Aizu is a castle town in the interior of Fukushima Prefecture. It is located about 3 hours from Tokyo by Shinkansen and local train or bus. There are many sightseeing spots such as historic sites, hot springs and natural beauty. I travelled to Aizu in the middle of November. I would like to share three beautiful spots.

1. Aizu Tsurugajo castle
Aizu Tsuruga Castle is a typical Japanese castle consisting of five floors. The original castle was destroyed in 1874 after the Meiji Restoration and rebuilt in 1965. The inside of the castle is a history museum. I learned about the history of Aizu and the war of Aizu against the new government in 1868. The view from the top floor was fantastic.

The Aizu clan remained loyal to the Tokugawa shogun, even after the Meiji Restoration in 1968, and opposed the new government during the Boshin War in 1868. The Aizu clan was defeated, and more than 2500 people had died in the war. The castle was also heavily damaged.

2. Ouchijuku
In Ouchi-juku, traditional thatched-roof houses are lined up neatly. It gives you a taste of the past. Among them, a large traditional house called Tonya-Honjin is worth visiting. It is a small museum using a real old house. You can enter its inside to see the lifestyle of the old days.

During the Edo period, the Aizu-Nishi-Kaido road connecting Aizu and Nikko was an important trunk road. Ouchi-juku was developed as a post town on it. Not only ordinary people but also noble people like the clan rested there.

3. Enzoji temple
This temple is a very good place to enjoy colored leaves in autumn. Red maples and yellow ginkgo trees are scattered around the temple, creating a beautiful landscape. As it’s not crowded here, the air is fresh and you can enjoy the tranquility.

Enzoji Temple is a Buddhist temple in the small town of Yanaizu, about a one-hour train ride from Aizu Wakamatsu. The temple originated in 807. It is one of the tree important temples having sacred Buddha statues called Kokuzo Bosatsu which are relating to the famous monk Kukai.

Ensoji temple enshrines Fukuman Kokuzo Bosatsu. Other temples are:
Kiyosumi-dera temple in Kamogawa city in Chiba prefecture enshrines Noman Kokuzo Bosatsu.
Nikkoji temple in Tokaimura in Ibaraki prefecture enshrines Daiman Kokuzo Bosatsu.

4. Location

5. Reference
(1) The Brochure of Aizu Tsurugajo castle
(2) The Brochure of Ouchi-juku
(3) The home page of Yanaizu town

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