Niigata Trip Part 3 - Going to Fukushima Prefecture!

 After checking out of the beautiful Chinseikan Inn we hit the road and headed for Shimogo town in Fukushima Prefecture.

Our first stop was Ouchi-juku post town.

Ouchi-juku is a former post town along the Aizu-Nishi Kaido trade route, which connected Aizu with Nikko during the Edo Period. Restrictions set by the shogunate required travelers to make their long journeys on foot and as a result, post towns developed along the routes to provide travelers with food, accommodations and rest.

Today, Ouchi-juku has been restored to look as it did in the Edo Period with telephone and electricity wires buried. The unpaved main street is lined by thick thatched roof buildings, which house a variety of shops, restaurants and minshuku (small traditional Japanese inns). Soba noodles and locally caught char fish roasted on sticks are popular specialties.

This is Takakura Shrine.

At the end of the village one has the pleasure of climbing a steep set of steps.

Koyasu Kannon, a small Buddhist temple.

Follow the path if you want to visit Princess Sakuragi's tomb.

From up here there is also a very nice view of the Ouchi-juku post town.

Back down on the ground. This is such a nice place we should do a group picture here!

One of the restaurants in the town that serves the local specialty "Negi Soba" (fresh buckwheat noodles eaten using a green onion).

After leaving Ouchi-Juku we headed for Tonohetsuri Crags.

A national natural monument, To-no-hetsuri Crags consists of tower-shaped cliffs overlooking Okawa River. Hetsuri is an Aizu word meaning "a cliff overlooking a river" or "a steep slope" in the local dialect.

Crossing the suspension bridge is fun!

I thought I saw some wild animals but it turned out to be Shige, Emi and Hiroko.

There's Suzuki-san enjoying the view.

These unusual formations are thought to be made of various types of rocks formed around 28 million years ago.

It seems like wherever we go there's a steep set of steps to go up.

Other visitors enjoying themselves.

Hiroko, Shige and Yuko take a break.

Time for another group picture.

Time to go back to the car.

    After leaving To-no-hetsuri we visited a couple of Michi-no-eki.

Michi-no-Eki, means roadside station. These are roadside parking areas that usually include shops, restaurants and restrooms. They are a great place to take a break, enjoy a cup of coffee and have a smoke (if one is a smoker).  We also did a little shopping to pick up some snacks and drinks to enjoy later in our Inn for the night. 

    That night we stayed at a wonderful little Inn in Yunokami Onsen. We enjoyed hot spring baths, a great dinner and a terrific breakfast. Next morning we checked out of the Inn but instead of heading straight home we had one more place to visit.

Yunokami Onsen Train Station.

Yunokami-Onsen Station is a railway station on the Aizu Railway Aizu Line in the town of Shimogo, Fukushima Prefecture. The station is notable for its thatched roof.

Another group picture. 

Inside the station is very cozy.

If one walks around to the backside of the station they are in for a big surprise!

There's a big cross shaped foot bath.

We were very lucky! A train arrived at the station while we were there.

Across the street from the station was a shop that sold local products. Everybody loves to do a little shopping!

Now it's time to head for home.

This is the end of our big 5 day adventure. We visited so many places and did so many things that it's hard to remember everything without going back and looking at these pictures. We had a great time! A special thank you to the trip planer, Yuko and the two drivers, Hiroko and Suzuki-san!

All the best,

Mike!

Bonus shots!