FUKUSHIMA: Things to do in AIZU WAKAMATSU
Aizu Wakamatsu
I must say AIZU WAKAMATSU is ONE OF THE JAPAN’S BEST KEPT SECRETS!
Aizu Wakamatsu is situated in Fukushima Prefecture, on the western side of Fukushima. It is truly a hidden gem, with very well preserved cultures and well-known for its award-winning sake and samurai tradition.
Actually I wanna say Aizu Wakamatsu is one of Fukushima’s best kept secrets but I have yet to explore the whole Fukushima; so as of now, I can only mention Aizu Wakamatsu is one of Japan’s best kept secrets. LOL
I immediately fell in love with this city as soon as I arrived at this place. This place is very peaceful, very slow pace and chill, and … basically no crowds with little tourists around (at time of my visit). Well, continue with the rest of the passage and you will know why. Do note that many attractions in Aizu Wakamatsu close as early as 4.30pm, so please plan your time wisely.
We travelled to Aizu Wakamatsu from Sendai in the evening. We hopped on the Shinkansen at JR Sendai Station and made a transfer at Koriyama Station to Aizu Wakamatsu. The journey on the rapid train that brought us to Aizu Wakamatsu was about 1hour 10 minutes on JR Ban-Etsusai Line.
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For full itinerary, check out JAPAN TRIP 2024: 11D10N in Yamagata, Sendai, Aizu Wakamatsu & Tokyo
Getting around Aizu Wakamatsu
As most attractions are not located within walking distance, Aizu Loops Buses came handy to us and they serve as the best transport to explore around Aizu Wakamatsu.
There are two types of bus running around the city.
Haikara-san Town Bus (blue line) runs in the counter-clockwise direction.
Akabe Town Bus (red line) runs in clockwise direction.
Be sure to get the One Day Pass at the Aizu Wakamatsu Bus Station Information Centre (just in front of the JR Aizu Wakamatsu Station) and board the bus at Bus Stop #4.
One Day Pass is priced at ¥600 and you can ride on both Haikara-san and Akabe Town Buses. It is very well worth the money spent. If you didn’t get the bus pass, it gonna cost 210 per ride (as you hop onto the bus).
You may find the cute mascot characters are on each Haikara-san and Akabe bus that helps to distinguish the buses.
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1. Great stay with awesome breakfast at Aizuwakamatsu Washington Hotel
Our day tour in Aizu Wakamatsu was started off with a great breakfast in Aizuwakamatsu Washington Hotel, the hotel where we stayed for 2 nights in this city. It is located very near to the station, just about 2 streets away from the station. Although this very standard business type hotel is neither the newest nor the fanciest one, it has got what you need and very clean too. The room is huge (I booked the twin room) and the breakfast was awesome!
Breakfast is what I look forward the most when staying in any hotel. Every morning, I snatched the window seats with the perfect city view so that I could mesmerize the view overlooking the castle while enjoying the perfect breakfast. At the breakfast counters, they serve local delights and fresh local produces too. I couldn’t help but munching down lots of local speciality dishes, fresh local vegetables (always love their greens and wafu dressing sauce!), rich creamy milk produces and yogurt, and many more!
Accompanied with white snowy view!
Hotel lobby
Akabeko – the legendary red cow which is the symbol of Aizu region
Display of local sake in the hotel.
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2. Up to Iimoriyama 飯盛山
First stop we went, Iimoriyama Shita.
Iimoriyama 飯盛山 or Mount Imori has a very interesting history and background. It was the site of suicide by the boy soldiers; and then become one of the popular attractions to visit in Aizu Wakamatsu.
Further up the mountain are the several monuments that including the 19 tombs for the Byakkotai soldiers. This is accessible by the staircase (if you would like to climb) or the escalator at a fee of ¥250.
Getting here:
Take Aizu Loop bus Iimoriyama Shita bus stop (we took Akabe bus to Stop #A5 – Iimoriyama Shita) at the foot of the mountain. It is about 5 minutes ride from Aizu Wakamatsu Station (on Akabe bus, clockwise direction).
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3. Visit to Sazaedo Temple
What attracted us at this area is the Sazaedo Temple
Built in 1796, Sazaedo is a Buddhist temple with a very unique architecture. From the outside, it is looking like a pagoda. The inside is structured with a double helix slope where by you will not bump into people coming up from opposite direction! That’s very interesting! Entrance fee is at ¥400.
The beams that made up the ceilings of Sazaedo are very unique, in different length and shape.
