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Itineraries(Food)

Kitakata Gourmet Tour

It is time for a taste of Kitakata like never before. Add in these stops to your day tour of the area and be satisfied by the many tastes of the region. The best part? This tour can be taken at any time of the year, by bus or by taxi. You’re in for a treat when you visit these stops. Start at Kitakata Station, famous for one of Japan’s most popular ramen—Kitakata ramen! In fact, Kitakata has more ramen shops per area than any other place in Japan. It will be easy to find a place to tuck into a hot bowl of the delicious noodles but before you go, why not learn more about the tasty dish? At the Kitakata Ramen Shrine you can do just that. Learn about the history of this culinary delight and see the process that ramen has undergone to become such a favorite all around the country. After you’ve had your fill of learning it’s time to fill up on ramen itself. At Shokudo Hasegawa, you can enjoy the gentle taste of the broth and how the texture of the noodles complements the toppings of the ramen. Now that you’ve had something salty it’s obviously time for a sweet treat! And what better place than Okuya Peanut Factory? Here, you can try peanut-flavored soft-serve ice cream; the creamy, gentle sweetness of the peanut soft-serve is sure to melt away any worries you have. Once you have filled up on the tastes of Kitakata, it’s time to head back to Kitakata Station.  

Kitakata Gourmet Tour
History & Culture

Mt. Bandai 3D World

Experience a simulation of the 1888 Mt. Bandai Eruption in 3D! Mt. Bandai 3D World is a theater developed by Sony, situated right across the road from the Mt. Bandai Eruption Memorial Museum. The circular walls inside the building are covered with a large, panoramic 3D screen - measuring 4.5 m in height, and 42 m around. The powerful acoustics transport visitors to the Urabandai area of 1888, and allow them to feel as if they were there during the great eruption of the same year. The theater's 3D graphics simulate this event, portraying the fleeing of animals that sense the eruption in advance, and the disarray of huge boulders and intense volcanic mud splashes being flung in the air due to the eruption. There is also a simulation of a "walk in the sky" around Mt. Bandai, where visitors can experience a panoramic bird's-eye view of Mt. Bandai's across the four seasons. Take in alpine plants such as skunk cabbages and Nikko-kisoge flowers as you pass over the Oguninuma Wetlands. Shows usually start twice an hour (the first on the hour, and the second at 30 minutes past.)

Mt. Bandai 3D World
History & Culture

The Warehouses of Kitakata

In the Meiji and Taisho eras, Kitakata City experienced a boom in the construction of kura (traditional Japanese storehouses). There are approximately 4,200 still left in the city 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. In the Mitsuya District, the rows of brick storehouses are reminiscent of rural Europe, whereas in the Sugiyama district, they have roofs that take the appearance of helmets. Visitors can see a range of kura and other traditional buildings at Kitakata Kura-no-Sato museum, or enjoy exploring the kura of the city on foot or by bike. See here for a 1 day itinerary for visiting Kitakata City. Check out a map of the kura located around Kitakata City.

The Warehouses of Kitakata
Itineraries(Adventure)

A Snowshoe Winter Frolic

Explore a winter wonderland in the Urabandai area. Not feeling up to skiing the slopes of Urabandai? Try a more casual activity that everyone can enjoy; snowshoe trekking through the wintery scenery of Urabandai in Aizu. Take a taxi from Inawashiro Station to Moku-Moku Shizen Juku. It is here that your authentic snowshoe trekking tour will begin. Walk along the snowy paths and see sights not offered by other sightseeing tours in the area. See winter up close and even chance to walk upon frozen lakes or ponds—with the guidance of your travel guide. What sort of animal tracks will you be able to spot along the way as you trek through the fresh snow? Feel the uncharted course of Aizu wilderness. Now that you have become accustomed to the Aizu winter, let’s try some skiing or snowboarding at Hoshino Resorts Nekoma Snow Park & Resort! With slopes for beginners or veterans, you will love everything that Hoshino Resorts Nekoma Snow Park & Resort has to offer. There are a number of facilities that offer snowshoe trekking experiences in the Urabandai area.

A Snowshoe Winter Frolic
History & Culture

The World Glassware Hall

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 the museum. You can even try your hand at glass etching, or glass blowing. Next to the Glassware Hall is a local 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.

The World Glassware Hall
History & Culture

Fukushima City Minka-en Open-Air Museum

Traditional structures from northern Fukushima built between the Mid-Edo to Meiji era (1700 – 1912) – including restaurants, private houses, storehouses, and even a theater – have been relocated to Fukushima City Minka-en Open-Air Museum. At Minka-en these buildings are restored and displayed to the public, along with a range of artefacts and tools used in daily life in years gone by. Also, a number of special events, such as sword-smithing demonstrations, are held every year to celebrate and promote traditional folk crafts and skills.

