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Before you go
Your trip to Shimogo.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Shimogo – Fukushima Destination Aizu (Japan) — Aizuwakamatsu; Shimogo
How to get there
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Aeroporto de Fukushima (FKS) Sukagawa · 70 km
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Estação Yunokami-Onsen 8 km
Approximate distances. Check flights and bus, train or boat schedules before you travel.
The Aizu Railway links Aizuwakamatsu Station to Yunokami-Onsen Station in about 40 minutes; from there the village is around 15 minutes by bus or taxi. Direct trains from Asakusa in Tokyo reach the region via the Kinugawa line. Tonohetsuri Station is on the same railway.
How many days
Half a day for Ouchi-juku and Tonohetsuri, starting from Aizuwakamatsu. Staying one night at an inn in Ouchi-juku or Yunokami Onsen lets you see the village without day-trip groups.
When to go
From April to November, with the green of the thatched roofs in summer and foliage in October. In February the village holds a snow festival with lanterns. Winter is cold and snowy, and the road to Ouchi-juku requires caution.
The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.
Do you need a car?
Not necessarily. The train reaches Yunokami-Onsen and Tonohetsuri, and a bus connects the station to Ouchi-juku part of the year; taxis fill the gaps. A car makes it easier to combine Ouchi-juku, Tonohetsuri and Yunokami in one day.
Suggested itinerary
An order that works
Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.
One day in Shimogo
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Morning
Ouchi-juku
Get off the train at Yunokami-Onsen and take the bus up to Ouchi-juku. Walk along the dirt street and climb to the lookout at the end of the village, where you can see all the thatched roofs.
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Afternoon
Soba with scallion
Have negi soba for lunch—eaten using a whole scallion stalk—in one of the village houses, and visit the old honjin (post house).
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Late afternoon
Tonohetsuri
Head to Tonohetsuri, cross the suspension bridge and view the cliffs carved by the Okawa River before returning by train.
Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.
Before you go
Frequently asked questions
Is Ouchi-juku in Shimogo?
Yes. The post-town village is in the town of Shimogo, in a valley about 15 minutes by car from Yunokami-Onsen Station.
What is Ouchi-juku’s negi soba?
It is buckwheat noodles served with an entire scallion stalk, used instead of chopsticks and bitten bit by bit as a condiment.
Does Yunokami-Onsen Station have a thatched roof?
Yes. It is one of the few train stations in Japan with a thatched roof, and it is close to the Yunokami hot-spring inns.
Can you sleep in Ouchi-juku?
Yes. Some thatched-roof houses operate as family-run inns with home-cooked dinners. Rooms are limited; book in advance.
Beyond the guide
