Fukushima
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Oyaku Garden: Miraculous Healing Water and Medicinal Plants
Located in Aizu-Wakamatsu (Fukushima Prefecture) in walking distance from Tsuruga Castle (Eastern Japan’s Largest Castle), Oyaku Garden, which translates as “medicinal garden” is an old garden and former feudal lord residence that has been operating since the 1380s. Mythical origins and confirmed History The exact origin of this garden is not fully known, but it…
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Sauce Katsu from Aizu-Wakamatsu: A Review
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Tsuruga Castle: Eastern Japan’s Largest Castle
Located in the Aizu region of Fukushima Prefecture, Tsuruga Castle was historically eastern Japan’s largest castle, a display of wealth and power by the ruling daimyo family. History of Tsuruga Castle A castle has stood on this site since 1384, when the then-ruling Ashina clan built a palace at the crossroads on a main highway…
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Ouchijuku: Former Post Town in Fukushima Prefecture
In Fukushima Prefecture’s Aizu region lies Ouchijuku, a former post town where lodgers travelling to the nearby power base of Aizu-Wakamatsu and further north would stop. Nestled in the mountains, this village has held on to its way of life, nowadays welcoming people from far and wide to experience this Edo-period way of life. History…
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Fukushima Skyline: Beautiful drive through the mountains
If you are in Fukushima and can rent a car, I recommend visiting the Fukushima Skyline, also known as the Bandai-Azuma Skyline. This drive goes up and down the mountains just to the city’s east. Getting there If you rent a car in central Fukushima (e.g., near the station—I used Orix at the western station entrance), you…
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Hotel Sankyo Fukushima: A Review (Fukushima, Japan)
About Hotel Sankyo Fukushima Hotel Sankyo Fukushima has an upscale style in central Fukushima City. It is part of the SK Hotel Group, and its perks include its central location, great price-to-value ratio, and excellent customer service. A big part of the pull of Hotel Sankyo Fukushima is its breakfast buffet, which is usually included…
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Enban Gyoza: Fukushima’s special dumplings
If you are in Fukushima City (i.e., the capital of Fukushima Prefecture), you must try a few things. It is famous for sauce katsu, for example, and when peach season comes around, you can get everything in peach flavour (even pizza)! However, the thing most Japanese people will say when you mention food and Fukushima…
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Mt Shinobu: Looking over Fukushima
In the centre of Fukushima city stands Mt Shinobu, which overlooks the city and is splayed around its base. Mt Shinobu only has a height of 275 meters (902 ft); it is actually a monadnock – an isolated rock hill, knob, ridge, or small mountain that rises abruptly from a gently sloping or virtually level…
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Hotel Osakaya: A Review (Aizu-Wakamatsu, Japan)
About Hotel Osakaya Hotel Osakaya is an older, independent business hotel in downtown Aizu-Wakamatsu in the historic and shopping areas. Hotel Osakaya is a three-star hotel with a lobby and reception on the ground floor and a restaurant on the second floor. The upper three floors are comprised of single, double and triple rooms. Hotel…
