A quiet city in the upper part of the Aizu Basin, Kitakata lies 20 km. north of Aizu Wakamatsu.Whereas Aizu- Wakamatsu was originally a warrior town, Kitakata was a commercial center that developed around traditional industries. Kitakata has long been prosperous, which has secured the city's position as a trading center in northern Japan. The various shrines and temples help to convey a sense of the city's history.
A local photographer has attracted even more attention to the city with his photography exhibition. Kitakata is hailed as the "town of storehouses and ramen". You can see variety of kura (storehouses) from the center of the city to the mountainside.
There are mud-colored, white-walled, and black-walled kura, as well as western-style brick ones. They range in use from places for storing rice, sake, miso, charcoal, fertilizer and other products, to workshops, stores, and living quarters. Altogether there are more than 2,600 kura, reflecting an obsession on the part of the townspeople. The large number also attests to their durability and reflects the attitude that "a man was not a man unless he built at least one kura."
For those who want to enjoy a leisurely tour around a kura, a sightseeing carriage is recommended.

Kumano Shrine and Nagatoko Sanctuary
Kumano Shrine lies west of the city. Passing through the torii at the entrance, visitors continue along the cedar-lined approach to the magnificent Nagatoko Hall. Neither walls nor doors enclose the open wooden floor of the building, which is supported by 44 huge pillars (45.5cm. in diameter) arranged in five rows.
As it was used for the training place by the people who practiced austerities in mountains, it shows both a violent and solemn atmosphere.

Ganjo temple
This temple, founded in 1227, lies 4km. northwest of the city. The biggest attraction is surely the main statue, known as the "Aizu Great Buddha," representing Amida Nyorai. The majestic seated figure, which is 241cm. long, has been designated an important cultural property by the Japanese government.