Samurai History in Aizuwakamatsu in Fukushima Prefecture

If you like samurai culture/history and castles and are planning a trip up north to [Fukushima prefecture](https://www.japan-guide.com/list/e1208.html) to spend some time in [Aizuwakamatsu ](http://samurai-city.jp/en/).

Note: We are currently based in Japan. Tourist entry is still not permitted, but hopefully this info is helpful for future planning or others currently based in Japan.

About Aizuwakamatsu
– [http://samurai-city.jp/en/](http://samurai-city.jp/en/)
– [https://travel.gaijinpot.com/aizuwakamatsu/](https://travel.gaijinpot.com/aizuwakamatsu/)
– [https://matcha-jp.com/en/9303](https://matcha-jp.com/en/9303)

We took a weekend trip here over Valentine’s weekend which coincides with the mid-February [Painted Candle Illumination ](https://www.tohokukanko.jp/en/attractions/detail_10016.html)at the castle there. But the castle is also illuminated at night in April during cherry blossom season and in fall during the changing of the fall leaves. Definitely pay to go into the castle as not only do they have lots of English descriptions for the displays on the Samurai history of the area; you also get a special view of the candle illumination from the top of the castle if you are visiting in mid-February.

Another place we loved was [Sazaedo Temple ](https://goo.gl/maps/dBGaX4qTYHGSswJT8) and the [Mt. Imori area. ](https://goo.gl/maps/oNzU9oSVTzztPEB29) There are a number of monuments to Aizu’s samurai clans and you get amazing views of the city below and surrounding mountains.

Getting There From Tokyo Area: You can easily get there via train from Tokyo. The trip costs 9,640 JPY one way and takes about 3 hours. It is covered by the full JR Rail Pass or the [JR East Tohoku Pass.](https://www.jreast.co.jp/multi/en/pass/eastpass_t.html) For those based in Japan, [starting on April 1, 2021 ](https://www.jreast.co.jp/e/pdf/20201217_press_pass_e.pdf)you can also purchase the JR East Tohoku Pass as it will become open to all foreign passport holders in Japan including foreign residents, those with SOFA status, and (when tourism reopens) tourists. The updated JR East Tohoku Area pass will be valid for up to 5 consecutive days for 20,000 JPY, so it already pays off for the round-trip, but is an even better deal if you extend your stay and visit other places in the [Tohoku region.](https://www.japan-guide.com/list/e1102.html)

Tokyo Station -> Koriyama Station on the JR Tohoku Shinkansen

Koriyama Station -> Aizuwakamatsu via the JR Banetsu-sai Line

Lodging: We stayed in nearby [Higashiyama Onsen](https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e7708.html) at [Shousuke no Yado Taki no Yu ryokan](https://goo.gl/maps/qVJWUL6m6NDqMfkN8). Not only was it right next to a river, you could see this waterfall while relaxing in the onsen (hot tub) on the first floor. They also had a few private onsen you can reserve for an additional charge. We paid about $40 to use the rooftop private onsen so we could see the stars at midnight. If you use the private onsen or spring for the more expensive rooms that have in room private onsens this makes it a tattoo-friendly space.

Our stay here felt so luxurious but for the room, included dinner, and included breakfast for a Sunday night stay it was very reasonable and significantly cheaper than if we’d stayed on a Friday or Saturday night. The room was super spacious and modern with a large bed and super comfy mattress. It was the best of a traditional onsen experience with all the modern touches. The dinner menu featured local chicken and other specialties including fresh mountain vegetables. At 9:00 pm there was a free projection mapping/music show from the lobby overlooking the theater across the river. There is a bus stop right outside this hotel for the Aizu sightseeing bus that you can take from the train station. Makes it super easy to get here. Parking is also available if you drive.

Getting Around Aizuwakamatsu: There is a city loop sightseeing bus called the [Classic Town bus (scroll to bottom of this page)](http://samurai-city.jp/access/en/)from Aizuwakamatsu station area. You can get to all the main sightseeing spots in town using this bus and either pay for each ride or purchase an all day pass. Right now, you purchase the all day bus pass [at the bus terminal across from the station ](https://goo.gl/maps/pm7jSDWcqMWWXDRh8)but when tourist numbers are higher there’s an outdoor counter right in front of the station bus stop where you can purchase the day pass.

Other nearby areas/things to do:

– [Tadami Line Sightseeing Train](https://japan-magazine.jnto.go.jp/en/1510_okuaizu.html)

– [Ouchujuki Village ](https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e7710.html)

– [Urabandai Area](https://www.urabandai-inf.com/en/) (easiest to explore by car but accessible by bus too)
– [JapanGuide: Mt. Bandai](https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e7750.html)
– [Bandai Lakeside Guesthouse ](https://goo.gl/maps/y7kRMTnoTSBia6Ns6)

Edit: See also my recent [Trip Report on Nearby Urabandai Lakes District](https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/comments/mfffje/summer_weekend_in_urabandai_lake_district_in/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf) You could easily combine a trip to Aizuwakamatsu with a trip to Urabandai.