Fukushima City Minka-en Open-Air Museum
Accommodation(Ryokan)

Irori no Yado Ashina

Ashina is a Japanese-style inn that preserves an atmosphere of old-style living in the Tohoku Region. The facility used to be part of a 120-year-old private residence, which was taken apart, moved and then rebuilt at its present location. An overnight stay at this inn will allow guests to experience several different aspects of traditional Aizu culture, including local cuisine and local sake that can be enjoyed nowhere else. Dinner is served around an irori (sunken hearth), which is a very memorable feature of this inn.

Irori no Yado Ashina
Blog(Destination Spotlight)

Feel the Samurai Spirit at Nisshinkan & Aizu Bukeyashiki

Experience for yourself what the training of real samurai was like in Fukushima.During 1868, the Aizu region of Fukushima was the site of the final prolonged battle of the Boshin Civil War, which was held between the supporters of the shogunate, and the newly formed government forces. Aizu was home to the Bushido spirit of loyalty to one’s lord without fear of death despite assured defeat. For this reason, the culture and spirit of the samurai still deeply color the region to this day.Visit the study halls where samurai gathered and the homes where they lived, and become a modern-day samurai yourself.Aizu NisshinkanFrom the age of ten, boys of Aizu’s samurai families would attend Nisshinkan, a school for cultivating their minds and bodies through academic and martial studies. Countless Nisshinkan graduates became important figures in Japan.You can visit the Aizu Hanko Nisshinkan, a faithful recreation of the original facility, which is still used as a place for educational activities, including martial arts. Entering through the impressive gate, you will be greeted by a magnificent example of Edo period architecture which recreates scenes of students carrying out their studies. Take a tour around Nisshinkan to learn about the training required to become a samurai and try your hand at archery and Zen meditation too – both of which were practiced by samurai-in-the-making.Aizu BukeyashikiAs you learn about the samurai lifestyle, be sure not to miss the Aizu Bukeyashiki (Samurai Residence) collection of historical buildings. This is an outdoor museum lined with structures of great importance in describing the history of the region. At the center is the residence of Saigo Tanomo, chief senior councilor of the Aizu clan during the Edo period, which features 38 rooms. Mannequins are used to recreate scenes from the lives of the family members. You will also find exhibits of actual weapons, kimonos, and other items used by the samurai in their daily lives, giving you an even more direct sense of their lives.Experiences at Nisshinkan and BukeyashikiThe Japanese archery which you can try at Nisshinkan is a martial art requiring concentration and willpower. While similar in appearance to Western archery, it uses a unique style in which a large bow is held to the right of the body. The arrows are small, making it possible for even children to try. There are instructors standing by at each location, so you can try even if it is your first time. If you release the arrow with controlled breath and the correct posture, you will enjoy a sense of having taken a step closer to becoming a samurai yourself. If booking as part of a group day tour, you may also experience Zen meditation at Nisshinkan. Here, you can hear lectures on basic methods and even how to live one’s life from the standpoint of Zen meditation. Try to grasp a sense of the state of mind valued by the Samurai. Please bear in mind that this activity is conducted in Japanese, so you need to book as part of a tour to ensure English support.After immersing yourself in the samurai spirit through Japanese archery and Zen meditation, why not try dressing up like a samurai too? Change into period garb at Aizu Bukeyashiki’s photo corner and have your picture taken. Pick out the costume you like and remember to strike a samurai pose for your photograph! Participatory samurai activities tend to be popular, so it is recommended that you contact the facilities in advance with the size of your group and your arrival time. Aizu Bukeyashiki (Samurai Residence) also features a restaurant where you can dine on local cuisine. Tasting the local cuisine which samurai likely enjoyed will perfectly complete the experience.Read more about the samurai spirit on our blog here.

Feel the Samurai Spirit at Nisshinkan & Aizu Bukeyashiki
Cultural Experiences

Chinkin Taiken (Sunken-Gold Design Experience)

The Tradition of Aizu lacquerware in Fukushima Prefecture has continued for 400 years. Try out creating a design on Aizu Lacquerware with a technique called Chinkin ("Sunken-gold") at Tsunoda Lacquer Art Studio. Sketch your design on tracing paper, and then mark it onto the lacqerware with a needle. Tsunoda san will help you fill the grooves created by your needle with gold and silver powder to create your design. Alternatively, try painting your own design on Aizu lacquerware at the studio. Either experience will create a great souvenir of your trip in Japan. These experiences take about an hour.

