Here are 10 things to do in Fukushima (Aizu area).

Aizu Tsuruga Castle

Built in 1384, it was called Kurokawa Castle at the time, and the seven floors were reduced to five due to an earthquake. After various battles, the stone walls were lost, but they were rebuilt and restored in 1965. The castle tower is made of red tiles, which is a rare feature unique to Tsuruga Castle. The adzuki bean-colored tiles are beautiful. Rinkaku is an important cultural property, and you can experience tea ceremony here. It is recommended as a tea room as it has a great atmosphere.

The snowy scenery of Tsuruga Castle in winter is a spectacular sight that can only be seen in a snowy country. There is also an illumination of the autumn leaves, so please check the event information for details.

Ouchijuku

In 1643, it flourished as a post town on the Aizu Nishi Kaido road. The buildings and streetscape that still retain their appearance are designated as a National Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings. You can sample dumplings and rice crackers while walking around, and there are souvenir shops. Be sure to try the famous "Negi Soba," soba noodles made with a single stalk of green onion.

The observation deck is a place where you can get a panoramic view of Ouchijuku. In winter, snow covers the roofs and roads, creating a beautiful snowy landscape.

Tower of the Dead

The strangely shaped rocks are lined up like towers, and were designated a national natural monument in 1943. They were created over a million years of repeated erosion and weathering. "Hetsuri" is a local dialect word that means a cliff or steep slope that approaches a river. A bridge is built to the cliff, and you can see inside. It is a magnificent sight created by nature. In autumn, the autumn leaves and rock walls coexist with nature, creating a spectacular sight.

Five-colored Lake

In 1888, the northern part of the summit of Mt. Bandai collapsed due to a steam explosion, and the rocks blocked the river, forming hundreds of lakes and marshes in the area. In 2016, it was awarded one star in the Michelin Green Guide. The name "Goshiki-numa" comes from the variety of colors it has, including emerald green, and it is also known as the "mysterious lake and marsh."

In the autumn, the blue of the marsh and the red of the autumn leaves create a natural contrast that is spectacular.

Tatsuzawa Fudo Falls

This waterfall falls on the Fudo River, which originates from Mt. Funamyojin in the Adatara mountain range. The historical road where the tragedy of the Byakkotai occurred is located at the entrance to the approach to the waterfall. There is Otaki Falls, which is 10m high and 16m wide and flows magnificently like a curtain over a large rock face, and Medaki Falls, which is tucked away to the west of it. It is a mystical place surrounded by greenery and trees. In autumn, the leaves around the waterfall turn red and are very beautiful.

Lake Inawashiro

Located in the center of Fukushima Prefecture, it is divided into three areas: Inawashiro Town, Aizuwakamatsu City, and Koriyama City. It has an area of 103 km2 and a depth of 93m, making it the fourth largest lake in Japan. About 3,000 swans come from Siberia, gathering there from around December and peaking in February. Swans are also designated as a national natural monument.

The snow piled up on the peak of Mt. Bandai and Lake Inawashiro, which can be seen from the mountain, are very picturesque and beautiful.

Enzoji Temple

Founded by Tokuichi Daishi in 807, it is one of the three great Kokuzo Bosatsu in Japan and is the guardian deity for those born in the year of the Ox and Tiger. In Aizu, it is affectionately known as "Yanaizu's Kokuzo-sama."

The cow statue in the temple grounds is the origin of the Aizu local folk craft "Akabeko" (pictured above), and has been said to bring happiness since ancient times. The garden "Jugyu-no-niwa" that can be viewed from the main hall is very beautiful and tasteful.

Aizu Samurai Residences

You can learn about the history and culture of Aizu, centered around Aizu Bushido. The 7,800m2 Aizu clan elder's residence, Saigo Tanomo, is a gorgeous and grand Japanese-style wooden building. You can travel back in time and see the life of the Aizu samurai. There is also a history museum, a prefectural important cultural property, a teahouse, and more. You can also try out archery, and win a prize if you hit the target. There is also a corner where you can try painting Akabeko and Okiagari Koboshi dolls.

Shingu Kumano Shrine

Founded by Minamoto no Yoritomo in 1055, the ancient shrine's worship hall, "Nagadoko," is a building in the Shinden-zukuri style from the Heian period and is designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan. There are 44 cylindrical pillars, each 1 shaku 5 sun (45 cm) in diameter, arranged at equal intervals in five rows, creating an open atrium. The sacred tree, the large ginkgo tree, which has watched over the history of the shrine along with the Nagadoko, is 30 meters tall, has a circumference of over 8 meters around the base, and is 800 years old, making for an imposing presence. The adjacent "Kumano Shrine Treasure House" has bronze pots and many nationally and prefecturally designated cultural properties that can be viewed.

Aizu Domain School Nisshinkan

Founded in 1803, this is the Aizu Domain's highest educational institution with the aim of cultivating talent. Students entered at the age of 10 and studied academics, martial arts, and trained both body and mind. The roughly 26,000m2 site includes a martial arts hall, an astronomical observatory, which was rare at the time, and the Suiren Suimaike Pond, said to be Japan's oldest swimming pool, and it produced many talented young men, such as the Byakkotai boys. You can see Edo architecture and the learning conditions of the time. You can also experience bushido practices such as archery and zazen, and paint akabeko and byakko swords.

summary

We have introduced 10 things to do in Fukushima (Aizu area). There are many things to do, including places with old-fashioned buildings like Tsuruga Castle and Ouchijuku, as well as natural sites like Tonohetsuri and Goshiki-numa. As it is a snowy country, it is also a place where the coexistence with snow shows a very beautiful scenery. There are plenty of experiences to enjoy, so be sure to visit Fukushima and make memories that you can only have in Japan.