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| Caption: Kitashiobara Village, a mecca for photographers visiting Urabandai "Kokuzawa Numa" |
Nestled in the mountains of western Fukushima, the Aizu region (also known as Aizu-Wakamatsu) is a place where Japan’s past feels remarkably alive. Samurai loyalty, lacquerware craftsmanship, volcanic landscapes, and nostalgic villages combine to create a travel experience that is both culturally rich and visually unforgettable.
In 2026, Aizu continues to expand its tourism offerings while preserving the traditions that make it unique for both local and international travelers.
Explore Tsurugajo Castle, The Red‑Tiled Icon of Aizu
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| Red tile Aizuwakamatsu Tsuruga Castle |
Tsuruga Castle remains the region’s most defining landmark, famous for its striking red roof tiles and deep samurai history.
Why visit in 2026:
* Newly refreshed exhibitions on Aizu’s role in the Boshin War
* Panoramic views from the observation deck
* Seasonal gardens—cherry blossoms in spring, fiery maples in autumn
Don’t miss:
A tasting of local Aizu tea at the castle teahouse, a serene counterpoint to the dramatic history.
Wander Through Ouchi-juku - A Living Edo-Period Village
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| Edo cityscape, snowy scenery of Ouchi-juku |
Ouchi-juku is one of Japan’s best-preserved post towns, with thatched-roof houses lining an unpaved street that feels like a film set.
Highlights:
* Traditional negi soba (eaten with a leek instead of chopsticks!)
* Handcrafted souvenirs from local artisans
* A short hike to the viewpoint overlooking the entire village
This is a photographer’s dream, especially in winter when snow blankets the rooftops.
Experience Samurai Culture Firsthand
Encircled by mountain ranges, Aizu-Wakamatsu is known as the land of the samurai. It was one of the last strongholds of the Edo period (1603-1868) and clashed with the Meiji government forces during the brutal Boshin War (1868-1869).
Aizu is known for its unwavering samurai loyalty, and 2026 brings renewed interest in immersive cultural experiences.
Top experiences:
* Samurai Spirit Tour: A guided journey through historic sites, including Tsuruga Castle and samurai residences
* Aizu Bukeyashiki: A reconstructed samurai mansion offering insight into warrior life.
* Byakkotai Memorial: A poignant site honoring the teenage samurai who shaped Aizu’s legacy.
These experiences offer a deeper understanding of the region’s proud identity.
Discover the Nature of Mount Bandai & Urabandai
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| Lake Inawashiro, called Lake Tenkyo, Lake Inawashiro, and Mt. Bandai in early winter |
Mount Bandai, the region’s volcanic giant, offers year‑round outdoor adventures.
In 2026, travellers can enjoy:
* Scenic hikes with views of crater lakes
* Kayaking on the Goshikinuma (Five-Colored Lakes)
* Winter skiing and snowshoeing in Urabandai
The lakes’ surreal blue and emerald hues are a highlight of any Aizu itinerary.
Taste Award-Winning Aizu Sake
Aizu is one of Japan’s top sake-producing regions, thanks to its pure mountain water and cold climate.
Recommended activities:
* Brewery tours in Aizu-Wakamatsu
* Sake tasting flights featuring junmai and ginjo varieties
* Pairing sessions with local dishes like miso dengaku (grilled tofu or herring with miso)
Sake lovers will find this region unforgettable.
Shop for Aizu Lacquerware & Traditional Crafts
Aizu is renowned for its lacquerware, a craft perfected over centuries.
What to look for:
* Hand-painted bowls and trays
* Modern lacquer accessories
* Workshops where visitors can try their hand at decorating pieces
These make meaningful, long-lasting souvenirs.
Stroll Nanukamachi Street: Retro Taisho-Era Charm
This atmospheric street blends early 20th‑century architecture with modern cafés and boutiques.
Perfect for coffee breaks, vintage shopping, and slow scenic walks.
It’s a lovely way to experience Aizu’s softer, everyday side.