Chinkin Taiken (Sunken-Gold Design Experience)
Blog(Destination Spotlight)

1 Day in Kitakata

Here is an example 1 day intinerary for a trip to Kitakata City! 1. KITAKATA STATION Start your trip at Kitakata Station. Kitakata Station can be reached from Aizuwakamatsu Station on the JR Ban-Etsu West Line heading from Niitsu (新津). It takes around 20 minutes from Aizuwakamatsu Station. If you are wandering how to go about getting to Fukushima Prefecture, check out this guide on accessing Fukushima. 2. KURA-NO-MACHI Kitakata City has a wealth of beautiful old warehouses built over hundreds of years in a variety of styles. The warehouse-lined streets are definitely worth exploring. There are a number of different areas where warehouses can be found. I marked them with a yellow star on the map at the top of this page. You can also see a map here of where they are located. It is all in Japanese, but if you use this map in combination with your own map phone application, you should be able to find them! The longest street filled with warehouses is approximately a 1 km walk from the station. Depending on how far you would like to walk, you can adapt the length of your route. In the map at the top of this page, I have only included warehouses within walking distances of Kitakata Station. However, the Mitsuya district and Sugiyama areas of Kitakata City, which are known for their characteristic Meiji and Taisho style of architecture, can be accessed by bus from Kitakata Station. The bus apparently takes 15 minutes (approx. 6 km), but may be difficult to find and/or understand. There are cars available to rent near the station, so that might be the best bet for visiting these slightly further-away warehouses. The locations of these further-away warehouses can also be seen here, on the 3rd page (on the right hand side of the page). Tip: Rather than walking to see the closer-by warehouses, you could rent a bicycle at a shop near the station! 3. KITAKATA RAMEN With over 100 ramen establishments filling Kitakata City, it would be a shame to miss out on trying this local dish! Kitakata ramen is one of the three most famous types of ramen in Japan (The other two being local to Sapporo and Fukuoka). The high quality water in the area and the long-stretching tradition of making ramen means that Kitakata is a haven for foodies. For up to date information on the location and prices of a variety of ramen restaurants, please inquire at the Kitakata Tourism Association (located inside the station) upon arriving. Tip: If you’re brave, you can try asara (short for asa ramen) which is a ramen eaten for breakfast!  4. LOCAL SHOPS The central area of Kitakata City has many quaint and traditional shops waiting for your visit. During my recent trip, I visited Okuya, a specialist bean shop, to try peanut ice cream. Why not give Okuya a visit? One of my favourite shops in Kitakata City is Kurosawa Kirizaiten geta shop, which sells traditional wooden shoes worn throughout the year in Japan. These shoes are lightweight, super comfortable, and there are lots of designs to choose from. They would make a great souvenir to take back home for yourself or friends. While there used to be many geta stores in town, Kurosawa Kirizaiten is the last one standing.  5. SHINGU KUMANO SHRINE No matter the time of year, this 1000 year old shrine, and the equally old tree that stands next to it, are majestic. I received an English-language explanation sheet about the shrine when I visited it, which was helpful. There is a small museum and gallery on the premises with ancient artefacts available to view. Unfortunately, this is all in Japanese, so you may be at a loss for how old the artefacts are unless you whip out Google Translate. That being said, even without understanding the little museum, the shrine is really a stunning place to visit and spending some time exploring.  6. KITAKATA STATION Finish off your day trip back at Kitakata Station, where you can take a train to your next destination! Bonus: If you happen to visit Kitakata in spring, make sure to check out the beautiful waterfall-like cherry blossoms of the Nicchu Line cherry trees. Just a short walk from the station, they truly are a sight to behold.

1 Day in Kitakata
Hot Springs

Atsushio Onsen

Atsushio Onsen – which means ‘Hot Salt Onsen’ – gets its name because of the high salt content and hot temperature of its source water (70 degrees). For generations, this onsen has been hailed by local people as having healing properties. Also known as ‘Kodomo Takara no Yu’ (‘The Sanctity of Children Onsen’), Atsushio Onsen is home to a Buddhist statue dedicated to the act of raising children. Here you often see mothers paying their respects to deities after their wishes have been realized.

Atsushio Onsen
Accommodation(Hotels)

Hotel Listel Inawashiro

Hotel Listel Inawashiro is situated in Listel Park, a 700,000-square-meter property with its own herb garden, ski area, outdoor sports facilities, and more. This hotel offers a wide variety of enjoyment as an all-season destination resort. There are two types of accommodation within the hotel complex: the Wing Tower is an European-style, high-rise hotel, and the Main Building is a condominium hotel with a kitchen in each room. The spa facility is well-equipped with a number of onsen baths, including ones that guests can enjoy while wearing a bathing suit. An outdoor bath that commands a panoramic view of Lake Inawashiro is also located on site.

Hotel Listel Inawashiro
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