Japan is home to countless fascinating destinations that remain largely undiscovered. In this feature, the Japan of Japan editorial team—having covered numerous ryokan and regions across the country—presents the Top 5 Recommended Spots in Aizu, ranked by the total number of views across our introduction videos, focusing on the Aizu and Tokamachi areas.
Top 5 Recommended Spots
Yunokami-Onsen Station
Located in Shimogo Town, Minamiaizu District, Fukushima Prefecture, Yunokami-Onsen Station is a rare hot spring station featuring a traditional thatched-roof building—something seldom seen in Japan today. The nostalgic scenery feels as if you’ve stepped into another world. An outdoor footbath sits right in front of the station, allowing travelers to enjoy the warmth of the onsen while waiting for their train.
Yunokami-Onsen Station is a rare station with both a thatched roof and a footbath.
Sipping a coffee bought inside the station while soaking your feet during the wait is a quietly charming experience—this nostalgic atmosphere is exactly why it’s one of my favorite stations.
Yunokami-Onsen Station feels like stepping into a Studio Ghibli world.
The wooden station building with its thatched roof is even more beautiful than expected, creating scenes you can’t help but photograph. With a footbath on-site, it’s the perfect place to pause, relax, and enjoy a soothing moment during your journey.
Spot Information
Spot Name：Yunokami-Onsen Station
Address：Yunokami Oshima Otsu, Shimogo Town, Minamiaizu District, Fukushima 969-5206, Japan
Hoshitoge Rice Terraces
The Hoshitoge Rice Terraces are located in the hills of the Matsudai area in Tokamachi City、 Niigata. About 200 rice fields spread across the slopes, creating a beautiful, layered landscape that resembles fish scales. This scenery has been cared for by local communities for nearly 300 years. In 2022, the site was officially recognized by Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries as an important cultural rice terrace landscape.
A visit to Hoshitoge is more than just a walk to see the rice terraces. Guided tours help you understand the local people’s love for the land and their efforts to protect nature. In certain seasons, many photographers gather here—making it a truly special place to visit.
Hoshitoge Rice Terraces offers a glimpse into the roots of Japan’s rice farming and sake culture. Surrounded by stunning scenery, you can feel how generations have carefully maintained these fields by hand and passed them down over time.
Spot Information
Spot Name： Hoshitoge Rice Terraces
Address：Toge, Tokamachi City, Niigata, Japan
Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale
The Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale is an international art festival held in the Echigo-Tsumari region of Niigata Prefecture. First launched in 2000, the festival takes place once every three years and is widely regarded as one of the largest international art festivals in the world.
The Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale is a world-famous festival where entire towns become part of the art. What makes it special is the feeling of being immersed in art itself. My personal highlight is the moment at The House of Light, when the roof slowly opens.
Tokamachi, Niigata feels like a single, large artwork spread across the landscape. Artworks appear naturally within everyday scenery, creating quiet moments where you can truly engage with each piece. It’s an experience you can only fully appreciate by being there in person.
Spot Information
Spot Name：Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale
Address：Tokamachi City and Tsunan Town, Niigata, Japan
Extreme Onsen
At Numajiri Onsen in Inawashiro Town, Fukushima, visitors can take part in a unique outdoor experience known as Extreme Onsen—a guided journey that leads you through nature all the way to the hot spring source itself. Numajiri Motoyu produces an extraordinary 13,400 liters of hot spring water per minute, the highest output from a single source in Japan. This abundant flow runs through the valley, naturally forming wild, open-air baths surrounded by untouched nature.
Having visited over 200 locations each year, Extreme Onsen was the most moving experience for me in 2025. The natural hot spring flows like a river, and once you step in, you find yourself somewhere between soaking and swimming. It’s a truly immersive experience—one where you feel completely at one with nature.
Extreme Onsen is highly recommended for those seeking a slightly adventurous experience unique to Japan. After making your way through the great outdoors, you encounter a real hot spring flowing straight from the earth. It’s a one-of-a-kind experience where tradition and adventure come together—something you can only find here.
Spot Information
Spot Name：Extreme Onsen
Address：Numajiriyama Ko 2864, Kaiko, Inawashiro Town, Yama District, Fukushima, Japan
Ozatoro Scenic Train
The Ozatetsu Scenic Train is a sightseeing train that runs leisurely through the Aizu region of Fukushima, connecting Aizuwakamatsu Station and Aizu-Tajima Station. Operated by the Aizu Railway, this two-car train allows passengers to relax and enjoy views of the region’s rich natural landscapes and historic townscapes along the way.
With the Ozatetsu Scenic Train, the journey itself becomes the experience. You can enjoy local sake or a bento while breathing in the fresh air and taking in Aizu’s expansive scenery. The train only runs twice a day, so don’t miss the chance to ride it.
The Ozatetsu Scenic Train turns a visit to Aizu into something truly special. With tatami-mat seating combined with open-style trolley cars, it’s a uniquely Japanese train experience. As the train gently moves along, you can sit back and enjoy Aizu’s beautiful scenery at a relaxed pace.
Spot Information
Spot Name:：Ozatoro Scenic Train
Address：
JR Aizuwakamatsu Station: Ekimae-machi 1-1, Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima 965-0041, Japan
Aizu-Tajima Station: Nishibanba Ko, Tajima, Minamiaizu Town, Minamiaizu District, Fukushima 967-0004, Japan
Summary
The Aizu and Tokamachi region is a place where the essence of Japan can still be felt, quietly and naturally. While the five spots introduced here range from a railway station and rice terraces to art, hot springs, and a scenic train, they all share one thing in common: they allow you to experience the time, stories, and spirit of the land itself.
Beyond beautiful scenery, it is the traditions preserved by human hands, the local culture, and the gentle experiences that ease the mind that make a journey truly memorable. Rather than simply visiting, Aizu and Tokamachi invite you to take in the atmosphere of the place—to feel the air and the way of life that flows through the region.
Step away from the busyness of everyday life and set out on a journey to discover the real Japan.
Along with our videos, we hope you’ll find your own unforgettable vision of Japan’s original landscape here.
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