Steller: Create Beautiful Social Media Stories

Aizuwakamatsu

Welcome to Aizuwakamatsu, where history dances with nature! Nestled in Fukushima, this charming city boasts the majestic Tsuruga Castle and stunning views of Mount Iide. Explore samurai streets, indulge in local sake, and savor delicious ramen. Don’t miss the colorful cherry blossoms in spring! Get ready to step back in time and enjoy the vibrant culture!

From the Community

kapowder

Recommendations

Landmark4.3/5

Tsuruga-jo Castle (Aizu-wakamatsu-jo)

Aizuwakamatsu's five-story Tsuruga Castle rises above its park, its white walls topped with red roof tiles. Inside, exhibits trace the region's samurai history, and the top floor looks out across the city.

Landmark4.2/5

Ouchi-juku

Shimogo's old post town is a street of thatched-roof houses, shops, and restaurants. Climb the hill behind the village for a view down over the roofs.

Culture3.9/5

Shôwa Nostalgia Museum

Landmark4.5/5

Tsurugajo Castle Park

Landmark4.2/5

Aizu Sazaedō

Landmark4.2/5

Oyaku Garden

Culture4/5

Aizu Bukeyashiki

Eat$$$4.2/5

Bannai Shokudo

Eat$$$4.3/5

Kikaku Sushi

Eat3.7/5

MEGA Don Quijote

Cafe$$$4.3/5

cafe Darrent

Eat4.2/5

Suehiro Sake Brewery

Cafe$$$4.1/5

Aizu Aoi Silk Road Bunmeikan

Cafe$$$4.4/5

Kontsh

Nestled in Aizuwakamatsu, Kontsh offers a unique blend of traditional Japanese hospitality and modern culinary creativity, making it a must-visit destination for food enthusiasts seeking an unforgettable dining experience in Fukushima.

Eat$$$4.2/5

Kagota

Eat$$$4.3/5

ろばたや

Eat$$$3.9/5

Kodawariyama Aizuwakamatsu Ekimae

Eat$$$4.5/5

Tsuruga Aizu Main Store

Cafe$$$4.1/5

Aizu Coffee Club

Cafe$$4.2/5

Aizu Ichibankan

Stays

Stay$$3.9/5

Hotel Route Inn Aizuwakamatsu

Only a 5-minute drive from JR Aizuwakamatsu Train Station, Hotel Route-Inn Aizuwakamatsu features simple modern accommodations and a free-breakfast for all guests. Free wired internet is available in all rooms and you can refresh in the spacious public baths. Contemporary rooms are furnished with amenities from a flat-screen TV and a fridge, to nightwear and toiletries. An air humidifier and an extra pillow are available on request. A coin-operated launderette is on-site. Guests can relax in the massage chairs and use the free-use computers. The free breakfast buffet is available from 06:45-09:00 at the dining area. Hana-Hana-Tei serves Japanese favourites and sake from 18:00-22:00 (last order at 21:30, closed Sundays). Aizuwakamatsu Route-Inn Hotel is a 10-minute drive from Tsururga Castle and a 30-minute drive from Lake Inawashiro. Sazaedo is a 5-minute drive away.

Stay$3.75/5

Aizuwakamatsu Washington Hotel

A 5-minute walk from JR Aizuwakamatsu Train Station, Aizuwakamatsu Washington Hotel offers accommodations with free Wi-Fi. Massages can be requested for an extra cost and guests can enjoy refreshments at the hotel’s cafe. The air-conditioned rooms feature a flat-screen satellite TV, a fridge and an electric kettle with green tea bags. Japanese Yukata robes and toothbrush sets are provided for all guests. The en suite bathroom comes with a hairdryer. Luggage storage is provided at the front desk. Free parking is available and photocopying services are provided for an extra cost. Washington Hotel Aizuwakamatsu is a 10-minute drive from Tsuruga Castle and a 5-minute drive from Sazaedo Shrine. The foot of Mount Iimori is a 25-minute walk away.

