Samurai city, Aizuwakamatsu, and Historical Ouchi-juku with local inn stay

INTRO:

Welcome to Aizu-Wakamatsu and Shimogo area!

A former castle town to Aizu domain, the area has a long history and flourished as a samurai stronghold during the Edo period. Enjoy the authentic samurai city where influences of samurai society still remain strong even today.

Tour also visits locally famous Yunokami onsen (hot spring) and you will have stay at local and historical ryokan with tatami room. On the next day, you will visit Ouchi-juku where used to be post-town in Edo period.

WHAT YOU WILL EXPERIENCE:

• Explore and enjoy the history of Aizuwakamatsu and Shimogo area
• Get a taste of Samurai city – visit Tsuruga castle, the symbol of Aizuwakamatsu and stroll around jokamachi, the former castle town
• Feel the local lifestyle of Ochi-juku, and Yunokami Onsen which has atmosphere of Edo period

SAMPLE ITINERARY:

DAY 1

AM

• 11AM Meet a guide at Aizuwakamatsu Station (About 90 minutes train ride from JR Koriyama station.)
• Visit saka gura – traditional sake brewery storehouse
  – Visit saka gura from the Bakumatsu period in the late 18th century and learn about the marvels of sake brewery from Toji, sake brewer of the storehouse who has been honored a title of Sake Meister. Apart from sake brewery, enjoy the prestigious drawings of Yoshinobu Tokunaga, the 15th and last shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan.
• Lunch at Nanukamachi-dori street
  – Nanukamachi-dori street was known as a gateway to other major cities such as Nikko, Echigo and Yonezawa. The street was full of wholesalers, taverns and restaurants and continued to prosper as one of the busiest and most important streets of the region. The street is visited by many tourist every year, for its historic and beautiful townscape.
  Here, try the charcoal grilled dengaku for lunch – one of the local specialties which ingredients such as tofu and rice cakes are seasoned with sweetened soy bean paste and grilled over charcoal. Enjoy the lunch at the restaurant once used as miso gura, storehouse used for soy bean production, and later renovated as a restaurant.

PM

• Visit the symbol of Aizu – Tsuruga castle – Tsuruga castle, also known as Aizu-Wakamatsu castle, was originally built in 1384 and was the military and administrative centre of Aizu region until 1868. Five stories in height with two story basements, it is the only castle in Japan which uniquely roofed with red colored tiles. The castle is part of Aizu’s local life to this day – many of locals walking dogs and jogging around the castle. Visit samurai residence
  – Visit buke yashiki, former samurai residences and learn how samurai lived in old days. The residences were burned down during Boshin War and reconstructed and turned into a museum. There is a souvenir shop attached to the museum where you can purchase handicrafts and jizake, local brews.
• Explore hot spring district with over 1,200 years of history
  * Available only in a private car tour.
  – Enjoy the charm of historic hot spring district, which was first discovered by a distinguished priest over 1,200 years ago. Many samurai visited the district to heal wounds and to rest. Apart from the hot spring, the district is also known for apprentice geisha called karariko san, which the tradition of geisha culture continues today.
• Visit a temple with one of Japan’s National Treasures, wooden statue of Bhaisajyaguru
  * Available only in a private car tour.
  – Visit a temple build over 1,200 years ago and explore cultural assets from the Heian period in the early 9th century – a status of Bhaisajyaguru classified as Japan’s National Treasure and dozens of other Important Cultural Property.
• 6PM Check-in at your accommodation
  – You will stay at Shukubo or Minshuku – Japanese style inn.

DAY 2

*Choose from two kinds of options.

(A) Experience of Monk’s life

Temple lodging is an accommodation where monks stays, and cleanse the mind and body. Enjoy the Shoujin cuisine, vegetarian meal, and private bath made from Japanese cypress.

• Stay at temple lodging
  7:00AM Otsutome, training experience (chanting, sermon)
  8:00AM Breakfast
  9:00AM Sesame tofu making
  Move to the Ouchijuku
  10:30AM Sightseeing at Ochijuku
  Tour ends

(B) Local life experience

Stay at a local house and rest your body in a tatami room. Enjoy the local cuisine and hot springs.
– Learn how to make the local cuisine and enjoy the lunch with locals.

• Stay at Home with local people
  8:00AM Breakfast
  9:00AM Check out
  9:30AM-10:30AM Bracken picking and harvesting experience
  11:00AM Local food making experience
  12:00AM Lunch
  Move to Ochijuku
  1:30PM Sightseeing at Ochijuku
  Tour ends

NOTE:

Please ask us for more options if you have any particular interest:

• Fruit picking activity
  – There are various fruits grown throughout the year and you can pick your own at orchard;
  Feb to late April: Strawberries
  Jun to early July: cherries
  Jul to mid Aug: Melons or blueberries
  Aug: peaches
  Sep: grapefruits or prunes
  Sep to late Oct: pears
  Sep to mid Nov: apples
  Late Nov – Jan: not available
• Visit Aizu momen workshop
  – Visit a workshop and learn how Aizu momen, cotton of Aizu, is produced.
  Aizu momen is a traditional craft of the region and it has been produced since the early Edo period. It is simple and plain but durable and popular among locals for casual clothing. Weaved by craftsman with traditional techniques and skills, and by the same machines which has been in use since the old days.
• Visit Randoseru factory
  – Randoseru is a firm-sided backpack made of stitched firm leather, commonly used by elementary schoolchildren. Visit one of the well known factories and see how randoseru is made. You can pick your favorite colored randoseru fabric and experience key rings or bracelet making.

PRICE PER PERSON:

• On request
• This tour is available either by walk or in a private car – you can visit additional sights by a private car. Pick-up from Koriyama station is also available upon request.

GROUP SIZE:

• Min. 1 person
  Max. 6 persons
• This is a private tour
• Please inquire us for a party of 7 or more

HOW TO BOOK:

1. Please contact us for availability through ‘CHECK the availability’ button
2. We will check the availability and come back with a quote to you within 1 business day
3. Payment request will be sent
4. Reservation is done upon receiving your payment. Confirmation e-mail will be sent to you

PAYMENT:

• Program fees shall be paid through Credit Card. Currently, no other payment method is accepted.

CANCELLATION POLICY:

• Reservations may be cancelled without a charge up to 8 days prior to the program date.
• Reservations cancelled less than 3 days before the program date will incur the following charges:
  – Between 7 days and 3 day: 30% of the program charge
  – Between 2 days and 1 day: 80% of the program charge
  – Less than a day or no show: 100% of the program charge
  *Time in JST