I find it extremely magical at time of my visit! It was snowing. Soft, gentle snow fluttering down from the sky, very angelic and hit onto the tree, the roof and the ground. I wish I could really describe how it was with words, but words really unable to describe it. Let me see if I do have the video, I will post it up on IG.
I took quite a bit of time to stroll around and mesmerize the view… until my brother nudged me that we should leave for our next stop. Tooooo pretty!!
Getting here:
From Aizu-Wakamatsu Station, take the Aizu Loop Bus and get off at Mount Iimori.
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4. Tsuruga Castle
Tsuruga Castle is one of the Japan’s most famous 100 castles. It is the only castle with red tiled roof in Japan. The castle we get to see nowadays is the reconstructed of the original castle as the original one was destroyed during the war in olden days.
READ: FUKUSHIMA: Tsuruga Castle & Rinkaku Tea House
The castle is now opened as a museum. There is exhibition inside the castle, and also the history of castle and the samurai lifestyle. You can learn about Aizu Wakamatsu in detail and it is really interesting. Do not miss out the top of the castle tower too as you can enjoy the picturesque panoramic view from the top!
Entrance fee is priced at ¥ 520 for both entrance into Tsurugajo and RINKAKU Tea House; ¥ 600 for a set of Matcha and wagashi in the Tea House.
We spent some time to take a stroll at the Tsuruga Castle Park. If you are here at the right season, you will get to see the cherry blossom at the castle park.
The weather at time of our visit was kind of … sudden sunny and sudden snow. We got the bright sunny view weather and sudden snow showering view. Beautiful and very beautiful but cold. LOL
Tea break time and then had a matcha and wagashi in Rinkaku Teahouse.
Getting here:
From Aizu-Wakamatsu Station, take the Aizu Loop Bus and get off at Tsurugajo Kitaguchi. The Castle area is about 5 minutes’ walk from the bus stop.
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5. Slurp up the delicious bowl of ramen at Kitakata Ramen Specialty Shop Kirin
Kitakata ramen is originated in Kitakata, Fukushima; this ramen has a soy sauce base and is known for its light and clear niboshi (dried sardine) and pork broth. Here in Kitakata Ramen Specialty Shop Kirin 喜鈴, they are specializing in soup bases made using three different types of soy sauce, created in collaboration with a long established soy sauce brewery 星醸造 in Kitakata City.
Getting here:
Kitakata Ramen Specialty Shop Kirin, Shiromae Store is located few steps away from Kitademaru Oodori Bus Stop (on red line or blue line).
READ: FUKUSHIMA: Kitakata Ramen Specialty Shop Kirin
I adored their signature Golden Shoyu Ramen 特製喜多方肉中華そば (¥ 1200). This golden soup is made with a blend of chicken bones, pork bones, kelp and 3 types of carefully selected dried sardines and mackerel. This golden coloured soup was light yet rich with the aroma of dried fish. A touch of Kitakata 星醸造’s original soy sauce that is a blend of dark and light soy sauce with a deep umami-ness and mellow sweetness was added into the golden soup. This result in the real “fresh” essence or I would say 鲜味.
We also tried the limited time only Kitakata Miso Ramen and Spicy Miso Ramen, and juicy gyoza too.
Kitakata Ramen Specialty Shop, Shiromae Store
1-84 Higashisakaemachi, Aizuwakamatsu,
Fukushima 965-0872, Japan
Opens from
Weekdays: 11am to 3pm
Weekends: 11am to 5pm
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6. First sake hop in Aizu Miyaizumi Sake Brewery
Aizu Miyaizumi Sake Brewery is a famous sake brewery with 400 years of history. It is located right opposite the Kitakata Ramen Specialty Shop Kirin. Soon after our ramen lunch, we hopped over to check out their sake and also sampled their sake.
Saw this special bottle and we decided to pick up this bottle after some discussion as we didn’t get to sample this during the tasting. And this bottle had a limit for purchase! So, we guessed it must be special!
We learned that this is made using a blending technique – Assemblage, which is also a method of wine making. This special bottle is a blend of junmai-shu (Yume no Kaori 60% polishing rate), junmai kimoto (Yume no Kaori 60% polishing rate) with no added yeast, and junmai ginjo (yamada nishiki 50% polishing rate).
Indeed, no regrets. It was one of the best bottles we sample throughout our trip. Very unique with such a blend.
Aizu Miyaizumi Sake Brewery
8-7 Higashisakaemachi, Aizuwakamatsu,
Fukushima 965-0872, Japan
Opens from 9am to 4.30pm
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7. Try Aizu’s local delicacies – Miso Dengaku
Mitsutaya is a miso specialty store founded at the end of Edo period, which is around 1835. They serve this Aizu’s local delicacies “Miso Dengaku” whereby ingredients such as mochi, tofu, konjac are skewed and miso glazed, and then grilled over the charcoal fire.
