Hidden Gems

Ouchijuku is a perfectly preserved Edo-period post town in the Aizu region of Fukushima, where around forty thatched-roof houses line a single mountain street with clear water running beside it. This first-timer’s guide covers everything you need for a smooth visit: how to reach the village by train via Aizu-Wakamatsu and the thatched Yunokami Onsen Station, the best season to go (from autumn foliage to the magical February snow festival), what it all costs in yen and US dollars, where to eat the famous negi soba eaten with a whole green onion, where to stay in village minshuku or nearby onsen ryokan, and how to combine Ouchijuku with Tsuruga Castle and the rest of Aizu. Includes a detailed FAQ, practical tips, and suggested one- and two-day itineraries from Tokyo.

Yamadera (Risshaku-ji) is one of Tohoku’s most spectacular temples, a string of wooden halls climbing a forested cliff in Yamagata Prefecture, reached by a winding staircase of more than a thousand stone steps. This complete first-timer’s guide covers the temple’s eleven-century history and its connection to the poet Bashō, a stage-by-stage walkthrough of the climb, exact costs and opening hours, the best seasons to visit, and detailed train directions from Tokyo, Sendai, and Yamagata City. You’ll also find where to stay, what to eat in the village below, photography tips, a packing checklist, and a full set of frequently asked questions — everything you need to plan a smooth, memorable visit to one of northern Japan’s greatest and most overlooked treasures.