Ouchi-juku Gourmet Trip

  • 4 destinations
  • One Day

Have a gourmet adventure in Ouchi-juku, Aizu. The Aizu area of Fukushima Prefecture is known for its eclectic and delicious foods, not to mention the absolutely fantastic scenery. Enjoy this one-day itinerary that you can do at any time of year by public transport. Walk your way through Ouchi-juku and admire the local sights and cuisine.
You’ll arrive at Ouchi-juku by bus from Yunokami Onsen Station. The unique architecture will be a feast for your eyes but the real feasting will begin once you arrive at Misawaya. At Misawaya, you can experience any of the three amazing shops; take a lunch of authentic buckwheat noodles, called soba, or try some of the local Japanese sake, or if alcohol isn’t your thing, why not enjoy a refreshing cup of hot green tea? Refresh yourself at Misawaya and then venture out to Honke Kanouya. While there might not be much to munch on at Honke Kanouya, you can instead please your other senses with the local handicrafts of the area. Find some delightful souvenirs to take home. Finish off your visit just around the corner from Honke Kanouya; here you’ll find Sabo Yamadaya Café, a lovely café that fully displays the charms of the Aizu region in their décor and food. You should definitely try some of their snow-cured coffee (yukimuro coffee) while you’re there!

Start

Yunokami Onsen Station

Ouchi-juku is 20 min by bus (or taxi) from Yunokami Onsen Station.

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Ouchi-juku

  • Aizu Area
  • 45

Feel like you've jumped into the past in Fukushima Prefecture’s Ouchi-juku. This isolated village boasts rows of thatched-roof houses with no telephone poles in sight, making you feel at one with the people who lived here hundreds of years ago. Nestled in the southwestern mountains of Fukushima, Ouchi-juku is a great spot to visit thanks to its unique charm and history.

A 2 min walk from central Ouchi-juku.

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Misawaya Restaurant

  • Aizu Area
  • 60

The main restaurant and storehouse were made with a facade of traditional thatched roof. The premises include three stores: a soba shop, sake shop, and a tearoom. Famous is their grated daikon soba, called 'Takato Soba' (or 'Negi Soba'). Your chopsticks are replaced with a leek!

A 3 min walk from Misawaya to Honke Kanouya.

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Honke Kanouya

  • Aizu Area
  • 15

Among the simple color palette of Ouchi-juku, Honke Kanouya will draw your eyes with their brightly colored collection of goods. Lining the store front is a wide assortment of things like vegetable-shaped beanbags to ornaments to decorations to fabric accessories. All the goods presented are handmade. The eye-pleasing goods make great souvenirs for family and friends alike!

Yamadaya Teahouse is less than 1 min from Honke Kanouya.

Sabo Yamadaya Café

  • Aizu Area
  • 30

A lovely café deep within the premises, decorated with adorable items like Okiagari Koboshi (self-righting daruma dolls) and Aizu-made decorated candles. In addition to yukimuro coffee (snow-cured coffee), they’ve put together an original menu full of locally produced drinks and sweets. Feel free to leisurely enjoy a coffee in Ouchi-juku.

A 20 min bus (or taxi) ride from Ouchi-juku to Yunokami Onsen Station.

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Finish

Yunokami Onsen Station

Other Trips

Ultimate Fukushima Prefecture Road Trip
Ultimate Fukushima Prefecture Road Trip
Ultimate Fukushima Prefecture Road Trip
Driving

Ultimate Fukushima Prefecture Road Trip

This trip highlights some of the best Fukushima has to offer and is perfect for those looking to get the most out of the prefecture in a limited time. Take in castles, nature, traditional villages, and more as you treat yourself to local styles of soba and ramen along the way. Renting a car is a must if you want to hit all the spots on this tour. You can take it slow and complete this trip over three days, or skip out an overnight stay in Urabandai area, and do it in two days. Start the day from Fukushima Station with a scenic drive to the the beautiful Urabandai region. We recommend taking the Bandai-Azuma Skyline road so that you can enjoy a mountain drive and check out the great sights at Mt. Azuma-Kofuji. From there, take the stunning sightseeing road Azuma-Bandai Lake Line into Urabandai. Explore the Urabandai area, have lunch, go on a walk around the five-colored ponds of Goshiki-numa, and maybe even take a dip in a hot spring or two. Choose whether take it slow and stay the night in Urabandai area, or whether to press on to Aizu-Wakamatsu City.  Later that day - or the next morning, depending on your schedule - head into the castle town of Aizu-Wakamatsu City where samurai culture is prevalent. The majestic Tsurugajo Castle offers beautiful views of the surroundings from the keep. Check out the nearby Tsurugajo Kaikan to paint an akabeko or two and maybe have some lunch. Then explore the mysterious Sazaedo Temple and the surrounding Mt. Iimoriyama area. From here, we suggest staying overnight in the city. There are plenty of budget hotels in Aizu-Wakamatsu, but if you are looking for something traditionally Japanese, we recommend looking into lodging at the nearby Higashiyama Onsen hot springs town just east of the city. On the next day prepare to jump into the past with a trip to the Ouchi-juku mountain village. You can spend hours here shopping and eating local foods while walking up and down the street lined with traditional thatched-roof houses. Lastly, head to the To-no-Hetsuri Crags, a natural monument filled with towering cliffs overlooking the Okawa River. Cross the nearby suspension bridge which offers breathtaking views of the surroundings. After getting fully refreshed head back to Shin-Shirakawa station by car, drop off your rental car, and connect back to Tokyo or the next stop on your journey!

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