Exploring Snowy Aizu: A Hidden Winter Journey Through Nature and Hot Springs

This article introduces a tour that allows you to experience the natural beauty of Aizu that personally moved me. Carefully selected and personally experienced by Ryokanbook, this tour brings together unique ryokan stays, immersive activities, and scenic travel routes in one journey.

Tour Overview

Aizu is best known for skiing, but there are many experiences here that go beyond skiing. This tour introduces lesser-known activities that can only be enjoyed in Aizu. Traveling by private hired car, the tour offers an extreme-style experience that combines nature, activities, and movement as one journey.

The Aizu Kotsu hired car service is a charter-style vehicle service available by advance reservation. Unlike regular taxis, the service is arranged by setting your usage time and destinations in advance. This allows you to travel freely according to your own itinerary, without being restricted by fixed schedules. The vehicles provided are higher-class models with plenty of space, making them suitable for long-distance travel and small groups. The service is used not only within Aizuwakamatsu City, but also for trips to mountainous areas and sightseeing spots with limited public transportation. As such, it has become one of the most efficient ways to explore rural areas like Aizu comfortably.

Day 1 | A Well-Balanced Start: Snowshoeing and a Hidden Hot Spring Experience

Travel from Tokyo to Koriyama by the Tohoku Shinkansen. From there、 you board a private hire car and head toward Numajiri Kogen Lodge via Goshikinuma. This route offers both outdoor activities and relaxing hot springs.

Goshikinuma Snowshoe Trekking: Heading for the Deep Blue Lake

You arrive at Koriyama Station by Shinkansen from Tokyo. From there, you travel to Goshikinuma by a private hired car or taxi. The cost is around ¥10,000 per vehicle.

At the meeting point, a guide is already waiting with snowshoes prepared. Before starting, the guide explains how to use the snowshoes、 important safety points, and asks about each participant’s physical condition. On days without snow, the course begins by going down about ten steps. On this day, however, the entire area was covered in snow, creating a beautiful winter landscape.

“Let’s start by sliding down.” With these words from the guide, the tour begins in an exciting way. From about the height of a second floor, you slide down the snowy slope like a playground slide.

This was my first time walking with snowshoes. The experience felt both fresh and exciting, as I could walk freely across deep snow. What impressed me most was how well the snowshoes gripped the snow, allowing me to stop without slipping. Stepping firmly through the soft, fluffy snow in snowshoes feels incredibly satisfying.

After walking for about 20 minutes, the first destination—the Blue Lake—comes into view. Half of the lake is frozen, while the other half shines in a deep blue color.  Surrounded by pure white snow, the surface of the lake looked even more vividly blue. From certain angles, it shimmered not just blue, but with a jewel-like glow reminiscent of emeralds. The contrast between the clear blue water and the snowy landscape was simply stunning. Even in the cold air, I couldn’t help taking off my gloves to capture the moment in photos. The lake is beautiful in pictures, but it is a view that truly deserves to be seen in person.

After another 20 minutes of walking, you reach a viewpoint overlooking a lake with a clear view of Mount Bandai, the main destination of this trek. The guide gladly takes photos and even makes small chick-shaped snow figures for guests. The route can be adjusted based on each person’s stamina, making this a highly recommended and flexible tour.

Numajiri Kogen Lodge: A Hidden Hot Spring with Flowing Source Water, Like Lemon Water

Numajiri Kogen Lodge is a quiet and comfortable retreat. It was renovated by a long-established ryokan, based on a former private villa once loved by Junko Tabei, the world’s first woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest. The lodge is especially known for its high-quality cuisine and unique hot springs. For me, it feels like a personal holiday home—a place I return to for both relaxation and comfort.

An Acidic Sulfur Hot Spring from Near a Volcanic Crater

A hot spring enthusiast who introduced me to Numajiri Kogen Lodge once said something surprising:“Try tasting just a little. The water here tastes like lemon water.” I was amazed—it really did taste like lemon water.The hot spring is an acidic sulfur spring that flows from near the volcanic crater of Mount Adatara, at an elevation of 1,250 meters. With a pH level of 2.1—similar to the acidity of lemon—the water gently stimulates the skin. It is also rich in metasilicic acid, a beauty-related mineral said to support healthy skin turnover. Because of these rare qualities, many visitors travel from all over Japan specifically for this hot spring.

It is truly a hidden onsen, found deep in the mountains.

The Luxury of Japanese Cuisine: A Chef Dedicated to Shiho-Shiri and Tohoku Ingredients

Have you heard of the term Shiho-Shiri? It refers to an area within four ri (about 16 km) in each direction—north, south, east, and west—covering roughly 256 square kilometers.

Since ancient times, there has been a saying: “Within four ri in every direction, there is no illness.” This reflects the belief that eating locally grown ingredients (local production, local consumption) is the key to good health.

