Discover Tsurugajo Castle and Ouchi-juku — Kimono Experience Included!
- 5 destinations
- One Day
Visit one of Tohoku's representative destinations in Tsurugajo Castle, before heading to Ouchi-juku and admire its Edo Period atmosphere. Wear a kimono as you walk around Tsurugajo Castle to feel like you stepped back into the Edo Period.
Suggested Provider
Aizu Dream Development,Inc
- Cafe & Activity Nowhere
- 2863-2 Numajiriyamako Kogai, Inawashiro, Yama District, Fukushima 969-2752, Japan
- 0242-93-8814
- info@add-dream.co.jp
Itinerary Overview
Aizu-Wakamatsu Station
7 min ride by taxi
View DirectionsKimono Experience @ Tsuruga
- Aizu-Wakamatsu
- 40 minutes
You can experience wearing an authentic kimono — as fitted by a professional. With over 100 designs—including many modern ones—why not choose one that suits you? The set experience includes kimono accessories too if needed. The fitting itself takes about 15 minutes.
5 min walk
View DirectionsTsurugajo Castle
- Aizu-Wakamatsu
- 60 minutes
Tsurugajo Castle, the symbol of Aizu-Wakamatsu City and indeed the former Aizu Domain, is famous for withstanding an onslaught by imperial forces for a month during the Boshin War. Though the current castle is a reconstruction, it is known as the only castle in Japan to feature red roof tiles. The castle site is a popular location during the cherry blossom season or when the autumn foliage peaks. At the Rinkaku teahouse you can enjoy Japanese matcha tea (for a small fee) and take photos of the beautiful Japanese garden. Why not wear a kimono to enhance your experience of the Edo Period-like surroundings?
About: Tsurugajo Castle
Drop by Tsuruga to return the kimono (20 min) before heading to Ouchi-juku by car (40 min)
View DirectionsOuchi-juku
- Shimogo
- 90 minutes
During the Edo Period, Ouchi-juku prospered as a post town on the main "Nikko Kaido" road that connected Aizu-Wakamatsu City with Nikko Imaichi City.
To this day, you can see rows of thatched houses and, in 1981, these well-preserved streets of Ouchi-juku led to it being designated as an Important Preservation District for a Group of Traditional Buildings.
Negi Soba is a local, popular specialty, that replaces your chopsticks with a long Japanese onion (Negi). You can enjoy the soba while eating the onion too.
About: Ouchi-juku
15 min drive to next location
View DirectionsTo-no-hetsuri Crags
- Shimogo
- 30 minutes
With its unique cliffs formed by nature over many years, this valley was named "Tower of Hetsuri" (Tō-no-hetsuri) due to the resemblance of a cliff lined with towers ('Hetsuri' is cliff in the local dialect). A suspension bridge extends over the valley allowing close-up access, including part of the way inside the cliff. It is a popular photography spot during the autumn and spring.
About: To-no-hetsuri Crags
45 min drive
View Directions