Ouchijuku and Tonohetsuri: Itinerary (Fukushima)

Ouchijuku preserves the look of an Edo-period post town, while Tonohetsuri lines up strange rocks carved by a river. This one-day course brings together old travel romance and natural beauty in the Aizu mountains.

Course Route

9:30 Start at Ouchijuku Thatched-roof houses stand on both sides of the old road, spreading out a scene that feels like a leap back into the Edo era. This village opened around the 1640s as a post town on the Aizu-Nishi-Kaido that linked Aizu with Shimotsuke, and in 1981 it was chosen as the third Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings in the country, after Tsumago and Narai in Nagano.

11:00 Overlook above the post town Climb to the small viewpoint behind the village. It is a perfect photo spot for looking down over the row of thatched roofs. The view that opens up after a few minutes of stone steps is the signature scene of Ouchijuku.

12:00 Lunch with the famous negi soba Try the local negi soba, eaten using a single long green onion in place of chopsticks. This way of eating traces back to Takato soba, brought to Aizu from Takato in Shinshu, in which you nibble the onion as a condiment while pulling up the noodles.

14:00 Move on to Tonohetsuri Cross a suspension bridge to view up close the gorge of odd rocks that the river carved over long ages. Hetsuri is an Aizu word for a steep, sheer cliff, and the tower-like rock walls that line up over about 200 meters were designated a national natural monument in 1943.

Highlights

The unified beauty of the thatched village at Ouchijuku contrasts with the white rock walls rising like towers at Tonohetsuri. In the post town you can still sense the half-farming, half-innkeeping life of its people, while the gorge amazes with forms shaped by long river erosion.

Practical Travel Notes

Time needed Strolling Ouchijuku, including the streets and the overlook, takes about one and a half to two hours, while Tonohetsuri takes about 30 minutes to an hour for the bridge crossing and the gorge. Taking both at a relaxed pace fills a full day from the base station.

Getting around The bases are Yunokami Onsen Station and Tonohetsuri Station on the Aizu Railway. Tonohetsuri is easy to reach on foot, about 10 minutes from the station of the same name, while Ouchijuku lies about 5.3 kilometers from Yunokami Onsen Station, roughly 10 minutes by taxi. From April to November the Aizu Bus sightseeing service called Saru-yu-go connects Yunokami Onsen Station with Ouchijuku. By private car there is a paid parking lot at Ouchijuku, but note that it fills up easily in peak seasons.

Avoiding crowds Ouchijuku tends to fill with tour groups around midday, so early morning or late afternoon is recommended. The snowy winter scenery is also popular, but the road surface freezes, so take care with footwear.

Budget sense With transport, a negi soba lunch, and some souvenirs along the way, plan for a few thousand yen per adult.

A Quick Tip

Ouchijuku has many slopes and gravel paths, so wear comfortable shoes. At Tonohetsuri the suspension bridge sways, so watch your footing.

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Ouchijuku Townscape Exhibition Hall (roughly in the middle of the post town, a reconstruction of the site of the tonya honjin): 9:00-16:30. Admission is 250 yen for adults and 150 yen for elementary and junior high school students (free for preschool children; groups of 30 or more pay 200 yen for adults and 100 yen for elementary and junior high school students). Closed December 29 to January 3
• Parking charges at Ouchijuku: 500 yen for an ordinary car, 1,500 yen for a microbus and 3,000 yen for a large bus; motorcycles are free of charge
• Enquiries: 0241-68-2657 (Ouchijuku Townscape Exhibition Hall) / 0241-69-1144 (Shimogo Town General Policy Division, Commerce and Tourism Section)
• Official information: the Townscape Exhibition Hall and To-no-Hetsuri pages on the official Shimogo Town website / the official Shimogo Town Tourism Association website / the official Shimogomachi Tourism Corporation website

* The above is a guide based on information published by each facility and local government. Hours and fees may change, so please check the official information before you set out.