Stay4.6/5

Higashiyama Onsen Mukaitaki

Wooden ryokan with hot-spring baths and in-room meals. Meals arrive at a kotatsu, where you eat with your feet tucked underneath.

Stay4.3/5

Cuisine Inn Tagoto

Stay4.2/5

Takayu Onsen Kagetsu Highland Hotel

Stay3.7/5

Aizu Astoria Hotel

Stay3.4/5

Green Hotel Aizu

Things To Do
Provided by

5/5

6 h

Aizu Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

This value-packed trip with a government-licensed and experienced multilingual tour guide is a fantastic and efficient way to explore Aizuwakamatsu! Aizuwakamatsu is a former feudal capital featuring a number of historical attractions that you can visit during a leisurely cycle around its quiet streets. In addition, stop by the number of old-fashioned shops selling local crafts after touring the traditional villages along the rickety train lines in the countryside of the surrounding foothills. Let us know what you would like to experience and we will customize a six-hour tour that's best for you! Note*1: Please select your must-see spots from a list in the tour information to create your customized itinerary. Note*2: The National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter certification is issued by the Japanese government requires a good knowledge and understanding of Japanese culture and history.

$143.04

4.8/5

4 h

Aizu Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide

This value-packed trip with a government-licensed and experienced multilingual tour guide is a fantastic and efficient way to explore Aizuwakamatsu! Aizuwakamatsu is a former feudal capital featuring a number of historical attractions that you can visit during a leisurely cycle around its quiet streets. In addition, stop by the number of old-fashioned shops selling local crafts after touring the traditional villages along the rickety train lines in the countryside of the surrounding foothills. Let us know what you would like to experience and we will customize a four-hour tour that's best for you! Note*1: Please select your must-see spots from a list in the tour information to create your customized itinerary. Note*2: The National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter certification is issued by the Japanese government requires a good knowledge and understanding of Japanese culture and history.

$97.53

5/5

6 h

Ouchi-juku Customized Private Tour with Licensed Guide

This value-packed trip with a government-licensed and experienced multilingual tour guide is a fantastic and efficient way to explore Ouchijuku! If there's a place where you can feel the charms of ancient Japan and experience the ancient Japanese way of life, it's Ouchijuku. This small village of picturesque thatched-roof houses hidden among forested mountains in Fukushima Prefecture is so perfectly preserved you'll feel like you traveled back in time to the period of samurai. Your guide will start your day with a morning pickup at your hotel. Let us know what special requests you have for the day and we will customize your itinerary in advance! Note*1: Please select your must-see spots from a list in the tour information to create your customized itinerary.

$152.80

6 h

Ouchijuku 6hr Private Tour with Licensed Guide and Vehicle

This tour is a fantastic and efficient way to explore Ouchijuku in a private vehicle accompanied by a government-licensed and experienced multilingual guide! You will meet your guide near Aizu-Wakamtsu Station and go to the Ouchijuku area by a private vehicle. If there's a place where you can feel the charms of ancient Japan and experience the ancient Japanese way of life, it's Ouchijuku. This small village of picturesque thatched-roof houses hidden among forested mountains in Fukushima Prefecture is so perfectly preserved you'll feel like you traveled back in time to the period of samurai. Note*: The National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter certification is issued by the Japanese government requires a good knowledge and understanding of Japanese culture and history.

$430.11

8 h

Learn Fukushima Interim Storage Facility Restricted Zone Tour

From Decontaminated Soil to the Future of Fukushima’s Environment Fourteen years have passed since the accident at the Tokyo Electric Power Company’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. While environmental restoration has been steadily progressing, a large volume of soil generated through decontamination efforts is currently being stored at Interim Storage Facilities within Fukushima Prefecture. Under Japanese law, this soil is required to be finally disposed of outside Fukushima Prefecture by 2045. The Ministry of the Environment is therefore working to foster public understanding of the current state of environmental restoration in Fukushima, future initiatives, and the necessity and safety of efforts toward final disposal outside the prefecture. We believe this provides a highly meaningful opportunity for learning and reflection for those who will play a leading role in shaping the next generation of society.

