Classic 2-Day Yamagata/Fukushima Tour in Tohoku, Japan | Yamagata: Yonezawa, Urabandai Goshikinuma, Hinohara Lake, Ouchi-juku, Tadami Line, Aizu (Stay in a Hot Spring Area/Depart from Sendai)

Depart from Sendai and stay in a hot spring area on this 2-day in-depth tour of Tohoku, Japan. Visit Yamagata Yonezawa, Urabandai Goshiki-numa, Hinohara Lake, Ouchi-juku, the Tadami Line, and Aizu. This unforgettable journey takes you to hidden gems beloved by locals. Stay overnight at a hot spring hotel in the Urabandai resort area and discover hidden gems beloved by locals.

- Tour Dates | Classic 2-Day Tohoku Tour | Yamagata Yonezawa, Urabandai Goshiki-numa, Hinohara Lake, Ouchi-juku, the Tadami Line, and Aizu | (Stay in a hot spring area/Depart from Sendai/Chinese Service)-

Limited-time tours available from June to October 2024, 2 tours per month

June 2 (Sunday), June 16 (Sunday)

July 7 (Sunday), July 21 (Sunday)

August 18 (Sunday), August 28 (Wednesday)

September 8 (Sunday), September 26 (Friday)

October 6 (Sunday)

- Attractions | Classic 2-Day Tohoku Tour | Yamagata Yonezawa, Urabandai Goshikinuma, Hinohara Lake, Ouchi-juku, Tadami Line, Aizu | (Accommodation in the hot spring area/Depart from Sendai/Chinese service) -
▲Uesugi Shrine
Uesugi Shrine, located in Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan, commemorates the renowned Warring States-era general Kenshin Uesugi and is one of Yonezawa's most prominent scenic spots. Uesugi Shrine is located within Matsugasaki Park (formerly Yonezawa Castle Ruins). The original main hall burned down during the Taisho era. The current main hall was rebuilt in 1923 based on the designs of Dr. Chuta Ito, a Yonezawa native known for his designs for Meiji Jingu and Heian Jingu. In addition to the main hall, the park features the Uesugi Memorial Hall, statues of Kenshin Uesugi, and statues of Takayama Uesugi, offering visitors a chance to experience the rich history of the past.

▲Lake Hibara
Lake Hibara, located near the foot of Mount Bandai, is approximately 30 meters deep, has a shoreline length of 31 kilometers, and a total surface area of 10.7 square kilometers. It is the largest lake in the "Bandai Triangle," the other two smaller lakes being Lake Onogawa and Lake Akimoto. Feeding a small waterfall cascading down the mountainside, Lake Hibara offers breathtaking scenery in each season. Take a boat tour to take in the breathtaking scenery of the lake and mountains, a truly relaxing experience.

▲Five-Colored Swamps
Located at the northern foot of Mount Bandai, the Bandai Plateau is part of Bandai-Asahi National Park. The eruption of Mount Bandai created over 40 large and small swamps, rich in minerals. The water changes color depending on the weather and the presence of plankton. Five of the most famous swamps, each with its own unique color, are the reason the area is known as the Five-Colored Swamps. Each pond, refracted by light, reveals hues of emerald, sapphire, indigo, peacock, and ocean blue. This truly uncanny place is known as the "Mysterious Lake."

▲Ouchi-juku
Ouchi-juku, located in Shimogo-machi, Minamiaizu District, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, was once a bustling post station for daimyo troops traveling to Edo Castle (now Tokyo) for their official posts in Kyoto. Designated a National Important Traditional Buildings Conservation Area in 1981, Ouchi-juku retains its Edo-period cityscape and is considered one of Japan's most precious village memories. Visiting Ouchi-juku truly feels like stepping back in time to an ancient Japanese post station. It's as if you've traveled back 400 years to the Edo period. The main road that runs through Ouchi-juku was a crucial hub connecting Aizuwakamatsu in Fukushima Prefecture with Nikko in Tochigi Prefecture during the Edo period. Fifty thatched houses, most of which are over 300 years old, are neatly arranged at either end of the roughly 300-meter-long street. Villagers still maintain their ancestral homes, running souvenir shops, restaurants, and guesthouses, leading a peaceful and carefree life.

▲Aizuwakamatsu Castle (Tsuruga Castle)
Aizuwakamatsu Castle is a castle located in Ote-cho, Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. Also known as "Tsuruga Castle," it is also referred to as "Kurokawa Castle" and "Aizu Castle" in historical documents. In Japan, it is generally referred to as "Aizuwakamatsu Castle," while the nationally designated historic site is "Wakamatsu Castle." During the Boshin War (1868), the Aizu Domain held out against government forces in this castle for a month before being defeated. The castle was subsequently demolished by order of the then-Meiji government, and the castle walls that can be seen today were rebuilt and restored in 1965. The castle's roof is adorned with vibrant red tiles, a vibrant color typical of ancient Japanese castles. In 2011, the tiles were restored to their original red color, dating back to around the end of the Edo period (1603-1867). The white walls and red roof evoke cranes, hence the name Tsuruga Castle. Also within the castle grounds is the "Oyakuen Garden," the former garden villa of the Aizu Domain lord.

▲ Tadami Line - Japan's Most Mysterious Railway
The Tadami Line, operated by East Japan Railway Company, connects Aizuwakamatsu Station in Ekimae-machi, Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture, with Koide Station in Yokkamachi, Uonuma City, Niigata Prefecture. Known for its beautiful canyon scenery, Oku-Aizu, nestled amidst nature, can be admired from the train windows. The scenery along the line reveals a different expression each season, captivating visitors with a captivating experience. The Daiichi Tadami River Bridge, located between Aizu-Hinohara Station and Aizu-Nishi Station, is painted the same light purple as the paulownia blossoms of Mishima Town, a specialty of the Oku-Aizu area. Standing across the Tadami River, you can see the bridge itself, shrouded in a thin mist, reflected in the mirror-like water, creating a magical scene. This attraction attracts countless railroad enthusiasts and photographers from around the world, and the scenery is particularly spectacular during the autumn foliage and heavy snow seasons.

▲ Aizu Eirano-do

Experience the ancient charm of a cultural heritage. Aizu Eirano-do, located in Aizuwakamatsu City in western Fukushima Prefecture, is a hexagonal Buddhist temple built in 1796. Its official name is Endo Sanzado. Its unique double-structured spiral staircase is a must-see. Its unusual architectural style, with separate entrances and exits, has earned it a designation as an Important Cultural Property of Japan. Eirano-do is a distinctive Buddhist temple from the late Edo period in Japan, stretching from Tohoku to Kanto. Standing 16.5 meters tall, the wooden structure invites visitors to worship in the traditional Japanese temple style, then ascend from the left side of the entrance. Eirano-do, with no stairs, houses the Thirty-Three Kannon statues of the West. As you step on each wooden plank, you'll feel as if you're about to touch the ceiling. As you ascend to the top floor, you'll see the hexagonal top of the tower. The ingenuity of its design lies in the fact that, while the entrance and exit are separated by separate paths, they all share a single entrance and exit, a truly unique experience. Legend has it that the Thirty-Three Kannon statues of the West were once placed along the spiral staircase, allowing visitors to simultaneously worship all three. However, during the Meiji period, these statues were relocated to a different location.