Attend the Aizu Festival
One of Fukushima’s most celebrated events, the Aizu Festival brings samurai history to life with parades, performances, and cultural showcases.
Expect:
* Hundreds of participants in full samurai armor
* Traditional music and dance
* Food stalls featuring regional specialties
If you’re visiting in September, this is unmissable.
Enjoy Fukushima’s Regional Cuisine
Beyond sake and miso dengaku, Aizu offers hearty mountain dishes that reflect its climate and culture.
Must-try foods:
* Kozuyu (a celebratory vegetable soup)
* Aizu ramen
* Local mountain vegetables (sansai)
Food here is simple, comforting, and deeply tied to the land.
Build a Multi-Day Aizu Itinerary
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| Inawashiro Town Kannonji River cherry blossoms |
Fukushima’s official travel site recommends themed itineraries from samurai heritage to nature escapes to help visitors make the most of their trip.
Suggested 3-day plan:
* Day 1: Tsurugajo Castle → Nanukamachi-dori → Sake tasting
* Day 2: Ouchi-juku → To-no-Hetsuri rock formations
* Day 3: Goshikinuma lakes → Mount Bandai activities
Aizu is compact enough for easy travel yet rich enough for deep exploration.
Book a private tour
If you want to visit the Aizu Region but you are not sure where to begin, we recommend you to book for an exclusive experiential private tour.
Threads of Travel, a completely private tour service specializing in guided tours mainly around the Aizu Region from Urabandai in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan.
This service helps to solves the problems of local tourism, which tend to be limited by travel restrictions and time, and offers a new form of travel that is close to the desire to "enjoy efficient travel", "want to take a closer look at the scenery you are interested in without worrying about time", and "want to increase satisfaction by taking more breaks".
In rural tourism, the number of public transportation options and the inconvenience of transfers are common issues throughout the country.
The Aizu area of Fukushima Prefecture is no exception, and it is currently difficult to efficiently visit the tourist spots scattered throughout the vast area using only trains and buses.
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| Aizu Misato Town Eiryuji Standing Wood Kannondo |
Benefits of hiring a private tour like Threads of Travel
* There is no problem if you don't have a fixed destination.
Threads of Travel designs the itinerary from scratch based on the traveler’s interests and thoughts, including time.
* Elimination of mobility inconvenience.
Transportation is completely private by chartered car, so there is no need to worry about other people, driving on snowy roads, changing public transportation, etc. They will pick you up and drop you off at the station, hotel, or other place of your choice.
They also offer travel insurance (the price includes the premium), so you can enjoy it with peace of mind.
* You can enjoy a sip (or two) of alcoholic drinks whenever without worry.
Since you will travel by chartered car, all your companions can enjoy tasting to their heart's content, especially during the brewery tour.
There is no minute-by-minute schedule like group travel.
Stop at a place you like according to your mood and physical condition that day.
Accompanied by a dedicated guide, it is the ultimate free travel experience that is only possible because it is limited to one group per day.
Experiential activities you can enjoy during the private tour (reservation required)
1. Kitakata City Aizu Type Experience
This is an experience of Aizu's unique kimono pattern "Aizu type" that was held in Kitakata City until the beginning of the Showa era.
Choose your favorite pattern, remove it with a special cutter, and dye it with indigo on Japanese paper or fans.
Fee: JPY 3,500 (tax included). Instructor's fee included
2. Kitakata City rice cracker grilling experience
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| Yamanaka Senbei Honpo |
Kitakata rice crackers with a crispy and light texture. It is also popular as a souvenir, but the experience of making rice crackers by yourself is valuable. You can quickly turn it over at the right time and re-insert ingredients in the middle. You can eat it freshly because it is handmade.
Experience fee: Junior high school students and above - JPY 800 (tax included)
3. Koriyama City Wine Grape Picking Experience
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| Vineyards at Shikiya Farm |
This is a wine grape picking experience made by a farmer in Koriyama City.