$906.00

2 h

Fukushima Aizu Samurai Descendants Guided Tour at Nisshinkan

【OUTLINE】 Discover the historic Aizu Clan School Nisshinkan, where samurai were once trained, and immerse yourself in the enduring teachings and spirit of the Aizu warrior code. Immerse yourself in authentic samurai culture passed down through generations, guided by local experts and samurai descendants who bring its history, traditions, and spirit to life. 【HIGHLIGHTS】・Learn the teachings and values of the samurai at Aizu Clan School Nisshinkan established during the Edo period. ・Engage with local guides and residents through guided tours and town walks, gaining authentic insights into the community and its traditions. ・Through interaction with samurai descendants, you can experience the spirit of the samurai.

$178.81

2 h

Fukushima: Aizu Tsuruga Castle & Boshin War History Tour

Discover the historical significance of Tsuruga Castle, the heart of the Aizu domain, on this in-depth guided tour. Delve into the disciplined society of the Aizu samurai, where loyalty and conduct shaped daily life amidst the backdrop of Japan’s Boshin War. As you ascend the castle, explore its architecture that reveals the complexities of power and governance, culminating in scenic views of the land they defended. The journey concludes at Rinkaku, a historic tea house, where you’ll engage in a traditional tea ceremony that embodies the values of calm and control cherished by the samurai. - Guided exploration of Tsuruga Castle, focusing on Aizu's samurai culture - Insight into the Boshin War and its impact on Aizu's history - Participate in a traditional tea ceremony at the historic Rinkaku tea house - Flexible participation options from Tsuruga Castle or Aizu-Wakamatsu Station

$66.16

5/5

5 h

Fukushima Kitakata Guided Tour: Sake & Storehouse Heritage Walk

Immerse yourself in Kitakata’s rich cultural landscape—sustained by the crystal-clear spring waters of Mount Iide—through guided exploration and authentic exchanges with local residents. 【HIGHLIGHT】 • Learn about Kitakata’s history and brewing heritage from the 12th-generation owner of a traditional soy sauce brewery with over 270 years of history. • Visit a historic sake brewery founded in 1790 that has won multiple Gold Awards at the Japan Sake Awards, and enjoy one complimentary premium sake tasting of a competition-entry sake or a rare variety, normally offered for an additional fee. • Connect with the local community through guided town walks and engaging conversations led by a knowledgeable local guide who knows Kitakata inside and out.

$162.55

4.8/5

8 h

Fukushima Hope Tour in 1 Day by Car with Licensed Guide

On this tour, you can visit the ruins of the Great East Japan Earthquake with a local licensed guide. On March 11 th 2011, the magnitude-9.0 earthquake occurred in Japan’s Tohoku region. Many people in Fukushima lost their lives to this earthquake and the subsequent large tsunami, and scores of homes were destroyed. In addition, the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station Disaster resulted in leaving many people with no choice but to evacuate their homes. The effects of these multiple disasters remain to this day. This tour offers you the opportunity to see the places where the effects of the earthquake and nuclear disaster remain, as well as the places where revitalization efforts are taking place. All tour sales go to donations for the affected areas. The radiation level of places you will visit on this tour does not exceed 0.05 mSv per hour. Please note that You are not allowed to enter the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station.

$471.66

4.5/5

24 h

Coal & Fossil Museum Admission Ticket

The Iwaki Coal & Fossil Museum shows the history of Iwaki and how the city was heavy on coal mining during the Meiji period in Japan. The museum also houses many dinosaur skeletons from all over the world and even one from Iwaki.

