Get Acquainted With Aizuwakamatsu In Fukushima Prefecture

Tsurugajo Park in spring (Photo from: Fukushima Prefecture)

As the westernmost region of Fukushima prefecture, Aizuwakamatsu is one of Japan's if not the prefecture’s most beautiful places. Touted as the last samurai stronghold of the 19th century, Aizuwakamatsu is teeming with beautiful attractions, mouth-watering cuisine and award-winning sake. This article explores the various locations and delicacies to discover in Aizuwakamatsu!

Sauce Katsudon

Sauce Katsudon: one of the Aizu region’s culinary delights.

Katsudon is one of the cornerstones of Japanese cuisine; it's succulent, deep-fried pork cutlet that sits atop a steaming bowl of rice and shredded cabbage. The Aizu region specialises in a version called sauce katsudon (ソースカツ丼), which sees the pork cutlet drenched in a sauce that’s savoury, sweet and a little spicy all at once. It’s mouth-watering and can’t be recommended enough as part of your Aizuwakamatsu itinerary.

Ouchijuku

See Japan’s old-world charm at Ouchijuku. (Photo from: Shutterstock)

As a post town that served travellers mainly during the Edo period (1603-1968), Ouchijuku is filled with multiple buildings that are 300 years old. Many of them are attached with a gassho zukuri style roof, similar to the ones in Shirakawago (Gifu prefecture) and Gokayama (Toyama prefecture). Try out the negisoba here too. It's a soba dish accompanied by a giant leek which you would use as chopsticks for the soba!

Mount Bandai/Urabandai

Mount Bandai in the mist. (Photo from: Shutterstock)

In a country that’s recorded to have more than 18,000 mountains, Mount Bandai is touted to be one of the top 100 mountains in the country and was even nicknamed Aizu-Fuji due to its resemblance to Mount Fuji. A devastating volcanic eruption in 1888 changed the mountain’s shape drastically and even created the Urabandai (literally known as ‘the back of Bandai’) region, which is now an area dotted with ponds and hiking trails.

One of the most popular hikes is around the Goshikinuma or Five Coloured Pond Walk area. The vibrance of the area is most apparent during autumn when the foliage turns a striking crimson and lights up the area. Mount Bandai also transforms into a picturesque snow resort during winter, and makes for a great ski destination for Japanese locals!

Tadami River Bridge Viewpoint

The viewpoint gives you a picturesque view of the Tadami River Bridge! (Photo from: Maeda Akihiko, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons)

What good is a destination if it doesn’t comprise scenic viewpoints? The Tadami River Bridge Viewpoint has drawn considerable attention around the world and looks stunning in any season. Those interested in snapping photos at the exact times that the trains would pass by would need to look up the official Fukushima travel website for that information, but the effort spent to capture such a scenic photo is definitely worth it.

Higashiyama Onsen

Higashiyama Onsen in Aizuwakamatsu offers a calming respite from long hours of exploration. (Photo from: Shutterstock)

It’s hard to imagine a destination in Japan that does not already have an onsen spot for the weary traveller. Higashiyama Onsen in Aizu is located in a valley east of Aizuwakamatsu, and despite the region looking a little worn down and overdeveloped, listening to the sounds of the water flowing through the adjacent Yukawa river and breathing in the clean, crisp air will certainly be rejuvenating.

Which of these sites are you looking to explore when you visit Aizuwakamatsu in Fukushima Prefecture?