.There is also a historical residence, Ja no Hana-goten (Ja no Hana mansion), which is a registered tangible cultural property of Japan. Built in 1904, the impressive residence has intricate wooden carvings in the front entrance, and houses artworks and calligraphy works, often housing exhibitions. Visitors can enter the house and look at the artwork up close.Best season: Cherry blossoms: Early to late April Tulips: April to early May Peonies: Early to mid May Japanese wisteria: Early to late May Azaleas: Early to mid May Roses: Most varieties reach their peak around late May; from then until November, other varying kinds might be in bloom Water lilies: June to July Autumn leaves: Late October to November
Majyo-no-hitomi, or The Witch's Eye Lake, is a volcanic lake that was formed during a volcanic eruption many years ago. Unique minerals in the water cause the lake to appear different colors, giving the lake its official name of Goshiki-numa (Five Colored Lake), but most often it is a bright blue. The nickname of “Witch's Eye” comes from the unique appearance of the lake that is visible in late spring when the snow melts enough so that only a white ring remains around the lake to form the white of what appears to be an enormous single eye.This lake viewpoint can be reached by an intermediate hike up Mt. Issaikyo that begins at the Jododaira Visitors Center, stop by for a map and safety information before hiking.