$4.60

11 h 10 mins

Full Day Fukushima Private Tour: Tsuruga Castle & Ouchi-juku

Experience the Tohoku region's Fukushima Prefecture with a visit to Tsuruga-jo Castle, the symbol of Aizuwakamatsu; and Ouchi-juku, a post town which still retains the townscape of thatched roof houses lining the road from the Edo period (1603-1868) on this 1-day tour in Fukushima. This tour is a special private tour exclusively for you, departs from and returns to Sendai by bullet train to Fukushima. With customers' comfort in mind, a hired car will be used to visit each destination. Feel free to relax while relishing the scenery from the windows while traveling. There will be an accompanying English-speaking guide throughout the entire itinerary for customers to be able to appreciate all the beautiful sights and culture. Revel in a rich experience while getting to know the deep significance of the local region's climate, culture, and tradition. You can also enjoy a painting experience of “Akabeko,” a traditional toy from Aizu known as a good luck charm and talisman to ward off evil.

$777.64

4 h

Kitakata Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide

This value-packed trip with a government-licensed and experienced multilingual tour guide is a fantastic and efficient way to explore Kitakata! Blessed with an abundance of water and rice, Kitakata is known for its love of ramen and, also, for its most excellent sake. Walk around the town center and see the many remaining kura, or traditional Japanese storehouses, that have been converted into inns, shops, breweries, and specialty stores. Many of them are concentrated in the city center. Your guide will start your day with a morning pickup at your hotel. Let us know what special requests you have for the day and we will customize your itinerary in advance! Note*1: Please select your must-see spots from a list in the tour information to create your customized itinerary. Note*2: The National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter certification is issued by the Japanese government requires a good knowledge and understanding of Japanese culture and history.

$91.03

2 h

Kitashiobara-mura Private Winter Hiking in Kanjiki Tradition

A local guide certified by the Japan Mountain Guide Association will guide you in English on an original course that is part of Mt. Bandai Geopark and where you can see traces of an eruption. Rainwear, snow boots, and gloves are included, so you can participate empty-handed! Tours are also offered twice a day to make it easier to fit into your travel schedule. Each session is limited to five people, so it feels very private. Traditional folk tools from the snowy country have been used continuously by the Japanese people since ancient times. “Mino,” is now extremely valuable as there are fewer craftsmen making it in Japan. If you cosplay as “Kanjiki,” “Kasa,” or “Mino,” you’ll feel like you’re in a snowy country! You can also enjoy Aizu's traditional crafts and food.

$97.53

1 h

Sukagawa Tatami Coaster Making Workshop and Factory Tour

The only hands-on, multi-purpose facility in Japan dedicated to tatami! Here, you can experience a rare opportunity to visit a tatami manufacturing workshop where you can closely observe the skills of artisans, as well as try your hand at making tatami yourself. It’s a special chance to immerse yourself in Japan's traditional culture and fully enjoy the charm of craftsmanship. Don’t miss out on this unique experience in the world of tatami that you wouldn’t normally come across, and create unforgettable memories. Book now and experience Japan's tradition firsthand!

$30.56

2 h

Tsuchiyu Onsen Menuma - SUP/Kayak Experience

First, we will give you a brief lecture on SUP or Kayak (i.e. names of equipments used and how to handle them). Of course, a lecture will be given on how to ride SUP or Kayak. A local guide will take you on a trip around Menuma. There will be spots where fishes live, as well as surreal spots surrounded by trees. For those who are interested in hisotry, stories of Menuma will be told as well! Throughout the trip, photos will be taken by the guide. After the cruise is over, you will have free time to do whatever you like! Whether you rest, race against other participants, or engage in SUP sumo is totally up to you. Immerse yourself in the SUP experience as much as you like.

