Hands on Experience Index

The different ways you can enjoy hands on experiences Making Local Products Making Soba Noodles by Hand There are numerous handcrafts and folk crafts in Aizu. Making lacquerware, painting Aka-beko figures, and making candles are just some of the examples of hands-on experiences that can be had in Aizu. We can see the heart of the craft makers in Japan by participating in these hands-on crafts. Aizu, “City of Soba” is famous in Japan because of the high quality buckwheat (soba powder) which is harvested locally. The word “Soba Uchi” means to make buckwheat noodles from the powder grounded from buckwheat flour. Making soba is difficult, but it is a wonderful opportunity to directly experience Japanese traditional food culture. Visiting Famous and Historical Sites Enjoying Nature Aizu is the “Last Country of the Samurai” where the history and tradition of these soldiers is still alive today. This city is rich in history which can be found everywhere. Visiting those historical sites is the first thing you can do here to feel the soul of Aizu. The greatest of Aizu’s charms is the rich beauty found in each of its seasons. Every spot in Aizu shows a different face in each season. There are many places such as hot springs and ski resorts where you can enjoy the natural beauty of Aizu. (If you click following list of names, it jumps to the area location page.) Aizu Wakamatsu City ・Making Local Products・ Keizan Pottery (Experience making and painting pottery) Bansho (Experience making and painting Aka-beko) Takefuji(Experience making Aizu Tojin Kite) Ozawa Candle Shop (experience painting on candles) ・Visiting Famous and Historical Sites・ Tsuruga Castle (Inside of the castle tower is a museum) Rinkaku (Visitors can enjoy powdered green tea) Tombs of the Byakkotai(White Tiger Band, the tombs of those who committed suicide on Mt. Iimori） Byakkotai Memorial Museum (Valuable materials relating to Bayakkotai as well as other historical events are displayed) Byakkotai History Museum (Materials related to the Boshin War is displayed) Sazae Do (The construction of this building is unique in the world) Aizu Buke Yashiki (Samurai House, restored after it had burned down) ・Enjoying Natureむ・ Higashiyama Hot Spring (Hot spring with a history dating back centuries) katakata City ・Making Local Products・ Kinomoto Shikki (Experience a lacquerware technique called makie) Yamanaka Senbei Honpo (Experience making rice crackers by hand) Paulownia Museum (Experience making Paulownia crafts) ・Making Hand Made Soba Noodles・ Iide to Soba no Sato Center（Make hand-made soba） ・Visiting Famous and Historical Sites・ Anshoji Temple (This mud-walled main building is unique) Ganseiji Temple (This temple is famous for its giant Buddha) Kumano Shrine (The service area of this shrine has a stairwell which makes this shrine unique) ・Enjoying Nature・ Oshikirigawa Park and Nicchu-sen Yuhodo (Here is a relaxation area rich in nature) Inawashiro-machi ・Making Local Products・ Shioyagura (You can experience making cane crafts and hand made soba) ・Visiting Famous and Historical Sites・ Tenkyokaku (This place had been the villa of the loyal family) Kamega Castle (This is the oldest castle in Japan and is a famous spot for viewing cherry blossoms) Iwahashi Shrine (One of the five best cherry blossoms in Aizu, Ohjika Zakura, is standing in this place) ・Enjoying Nature・ Mt. Bandai and Lake Inawashiro (You can climb the mountain and enjoy water sports in the lake) Ski resorts (Each ski resort is unique and has high quality snow) Inawashiro Herb Garden (The best spot to see herbs and lavenders) Kitashiobara-mura ・Enjoying the Nature・ Lake Hibara, Goshiki Swamp and Lake Akimoto (Those lakes were formed when after Mt. Bandai erupted) Lodging and camping area (These are the best areas for enjoying nature and outdoor activities) Ohshio Ura-Bandai Hot Spring (Hot spring with beautiful views year-round) Ski resorts (Hot spring with beautiful views year-round) ・Other Places・ Mt. Bandai Eruption Memorial Museum (This museum has many materials from the eruption of Mt. Bandai) Morohashi Modern Art Museum(There are many ski slopes which have high quality snow.) LAVIE Spa Ura-Bandai (Hot Spring Resort) Bandai-machi, Aizu Wakamatsu City Kawahigashi Region ・Making Soba By Hand Experience・ Various workshops(in addition to soba-making, guided hikes to famous nature spots, and pottery workshops are available) ・Visiting Famous and Historical Sites・ Enichiji Temple (This is a famous Buddhist temple in Aizu city) Hachiyoji Temple (This temple is dedicated to Aizu Koya San) ・Enjoying Nature・ Bandai-san Seiroku Spring Water (Aizu’s most famous body of water) Kowashimizu Spring Water (Legendary spring water) Bandai Resort (Resort facility) Fudo-taki (Jyaoi-ga-Taki) (Selected as one of the prefecture’s top 30 famous water spots.) Mt. Bandai Gold Line (From here you can see a bird’s eye view of Mt. Bandai and Lake Inawashiro) ・Other Places・ Aizu Mura Park (This place is famous for the “Aizu Jibo Kannon”) Nissinkan Aizu Clan School (This old school has an accommodation facility for people who wish to take classes) Kitakata City Shiokawa Region, Yugawa-mura, Aizu Wakamatsu City Kita Aizu Region ・Visiting Famous and Historical Sites・ Shoujoji Temple (This is a old temple, famous in the Tohoku Area) ・Enjoying Nature・ Nippashi River (Water and swimming events are held here) Gotenba Park (This park is famous for its iris flowers in the summer) Fruit Picking (You can enjoy picking fresh and tasty fruits) Aizu Misato-machi ・Making Local Products・ Hongo-machi Seto-machi Street (There are many pottery makers and kilns on this street) ・Visiting Famous and Historical Sites・ Isasumi Shrine (This shrine is built to protect Aizu) Hoyoji Temple (Famous temple in Aizu) Koanji Temple (This is the temple where Hideyo Noguchi’s mother prayed) ・Enjoying Nature・ Ayame En (Iris Park, this is a good place to visit for people who wish to see iris flowers) Miyakawa Senbon Zakura (Cherry Blossoms standing along the river) Chitose Zakura (This cherry blossom tree is more than 700 years old) Shimogo-machi ・Visiting Famous and Historical Sites・ Ohuchijuku (The historical atmosphere of the Edo Era’s town is still impressive) ・Enjoying the Nature・ Ashinomaki Hot Spring (people have been visiting this hot spring for treatment since the Edo Era) Yunokami Hot Spring (This hot spring area is located in a quiet mountain) To-no-hetsuri (This amazing view is formed by natural beauty) Kannon Swamp Park (This area has breathtaking nature everywhere)