Aizu Wakamatsu (Samurai City)
| The Good | The Not-So Good |
| Historic castle town | Significant side trip |
| Many sights and activities |
Aizu-Wakamatsu, located in the Fukushima prefecture of Japan, is a city that is rich in history and culture. It has a long and storied association with the samurai, a military nobility class in feudal Japan. During the Edo period, which lasted from 1603 to 1868, Aizu-Wakamatsu was a castle town, and the Aizu region was home to many powerful samurai families and their retainers. The city was an important center of samurai culture during this time.
Today, Aizu-Wakamatsu is a popular destination for history and culture enthusiasts, offering a wealth of historical sites and monuments that commemorate its past. The Tsuruga Castle, for example, served as the stronghold of the Aizu clan and is now a national treasure. Visitors can also experience traditional Japanese culture through the many tea houses and gardens, such as the Ouchijuku village, a well preserved Edo period post town.
Another popular attraction close to Aizu-Wakamatsu is the Kitakata Ramen Village, a collection of over 100 ramen shops all within a one-kilometer radius. Kitakata is well-known for its unique and delicious Kitakata-style ramen, with its thick, curly noodles and hearty broth.
Due to its association with the samurai and its rich cultural heritage, Aizu-Wakamatsu is often referred to as the “Samurai City”. Its blend of historic, cultural and culinary experiences make it a must-visit destination for any traveler interested in the rich cultural heritage of Japan.
Sights in and around Aizu-Wakamatsu (Samurai City)
There is a nice map of local sights within walking distance in the center of town however it is a 30 minute walk from the Aizu-Wakamatsu station to the castle, so using a locker at the station for excess bags and coats might be a good idea. There are local buses also.
About a 10 minute taxi ride away (it will cost about ¥2500 one way) is the district of Higashiyama Onsen, which has a number of Hot Spring traditional inns and hotels. It is worth staying in Aizu-Wakamatsu for at least one night to allow time to visit Ouchijuku, Tsuruga Castle and at try at least one bowl of Kitakata Ramen. You can also travel down the Aizu Railroad and stay at Ashinomaki Onsen (25 minute taxi ride from Aizu-Wakamatsu or a 10 minute ride from Ashinomaki Onsen station – walking from the station will take 1 hour so it not recommended) or the more popular and convenient Yunokami Onsen, which has a direct bus service to Ouchijuku Village.
There is also a fairly good customizable itinerary generator on the official Tohoku Tourist website. Here is the link to the sample itinerary that includes Aizu-Wakamatsu. You can customize it however the interface is a bit slow and you cannot search by name. This means clicking on the various categories and locations until the attraction you want is displayed. There is a full list of sights here. You can browse the sights and save them into your “Plan Favourites”. These bookmarks will then show up when creating a custom itinerary.
Here is an article on how to use the Tohoku Tourist website itinerary creator.
Ouchijuku
Oyakuen Medicinal Gardens
The Aizu Bukeyashiki – Samurai Residence
Tsuruga-jo Castle
Higashiyama Onsen
Iimoriyama
Suehiro Sake Brewery
Fukushima Museum
Enzoji Temple
Access to Aizu-Wakamatsu (Samurai City)
There are 4 train lines going into Aizu-Wakamatsu. However, three of them are mountain pass routes that will often suffer delays or cancellations due to heavy rain or snow. You can see an overview here.
For most tourists, the best route is via the Shinkansen along the east side of Japan (where there is less chance of heavy snow). From Tokyo you can take the Yamagata Shinkansen or Tohoku-Hokkaido Shinkansen to Koriyama Station and then take either a bus or train to Aizu-Wakamatsu Station using the Ban-Etsu Line. The journey time is about the same however the bus is run by Aizu Bus Company so the JR pass is not valid. The Akita Shinkansen does not stop at Koriyama station.
There is also a special train from Niitsu (near Niigata city) called the SL Banetsu Monogatari. However due to heavy rain in August 2022 it has been suspended. https://www.jreast.co.jp/e/joyful/c57.html
https://www.asakusastation.com/limited-express-revaty-services-for-nikko-aizu-and-tatebayashi/
There is a special service that goes from Asakusa Station on the Tobu Train company line to Aizu-Tajima, which is a short train journey to Aizu-Wakamatsu. The trip takes over 4h30m and will cost about ¥7,000. For JR pass holders going via the Shinkansen makes far more sense.