$45.51

6 h

Aizu Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide

This is the ideal tour for travelers wanting to discover the highlights of Aizu efficiently in a private vehicle accompanied by a government-licensed and experienced multilingual guide! Step back into the age of the samurai in Aizuwakamatsu, a proud castle town nestled in the mountains of Fukushima. Stand before Tsuruga Castle, famous for its distinctive red-tiled keep and its heroic month-long siege during the Boshin War of 1868. Climb Iimoriyama, where the young warriors of the Byakkotai met their tragic end, and marvel at the ingenious double-helix spiral of Sazaedo temple. Wander the historic samurai residences, stroll the medicinal garden of Oyakuen, and soak up the atmosphere of thatched-roof post towns and dramatic mountain scenery. Aizu has so much history and natural beauty to offer, and we hope to guide you soon! Tour details may change due to traffic conditions. Specific vehicle types are not available for request.

$362.03

10 h

Nomaoi Festival Experience the Horse Chasing Spectacle

The Nomaoi Festival, a remarkable event with over a thousand years of history, invites you to witness the thrilling Katchu-keiba (armored horse racing). Marvel at around 400 samurai in traditional armor as they gallop across scenic fields, banners dancing in the wind. This guided tour offers insights into the festival's rich cultural heritage, making it perfect for history buffs and cultural enthusiasts alike. Enjoy convenient transport from Sendai Station, ensuring a hassle-free experience as you immerse yourself in ancient Japan's vibrant traditions. - Duration: 10 hours including transportation from Sendai Station - English-speaking guides provide in-depth cultural insights - Experience the grandeur of samurai on horseback in Fukushima - Witness a festival steeped in over 1,000 years of history

$78.02

6 h

Fukushima Font Tour

The Great East Japan Earthquake and Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Disaster occurred on March 11, 2011. The FONT (Futaba, Okuma, Namie, Tomioka) area, which was at the center of the disaster, can be seen as testimony to how communities work towards rebuilding. This tour is a guided tour by residents who will show you not only things these areas were originally renowned for but also the process of the town's revitalization, including the challenges that need to be faced. We aim to introduce you to Fukushima's present reality while also drawing on its past and future, which can only be understood through local exposure and interaction.

$162.55

4 h 30 mins

4.5-Hour Fukushima Aizu-Hongo Guided Kiln Tour with Artisans

A private tour to explore the charm of "Aizu Hongo: The Village of Ceramics." By visiting traditional kilns and innovative local businesses, you will connect with the artisans and deeply immerse yourself in the rich "handicraft culture" (Teshigoto) of the Aizu region. 【HIGHLIGHTS】 Exclusive Studio Visits: Gain exclusive access to private kilns and step inside workshops rarely open to the public. Experience the ceramic-making process firsthand. Tohoku's Oldest Climbing Kiln: Gain special access to the historic "Noborigama" (climbing kiln), the oldest of its kind in Northeast Japan. The Spirit of Hongo-yaki: Connect with the local artisans and discover the passion and philosophy behind the unique traditions of Hongo-yaki passed down through generations. *Important Notices The tour may be unavoidably cancelled due to severe weather or other unforeseen circumstances. We appreciate your understanding.

$357.61

2 h 30 mins

2.5 Hour Fukushima Aizu Hongo Guided Kiln Tour with Artisans

【OUTLINE】 A private tour to explore the charm of "Aizu Hongo: The Village of Ceramics." By visiting traditional kilns and innovative local businesses, you will connect with the artisans and deeply immerse yourself in the rich "handicraft culture" (Teshigoto) of the Aizu region. 【HIGHLIGHTS】 Exclusive Studio Visits: Gain exclusive access to private kilns and step inside workshops rarely open to the public. Experience the ceramic-making process firsthand. Tohoku's Oldest Climbing Kiln: Gain special access to the historic "Noborigama" (climbing kiln), the oldest of its kind in Northeast Japan. The Spirit of Hongo-yaki: Connect with the local artisans and discover the passion and philosophy behind the unique traditions of Hongo-yaki passed down through generations. *Important Notices The tour may be unavoidably cancelled due to severe weather or other unforeseen circumstances. We appreciate your understanding.