Surrounding area

Choshi no Kuchi [Nishiaizu Town]

It is one of the most famous scenic spots in the Aga River canyon in Nishiaizu Town. The unusually shaped rocks protrude from both banks and appear to be the constriction of Choshi, which is used to hold sake, hence the name “Choshi no Kuchi”. The dynamic flow that raises the white splash is a masterpiece. Not only the season of fresh green and snow, but also the season when the autumn leaves dye the valley red is the most recommended.

Fukuman Kokuzo Bosatsu Enzoji Temple [Yanaizu Town]

Fukuman Kokuzo Bosatsu Enzoji Temple was founded by Tokuichi Daishi, a Grand Master of Buddhist Teaching, in 807, and its principal image, Fukuman Kokuzo Bosatsu (the Bodhisattva of wisdom), is said to have been created by Kobo Daishi. Counted as one of the three major Kokuzo Bosatsu in Japan, the temple’s deity is known as the guardian for those born in the years of the Ox and the Tiger. From the nearby Zuikoji Park and Kiyohime Park, you can enjoy the view of Yanaizu Town, including Fukuman Kokuzo Bosatsu Enzoji Temple.

View of the Tadami River Bridge No. 1 [Mishima Town]

Among the iron bridges that the Tadami Line crosses, the most popular is the Tadami River Bridge No. 1, an arched iron bridge. In September 2021, this bridge and other railway facilities for the Tadami Line were recognised as civil engineering heritage sites (※) by the Japan Society of Civil Engineers. From the observation deck next to the roadside station Oze Kaido Mishima-juku, you can enjoy not only the train, but also different aspects of the original state of Oku-Aizu’s satoyama landscape depending on the season and time.

(※) Established in 2000 with the aim of preserving historical civil engineering structures, this certification system selects approximately 20 cases annually through recommendations and public solicitations.

©hiramaru_317

Mugenkyo Valley Ferry [Kaneyama Town]

The Mugenkyo Valley Ferry is a rowboat for crossing the Tadami River, which runs through the border between Kaneyama Town and Mishima Town. This boat once connected Mifuke community in Kaneyama Town with the opposite shore, but the service was discontinued for about 50 years due to the community’s relocation following a collapse of the mountain behind it. In 2010, however, the service was revived for tourism purposes. Enveloped in river mist in the summer mornings and evenings, the valley exudes a fleeting beauty like a dream or illusion, giving it its name, Mugenkyo (valley of mist and illusion).

©Okuaizu native photographer Kenkoh Hoshi

Lake Numazawa [Kaneyama Town]

Lake Numazawa, the symbol of Kaneyama Town, is a caldera lake of the Numazawa Volcano surrounded by forests of beech and mizunara. The cold, clear lake is the prefecture’s only habitat of kokanee. While being protected as a treasure of the town, the fish is also used as a local specialty. On the shores of the lake, there are parks and facilities where you can enjoy bird watching, camping, and swimming in the lake. During the seasons from spring to autumn, the area is bustling with people seeking the healing power of nature.

Takizawa River Potholes [Kaneyama Town]

Potholes are said to be formed when small stones get stuck in hollows in rocks and are then rotated by water currents, carving the hollows deeper. The Takizawa River Potholes are among the largest in the Tohoku region and are very rare in that you can see all the stages of the pothole formation in a single place. The corridor of the strangely shaped rocks carved out over a long period of time by the rapid current of the Takizawa River, a tributary of the Tadami River, is a precious example of natural beauty.

Mt. Asakusa (altitude: 1,585m)
[Tadami Town]

This majestic mountain sits on the border between Fukushima Prefecture and Niigata Prefecture. With a gentle slope spreading out in a fan shape from the summit to the northeast, the mountain has a series of steep slopes on the southeast side facing Lake Tagokura. From the Tadami ridge, you can enjoy the spectacular rocky stretch of Mt. Onigatsura. When the snow melts, the summit turns into a grassland where grass similar to asakusa (meaning morning glass, mowed in the morning as horse feed) grows, and this is said to be the origin of the name of the mountain.

Mt. Aizu Asahi (altitude: 1,624m)
[Tadami Town]

Located southeast of Lake Tagokura, this is an intermediate mountain representing Aizu. It is said that Mt. Aizu Asahi is called as such because it is the first mountain in the vicinity to shine in the morning sun. (Asahi means morning sun) Just below the gentle ridgeline are a series of steep rock walls eroded by the snow, creating a rugged impression. In addition to the magnificent beech forest on the middle slope, the rhododendron clusters and the contrast between fresh greenery and remaining snow pleases the eyes of climbers.

Lake Tagokura [Tadami Town]

This is an artificial lake created at the time of the construction of Tagokura Dam, whose hydroelectric power output is among the largest in Japan. In spring, the lakeside area is covered in bright red camellia flowers, and in autumn, the lake’s surface is coloured with autumn leaves. At the base of the dam, there is an observation deck from which you can enjoy a panoramic view of the nature unique to this region, including lush natural forests and avalanche chutes formed by heavy snowfall.

Yanohara Marsh [Showa Village]

You can enjoy different aspects of Yanohara Marsh depending on the season, such as skunk cabbage in spring, water lilies in summer, and vibrant fall foliage in autumn. It is said that the marsh is the second oldest in Japan, dating back approximately 80,000 years. As home to approximately 350 species of diverse plants, wild birds, insects, etc., the marsh has been designated by Fukushima Prefecture as a natural environment conservation area and by the village as a natural monument. The marsh is equipped with an easy-to-walk trail that takes about 40 minutes, enabling even beginners to enjoy a leisurely marsh stroll.