Fukushima Prefecture

A large prefecture in southern Tohoku, with the Aizu-Wakamatsu castle town, the thatched-roof village of Ouchi-juku, and the lakes and marshes of Mt. Bandai.

Fukushima Prefecture is in the southern Tohoku region and consists of three main areas: Hamadori on the Pacific coast, Nakadori in the center, and inland Aizu. Aizu-Wakamatsu preserves Tsuruga Castle and samurai heritage, and Ouchi-juku is a well-preserved Edo-period post town with rows of thatched-roof houses; around Mt. Bandai you will find natural attractions such as the Goshikinuma ponds and Lake Inawashiro, and the prefecture has many hot springs. Autumn foliage and winter snow scenes are especially moving, and Hanamiyama Park is also famous in spring. The Tohoku Shinkansen stops at Koriyama and Fukushima, from where you can transfer to JR lines for the Aizu region.

Destinations

• Aizu-Wakamatsu & Ouchi-juku

Itineraries

• Aizu-Wakamatsu, Ouchijuku & Urabandai – Based in Aizu-Wakamatsu, take day trips to Ouchijuku, Kitakata, and the Goshikinuma Ponds in Urabandai.
• Tokyo, Nikko & Aizu Railway Journey – Head north from Asakusa to Nikko, travel via the Yagan Railway to Ouchijuku and Aizu, and return to Tokyo via Koriyama.
• Grand Tohoku Six-Prefecture Rail Loop – Depart from Tokyo and loop through all six prefectures of Tohoku, exploring both the Pacific and Sea of Japan coasts.