The head chef is originally from Miyagi Prefecture. He values his relationships with local farmers and fishermen above all else. While actively using ingredients from the Aizu region and across Fukushima Prefecture, he creates dishes that reflect the land by making full use of the local water.

“Even the same vegetables taste different depending on who grows them. When a farmer takes good care of their fields, the ingredients feel more alive. Ingredients grown with care and love truly change the flavor of a dish.”

To experience this refined approach to Japanese cuisine, we highly recommend reading the experience report below.

Day 2 | Extreme Hot Springs and a Visit to the Iconic Ookawaso

The adventure begins at “nowhere,” an outdoor activity base located on the same grounds as Numajiri Kogen Lodge. There is only one goal for the day—the extreme hot springs experience.

A Hidden Hot Spring Few Japanese Know—An Extreme Experience Only Accessible by Guided Tour

As its name suggests, the Extreme Hot Spring is truly an extreme experience. To reach the source of Numajiri Onsen, known as Numajiri Motoyu, located at an altitude of 1,300 meters, you hike for about one hour. At the end of the trek, you soak in a wild, natural hot spring—an experience that can only be had here in Numajiri. You will need to bring a swimsuit and a towel. However, trekking shoes and other equipment can be rented.

Take a close look at this photo. This is not river play. You are soaking—almost swimming—in a naturally flowing hot spring. Very few Japanese people have ever entered a wild onsen like this. It is a truly extreme and unforgettable experience.

This wild hot spring is the source of the waters I soaked in the night before at Numajiri Kogen Lodge. After a one-hour trek, I reached this hot spring—a true reward surrounded by vast, untouched nature. Not only the hot spring itself, but also the overwhelming scale of the landscape and its natural beauty left a strong impression. It is without a doubt an extreme experience that I will never forget.

For more details, please read the information below.

Did This Ryokan Inspire Demon Slayer? A Visit to the Legendary Ookawaso

After returning from the extreme hot spring, we board a private hired car and head to Ookawaso. The drive takes about one hour. Traveling around Aizu can be difficult without a car, so using a taxi or hired car is highly recommended. It allows you to move comfortably with your luggage and makes the journey much smoother.

The Floating Stage of the Infinity Castle—A Dreamlike Ryokan That Exists in Reality

The moment you step inside, you are immediately impressed. If you like anime, this space may feel familiar. The lobby is a large open space that rises vertically. At the center is a quietly floating stage, and the structure naturally draws your eyes both upward and downward. This is Ookawaso. The lobby is widely known as a place said to have inspired the Infinity Castle from the popular manga and anime Demon Slayer. The floating stage at the center brings that world into reality.

From 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM, live shamisen performances take place in the lobby. The sound quietly fills the space and reminds many visitors of Nakime from the series. For fans of Demon Slayer, this is a place not to miss. Even for those unfamiliar with the series, few places express traditional Japanese aesthetics so boldly and beautifully. Here, the line between reality and fiction feels slightly blurred. It is a place where you can experience something truly special.

A Terraced Open-Air Bath with Stunning Gorge Views

The open-air bath feels truly spectacular. It looks as if the flowing Okawa River and the terraced fields of Ashinomaki Onsen have merged into one. The baths are arranged in a terraced style, and from each level you can enjoy a wide panoramic view of the Okawa Gorge right in front of you. As you soak in the hot water, the gentle sound of the river softly reaches your ears. The water overflowing from the upper baths is carefully designed not to flow into the lower ones. Thanks to this system, each bath is always filled with fresh hot spring water, creating a truly luxurious soaking experience.

A Kaiseki Dinner That Fully Showcases the Luxury of Aizu

The kaiseki cuisine created by Executive Chef Shimizu is something not to be missed.
The meal begins with seasonal appetizers and sashimi, followed by an impressive dish of Fukushima-produced wagyu sirloin, grilled on a ceramic plate. The wagyu melts in your mouth. Its rich fat has a gentle sweetness and is surprisingly light, leaving no heavy feeling after eating. As the meal continues with steamed dishes and hot pot courses—each worthy of being a main dish—Aizu soba is served. To be honest, I am not usually a big fan of soba. However, soba is an important part of Aizu’s culinary culture, especially in places like Ouchi-juku—and the soba at Ookawaso is truly exceptional.

“Soba also has freshness.
It tastes best when eaten immediately after being served.”

I followed this advice, and the taste of that soba is something I will never forget.

Summary | A Luxurious Winter Journey in Aizu

Snow-covered Aizu is truly captivating. While skiing is well known, it is not the only way to enjoy winter in Aizu. Snow activities and hot springs surrounded by winter scenery offer special experiences that can only be found here. However, traveling by yourself—whether by driving or using public transportation—can be challenging in some areas. By arranging taxis or a private hired car, you can travel more comfortably and safely. We highly recommend experiencing this extreme tour to fully enjoy the unique charm of winter in Aizu.