Besides that, they offer a variety of products such as miso, miso dressing, misozuke (miso pickles), Aizu grown perilla dressing sauce, rapeseed oil, and local Aizu produces which work great as omiyage (souvenirs).
Getting here:
Mitsutaya 满田屋 is about 3minutes’ walk away from Bus Stop #A31 Otanomachi Bus Station (we took red line Akabe bus).
READ: FUKUSHIMA: Mitsutaya @ Aizu Wakamatsu
Miso Dengaku Set, priced at ¥1,850 (inclusive tax) comes with 6 dishes Mochi, Fried Tofu, Konjac, Taro Potato, Shingorou (half mashed rice cake), and Smoked Herring. All are made with a coat of in-house’s miso and have the dengaku skewers grilled over the charcoal fire.
We love the sticky chewiness of warm Mochi and fluffy Taro along with the Sweet Miso; savoury Fried Tofu with Sansho Miso and the aromatic rice scent from the Shingorou with Egoma Miso. Very yummy. Do head over to check out the miso dengaku if you are travelling to Aizu Wakamatsu. Each small dish here is coated in miso for an unforgettable and savoury flavour!
Mitsutaya 满田屋
1 Chome-1-25 Omachi, Aizuwakamatsu,
Fukushima 965-0042, Japan
Opens from 10.30am to 4.30pm
Closed on Wednesdays
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8. Next sake hop in Suehiro Sake Brewery
Suehiro Sake Brewery is one of the largest and famous sake breweries in Tohoku region. They offer Sake Brewery Tour at free admission daily from 10am to 4pm. The tour takes approximately 30minutes. We ran late on registering their last sake brewery tour’s session and so we were only able to taste their sake in the shop and spent on bottle for the nightcap.
The brewery also has a café offers sake-infused dessert such as cake and jelly. However, we were arrived a little late and passed the last order timing. We wouldn’t be able to enjoy a great afternoon tea over here.
Suehiro Sake Brewery
12-38 Nisshinmachi, Aizuwakamatsu,
Fukushima 965-0861, Japan
Opens from 9.30am to 4.30pm
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9. More sake hop in Sake Bar Kanmasu
As we have finished with the days’ attractions, we strolled along the street and randomly bumped into this Sake Bar Kanmasu デジタル田園酒場 かんます. We decided to hop in as they offer a few sets of sake flights and seasonal sake.
Sake Bar Kanmasu デジタル田園酒場 かんます offer local sake from 24 breweries in Aizu region. This is the opportunity where sake lovers can compare the Aizu region’s sake under one roof. They offer the breweries’ specialty served at the sake dispenser “Nomasse”, priced at ¥1000 for 6 cups of sake. Or, you may pick from the list available for which you wish to try. They also offer dishes cooked with Aizu’s produces and seasonal ingredients to pair with sake too!
デジタル田園酒場 かんます
ホテル大阪屋 1階, 1 Chome−2−54, Omachi,
Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima, 〒965-0042 Japan
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10. Stroll down Noguchi Hideyo Seishun Street
Noguchi Hideyo Seishun Street is a retro sightseeing street in Aizu Wakamatsu. This street lines with chic café and souvenirs shops. And the buildings here are really beautiful! This is the place where world-famous doctor Hideyo Noguchi spent his youth. For more of his history, do google it yourself hahaha.
This street… is toooooo beautiful!
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11. More Sake in Aizu Shurakukan Watanabe Shouta Shoten
Here was our one last stop for the day! More sake!! This sake shop is really huge and carrying a wide variety of local sake. It was like a heaven to us all and of course, we got another bottle for the night! LOL!
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12. Side trip to Ouchijuku – the former post town along trade route
As I took my off from the trip earlier and headed back to Tokyo, my bro and SIL went to this scenic historical place in Aizu region, a former post town along the trade route that connected Aizu and Nikko – Ouchijuku. This place is about 35minutes train ride away from Aizu Wakamatsu Station + another 20minutes taxi or bus ride from Yunokami Onsen.
From the photo, it does look a little like Shirakawago town to me. The main street is lined with thatched-roof houses where the roof are specially designed to withstand the heavy snowfalls. These houses are now served as shops, restaurants or minshuku (inns). Must try also their speciality soba here, with a whole stick long of negi! One day, I will make a visit here, to witness them all by my own eyes, to discover Fukushima in depth!
