Top Things to do

• Oze National Park

  Gunma prefecture, Tochigi prefecture, Fukushima prefecture, Niigata prefecture

  This is the largest high wetland in Honshu also known as the motif of a nationally beloved song, Natsu-no Omoide (“Summer Memories”). It is the 29th national park in Japan and includes Ozegahara. It is home to animals and plants unique to wetlands such as mizubasho (lysichiton americanum or asian skunk cabbage), iris setosa (arctic iris) and ermine as well as alpine plants such as day lilies and gentiana thunbergii. As the whole park area is formed by mountains such as Mt. Kasagatake, Mt. Shibutsu and Mt. Hiuchigatake, climbing equipment and clothes suitable to the season are indispensable. There are three campgrounds in the area and two visitor centers, and it is a base for walking and climbing.

• Sanjo Falls

  Fukushima Pref. Minamiaidugunhinoematamura Mount Mt.

  "This waterfall on the border of Niigata and Fukushima Prefectures has been selected as one of Japan's top 100 waterfalls. The falls are on the Tadami River that flows from the Ozegahara Marshland to Lake Okutadami, and a popular trekking route connects it with Hiraname-no-taki Falls. The area's so beautiful that it's been said ""A visit to Ozei isn't complete without seeing Sanjo Falls and Ayamedaira marshlands"" Registered with the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, Oze is one of Japan's premier high-altitude marshlands. Used as a base for mountain climbing, it's part of Oze National Park, which covers a vast area spanning four prefectures."

• Ouchi-Juku Pavilion

  Fukushima Pref. Minamiaidugunshimogoumachi Ouchi Yamamoto 8

  A facility located in the almost exact center of Ouchi-juku a 15 minute drive by car from Yunokami-Onsen Station which contains presents the lifestyle lived in the area during Japan’s era of post station towns. Ouchi-juku’s honjin, or troop headquarters, was one of the strongholds along the Shimotsuke Kaido highway built in the early Edo period, and was used by the lords of Aizu Domain when travelling to and from the capital of Edo. This honjin was remodeled into the Ouchi-Juku Pavilion. The hall provides information on areas as such as the lord’s exclusive entranceway, jodan-no-ma raised floor room, bath, and thatched roof, as well as exhibits presenting the tools and other items people once used here as part of everyday life. In addition, firewood is continually lighting in the building’s traditional sunken hearth year-round as part of measures necessary to keep the thatch roof in good working order.

• Ajidokoro Minatoya

  Fukushima Pref. Minamiaidugunshimogoumachi Ouchi Yamamoto 34

  This local cuisine restaurant is located in Ouchi-juku, roughly 15 minutes by car from Yunokami-Onsen Station. The building still has its straw thatched roof, for an olden times sensation you can feel in your skin. They are careful to use 100% specially grown soba for their juwari soba. “Ten zarusoba” with freshly made soba and homemade vegetable tempura is popular. Also, you can purchase “shingoro” —local dish of Minami Aizu—in front too. The half-polished rice is stuck on a skewer, coated with 10-year miso and then cooked on a charcoal grill—perfect food for walking and eating.

• Honke Kanoya

  Fukushima Pref. Minamiaidugunshimogoumachi Ouchi Yamamoto 48

  A shop which carries crepe products and folk crafts amidst the simple Japanese-style homes of Ouchi-juku. The colorful crepe decorating the shop front is a sight which draws the eyes of countless tourists. All of the shop’s accessories and knickknacks are handmade. Particularly popular is the shop’s animals, dried persimmons, and vegetable baskets, all made from crepe material. The shop owner is quite friendly, and one of the shop’s charms is the warm welcome visitors are greeted with, sometimes including tea and a sampling of pickles. The shop makes for some great photographs in winter when snow is on the ground. The store does close, however, during snowstorms, so take note of the weather before visiting.

• Ouchi-Juku Misawaya

  Fukushima Pref. Minamiaidugunshimogoumachi Ouchi Yamamoto 26-1

  Misawaya, where visitors can eat handmade takato soba (leek soba), is famous as the place where their grated daikon radish soba is eaten using leeks instead of chopsticks. Since Masayuki Hoshina (Matsudaira) became lord of Aizu Domain in 1643, grated daikon radish soba has been called takato soba. As well as takato soba, visitors can also have kozuyu (a local soup) and tempura manju, traditional dishes usually served on auspicious occasions and ceremonial gatherings in Aizu.

• Ouchi-juku

  Fukushima Pref. Minamiaidugunshimogoumachi Ouchi Yamamoto

  O-uchi-juku was designated an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings in 1981. It was founded around 1640 as the third post station from Aizu Castle town in the 130 kilometer road connecting Aizu Castle and Imaichi, Nikko City in Tochigi Prefecture. The townscape remains as is, taking visitors back in time to the Edo period. There are also night tours available from the end of April to late November.

• Yamagataya

  Fukushima Pref. Minamiaidugunshimogoumachi Ouchi Yamamoto 43

  A soba restaurant located in Shimogo Town, Minamiaizu County, Fukushima Prefecture. Here you can enjoy handmade soba noodles made with locally-grown buckwheat. The restaurant's decor is traditionally Japanese. The restaurant serves negi soba, a local specialty from the Ouchi-juku area, and seasonal dishes like mountain vegetable cuisine, char and other fish dishes, and horsemeat.

• Koyasu Kannon

  Fukushima Pref. Minamiaidugunshimogoumachi Ouchi

  A Buddhist temple in Shimogo Town, Minamiaizu County, Fukushima Prefecture. The temple's Kannon-do hall stands on hill with a sweeping view of the thatched roof homes of the Ouchi-juku post station district. The temple hall is normally closed but a festival is held once a year when the Buddhist image inside is displayed to the general public. The temple is dedicated to the protection of children and women and many worshippers come here to pray for children, safe childbirth, and healthy child growth.