JP · Fukushima Prefecture · 37.49°N 139.93°E

aizu-wakamatsu

A red-tiled castle, samurai residences and old merchant streets in inland Tohoku.

Best time
April–May for blossom and October–November for autumn colour. Winter has snowy castle views but icy streets; midsummer is hot in the inland basin.
How long
2 days
Getting there
Fly from KL to Tokyo (about 7 hours). Take the shinkansen to Koriyama, then a local train to Aizu-Wakamatsu, about 3 hours in all. Japan is an hour ahead of KL.
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JP · Fukushima Prefectureaizu-wakamatsu37.49°N 139.93°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,A red-tiled castle, samurai residences and old merchant streets in inland Tohoku.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingAizu-WakamatsuJP, Fukushima Prefecture
KLaizu-wakamatsu
≈ 5,452 km from KL, as the crow flies
会津さざえ堂 (円通三匝堂)

Photo: くろふね · CC BY 4.0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

A castle town in inland Fukushima with a proud samurai history, best known for the teenage Byakkotai warriors of the 1868 Boshin War. The castle, old houses and merchant streets fill two easy days.

Makan

  1. Wappa-meshiRice steamed in a round wooden box with salmon, mushrooms or vegetables on top.Map ↗
  2. KozuyuA light soup of dried scallop, vegetables and wheat gluten, served at celebrations.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. Tsuruga CastleA rebuilt keep with red roof tiles, the only castle in Japan with them, in a park full of cherry trees.Map ↗
  2. IimoriyamaThe hill where the Byakkotai boys died, with their graves and the Sazaedo, a wooden hall with a double-spiral ramp inside.Map ↗
  3. Aizu BukeyashikiA rebuilt samurai mansion with dozens of rooms around courtyards.Map ↗
  4. NanukamachiAn old street of merchant shops selling lacquerware, sweets and sake.Map ↗

Good to know

  • The sights are spread out. The Haikara-san and Akabe loop buses save a lot of walking.
  • Ouchi-juku, the thatched post town, is an easy half-day trip from here.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.