Day Trip in Aizu-Wakamatsu City

  • 5 destinations
  • One Day

This one-day trip around Aizu-Wakamatsu City includes everything your bucket list has: castles, sake breweries, temples, and onsen. Start with an Akabeko painting experience (1100 yen) at Tsurugajo Kaikan, before looking around the castle itself and enjoying a Japanese tea experience at the Rinkaku Tea Room.

Start

Aizu-Wakamatsu Station

From Aizu-Wakamatsu Sta. to Tsurugajo Kaikan is a 20 min bus ride.

View directions

Tsurugajo Kaikan

  • Aizu Area
  • 35

Tsurugajo Castle takes 10 min on foot to reach from Tsurugajo Kaikan.

View directions

Tsurugajo Castle

  • Aizu Area
  • 70

Tsurugajo Castle, also known as Aizu-Wakamatsu Castle, is arguably Tohoku’s most impressive castle. It's remembered for its role in Japan’s civil war, when it was one of the last remaining samurai strongholds. The castle was fully rebuilt in the 1960s and houses an interesting history museum within the keep. The grounds of Tsurugajo Castle are an excellent place to catch Tohoku’s cherry blossoms in mid-April, and the view from atop the outer walls is particularly impressive.

Rinkaku Tea Room is a 3 min walk from Tsurugajo Castle.

View directions

Relaxing Tea Ceremony at Tsurugajo Castle

  • Aizu Area
  • 20

When visiting Tsurugajo Castle, remember to check out the Rinkaku Tea Rooms, which are situated inside the castle grounds. These beautiful Japanese gardens are well worth a visit. What's more, you can enjoy traditional Japanese matcha tea together with a seasonal treat, all while looking out at the fantastic foliage of the garden.

From Tsurugajo Castle to Suehiro Sake Brewery Kaeigura, it takes 15 min by bus (or 22 min on foot).

View directions

Suehiro Sake Brewery Kaeigura

  • Aizu Area
  • 60

Try between six to ten different kinds of sake at this authentic brewery. There's even a small cafe next to the entrance where you can take a break.

From Suehiro Sake Brewery to Sazaedo Temple, it takes 40 min by bus.

View directions

Sazaedo Temple

  • Aizu Area
  • 30

This unique turban-shell-shaped temple is a nationally-designated Important Cultural Property and has a unique charm to it that you can't find at other temples. Explore the temple and its surrounding area.

Take a 20 min bus ride to the Higashiyama Onsen Town area, and stay at one of the ryokan there, such as Harataki.

View directions
Finish

Stay: Higashiyama Onsen Town

Tour Inquiry

Other Trips

Oku-Aizu Area Day Trip
Oku-Aizu Area Day Trip
Oku-Aizu Area Day Trip
Culture

Oku-Aizu Area Day Trip

This one-day trip in Oku-Aizu departs from Aizu-Wakamatsu Station, and features a visit to the No.1 Tadami River Bridge View Point and Enzoji Temple, so you can enjoy a full day out in Oku-Aizu!　   Please note, the times below are correct as of the December 2022 Tadami Line timetable. See here for more information about visiting the No. 1 Tadami River Bridge View Point.

A Summertime Traditional Experience
A Summertime Traditional Experience
Culture

A Summertime Traditional Experience

There’s no better way to celebrate summertime in Japan than with an impressive display of fireworks and masterful pyrotechnics along the riverside with a cold drink. Begin your Japanese summer adventure at Fukushima Station and travel by bus to the site of the Fukushima Fireworks Festival. Be prepared to be wowed as the night sky comes alive with a spectacle of lights and color. Let the sound of the fireworks, like rolling thunder, wash over your senses as you ooh and ah at the magnificent displays. The next day, make your way to the Soma Nomaoi to see the masterful horsemanship before your very eyes. The Soma Nomaoi has been performed abroad and was originated hundreds of years ago from military training carried out on horseback. Feel history and culture come to life and ignore the heat of summer with these fascinating and awe-inspiring experiences. Finish up your trip at Fukushima Station where you can do a spot of shopping before heading home. Please note, while Fukushima Fireworks Festival and Soma Nomaoi are generally held on the same weekend in July, please make sure to check the dates before planning your trip. Also, please be aware that the Fukushima Fireworks Festival may be cancelled in the event of rain.

Onsen and Relaxation Tour
Onsen and Relaxation Tour
Onsen and Relaxation Tour
Culture

Onsen and Relaxation Tour

Take a 2-day tour of relaxation, history, and culture on this trip you can enjoy by train or taxi. You’ll journey around Fukushima Prefecture to see some stunning sights and relax in some of the best springs. Begin your first day at Fukushima Station where you will travel to Iizaka Onsen by a quick bus ride. Iizaka Onsen has been a famous hot spring town of Japan for more than 1,000 years. Soak up the rejuvenating waters and history that has inspired countless artists and poets of the past before moving to Nakano Fudoson Temple. Founded some 800 years ago, this famous temple has three minor deities worshipped on the grounds. Find your own inner peace as you take in the cleansing atmosphere and breathe in the culture and history. From Nakano Fudoson Temple, visit Kyu Horikiri-tei, a former residence of the Horikiri family from the Edo Period. Enjoy soaking your feet in the foot bath and taking this calming scenery. You’ll enjoy your time by both relaxing and exploring the past.

Fukushima’s Revitalization Educational One-Day Trip
Fukushima’s Revitalization Educational One-Day Trip
Fukushima’s Revitalization Educational One-Day Trip
Culture

Fukushima’s Revitalization Educational One-Day Trip

This is a model itinerary for visitors who would like to learn about Fukushima’s revitalization. The coastal area of Fukushima is the only place in the world to have survived a triple disaster: an earthquake, a tsunami and a nuclear disaster. Following extensive decontamination efforts and a great deal of demolition and reconstruction, several areas that were once designated as ‘difficult to return’ have started welcoming both residents and visitors again, with many residents eager to share their stories with the world. This itinerary centers on the towns of Futaba and Namie, both of which were severely affected by the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear accident in 2011.  The first stop is Futaba station and the surrounding Futaba Art District, a mural art initiative that pays homage to the residents and folk art of the town. From there, you’ll visit the Great East Japan Earthquake and Nuclear Disaster Memorial Museum, which has a detailed account of the area before, during, and after the disaster. At the museum, you’ll learn about the stories and testimonies of locals, as well as the plans and ideas for the future of Fukushima. The last stop is the remains of the Ukedo Elementary School in Namie town. Although the school building, located only 300 meters from the sea, sustained great damage from the tsunami, students, teachers and staff were able to evacuate from the school safely, for which it is known as a ‘miracle’ school.  This is a one-day itinerary, but we recommend staying somewhere in the coastal area of Fukushima after your visit.

Show All(30)
Top