The Famous Sights of Aizu

• 4 destinations
• One Day

Spend a day traveling to the most famous sights of the Aizu region of Fukushima by train.

Begin your trip in Kitakata City, famous for its delicious ramen, sake made from the best quality mountain water, and traditional Japanese crafts. Specializing in the local Kitakata-style, there are more than 100 ramen shops in the area—the most per capita in the world! Kitakata is also famous for horse-drawn carriage tours and the city center where over 4,200 traditional kurazashiki storehouses remain or have been converted into inns, shops, and breweries. You can even visit the local ramen shrine of Kitakata that doubles as a ramen museum. Learn all about this famous and much beloved food. From the Kitakata Ramen Museum travel to Tsurugajo Castle, famed for its beautiful red tiles and the tragic history of the Byakkotai samurai brigade. After a brush with history, move on to the charming shopping street of Nanokamachi-dori Street. There are plenty of wonders and shops for you to explore in the area. Take a few hours to find souvenirs and take photos. You'll be spoiled by the sights and wonder of everything that Aizu has to offer you.

Start

Koriyama Station

Koriyama Sta. to Kitakata Sta. takes about 2 hours by train (Ban-etsu West Line) via a transfer at Aizu-Wakamatsu Sta. (same line). From Kitakata Sta., you can walk, cycle, taxi to the areas of the city with warehouses.

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The Warehouses of Kitakata

• Aizu Area
• 60

Kitakata has approximately 4,200 kura storehouses today. While these were used both as storehouses for businesses in the brewing and lacquerware industries, the building of a kura has traditionally been considered among Kitakata locals as a great symbol of status, and a source of pride.

It takes 15 min to walk from Kitakata Sta. to Kitakata Ramen Museum

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Kitakata Ramen Museum

• Aizu Area
• 30

Kitakata’s Ramen Museum – full of everything ramen – is a ramen shrine built in conjunction with a museum. Learn about the history and story of Kitakata Ramen.

It takes 1 hour to get from Kitakata Ramen Museum to Tsurugajo Castle. Return to Kitakata Sta. on foot, then take the Ban-etsu West Line to Aizu-Wakamatsu Sta.; From there, take a bus or taxi to the castle.

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Tsurugajo Castle

• Aizu Area
• 60

Tsurugajo Castle, also known as Aizu-Wakamatsu Castle, is arguably Tohoku’s most impressive castle. It's remembered for its role in Japan’s civil war, when it was one of the last remaining samurai strongholds. The castle was fully rebuilt in the 1960s and houses an interesting history museum within the keep. The grounds of Tsurugajo Castle are an excellent place to catch Tohoku’s cherry blossoms in mid-April, and the view from atop the outer walls is particularly impressive.

It takes 10 min by taxi (or 20 min by sightseeing bus) from Tsurugajo Castle to Nanokamachi-dori Street.

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Nanokamachi-dori Street

• Aizu Area
• 60

This historic street in Aizu-Wakamatsu City is known for its traditional buildings, local crafts, and Japanese antique goods. This is a highly recommended location for souvenir shopping (yukata, kimono, etc.) and for those looking to get involved, you can paint your own candles or lacquerware, both popular crafts in the region.

Finish your day at Aizu-Wakamatsu Station, which takes just 10 min to reach by sightseeing bus or taxi from Nanokamachi-dori Street.

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Finish

Aizu-Wakamatsu Station