Wine grapes, Chardonnay, Cabernet, Merlot, etc., vinified at Aise Winery are picked according to the harvest season. Experience the impressive turning the grapes you pick with your own hands into wine.
From mid-September to mid-October, the experience will be from early morning to noon.
Experiential Fee: Free
4. Aizu Misato Town Painting hand-binning experience
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| Aizu Misato Town Drunken Moon Kiln |
After kneading the clay and forming it into the shape you desire, and color it with special paints. This is the only place in Japan where you can do two courses in one experience.
It is a completely original pottery experience.
Experience fee: JPY1,500 yen (tax included), about *500g of clay takes about 2 hours
5. Aizu Misato Town Pottery Plaque Experience
Write your favorite picture with paint on a plate of your favorite size. It is also a fun experience to search for illustrations on the Internet and arrange them in your own way. The frame is made of Aizu paulownia that was specially made.
Experience fee: JPY 5,000 yen (tax included). It takes about 2 months to arrive at your doorstep.
6. Inawashiro Town Soba Making Experience
How about experiencing soba making while being taught by a soba master?
The process of kneading, beating, cutting, and boiling it yourself is difficult and fun.
Experience fee: JPY 2,000 yen
7. Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture Rice Weaving Experience
It has a history that began with Uesugi Takayama's industrial promotion measures, and many workshops produce everything from dyeing to weaving, also called "Okitamatsumugi". Choose the thread yourself and use both your hands and feet to move the loom.
Experience fee: Silk coaster JPY1,320 yen
8. Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture, Safflower dyeing experience
Experience safflower dyeing, which was popularized from the same industrial promotion measures as Yonezawa weaving.
A cotton or silk handkerchief is squeezed with thread to attach a pattern and then added to safflower dye for coloring.
Experience fee: JPY1,320 yen
9. Maki-e experience
Choose your favorite items, such as wind chimes, hand mirrors, and accessory cases, and draw with lacquer. Before the lacquer dries, it is colored by sprinkling gold or silver powder.
Experience fee: JPY1,320 yen. Duration about 1 hour.
10. Sake brewery tour experience
Fukushima is a place for alcohol. Each region has its own unique sake breweries and distilleries. One of the best parts of your trip is to talk to the craftsmen and staff of each brewery and taste the unique sake.
The tour fee varies depending on each brewery.
Aizu Painted Candle Festival
Aizu painted candles are a representative craft of the Aizu region in Fukushima, has been passed down since about 500 years ago.. In Aizuwakamatsu City, the Aizu Painted Candle Festival is held every winter and will be held again this February 2026.
The Aizu Painted Candle Festival is an event where approximately 10,000 candles, including the traditional Aizu candles, are lit.
The main venue is Tsuruga Castle, and lights are illuminated throughout various locations in Aizu City. This includes the Oyaku-en Garden of the Aizu Matsudaira Clan and Aizu-Wakamatsu Station.
This festival has been held since 2000 to raise awareness of Aizu painted candles, each showcasing the craftsmanship of skilled artisans.
Event dates: February 13 to 14, 2026 | 5:30PM to 8:30PM
Location: Tsuruga Castle: 1-1 Otemachi, Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan
For more information about this event, check their official website.
Why Aizu should be on your 2026 Japan travel list
Aizu offers something rare: a destination where history, nature, and culture coexist in perfect balance. Whether you’re a lover of samurai lore, a seeker of scenic landscapes, or a traveller craving authentic Japan, Aizu delivers an experience that feels both timeless and refreshingly new.
How to get to Aizu-Wakamatsu
Reach Aizu-Wakamatsu via shinkansen from Tokyo in just under three hours, or from Fukushima via Koriyama in one and a half hours.
If using this route, you will need to change trains at Koriyama before continuing on to Aizu-Wakamatsu Station.
For travel within the city, you can purchase a 600 yen one-day pass for the Haikara-san and Akabe sightseeing buses, which depart from Aizuwakamatsu Station. Buses take a loop around the major tourist sites.
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