Aizu & Iwaki / Fukushima

Tatsuzawa Fudo-daki at Inawashiro

As you know, Fukushima is still in a process of recovering from huge disaster of Tunami and Nuclear accident. It seems Fukushima's recovering process has been put behind because of the government and Tokyo Electric Power Co. still think that SEP!  I was born in Fukushima and my parents, relatives and friends are still live in there. It's been a long time since people in Fukushima start not expecting anything to the government. On the other hand, the people in Japan start to realize unless they have to do something about Fukushima, miracles won't happen and Fukushima will be a dark chapter in Japanese history. Well, they recognized that one of the best way of helping is to visit and to spend money, and vitalize the economy in Fukushima.


Let's me introduce some of the sightseeing spots in Fukushima and what is happening.
In the middle of June, me and two other friends from Tokyo visited Fukushima. Taking bullet train from Tokyo station is the fastest way and takes only 1 hour and 10 min. Railway transportation developed so well in Japan but the fare is very expensive. One way trip from Tokyo to Koriyama costs about 8,000JPY, 16,000JPY for the round trip to, so I suggest to buy a Japan Rail Pass costs only 28,000JPY for 7days and pretty much able to use any JR trains over the Japan.


First, we visited Hisanohama-area in Iwaki.  Iwaki is located in the SouthEast side of Fukushima and about 30km away from Fukushima nuclear plants. This area had hit by Tsunami and the people and houses were damaged heavily. But now, we saw signs of recovery everywhere such as Iwaki lalamew where landmark shop of Iwaki area was crowded heavily by the number of tourist. Even Iwaki area is close from nuclear plants, radiation level is very low compared with other Fukushima's major city like Koriyama and Fukushima, and that might contribute to the reason for tourists to visit and support Iwaki area.

Hongo-Ware

Next day, we went to Aizu Hongo and Inawashiro area where located South side of Fukushima.Aizu Hongo is famous for Hong-ware originated making tiles to a roof of Aizuwakamatsu castle. In Hongo, porcelain and pottery are being made. Being produced both at same area is very rare in Japan. Also, using various glaze allows for makers to express their creativity over wares. 

Bandai Moutain

Aizu area is surrounded by the beautiful nature such as Inawashiro-lake and Bandai-mountains and those are rich in natural resources. The Onsen is certainly the one of them. 

Manyo-Tei

Dinner Appetizers

After we left Aizu, we headed to Inawashiro and we stayed over the night at Manyo-Tei at Nakanosawa onse. I work for Travel agency and I stayed many hotels and Japanese style Ryokan all over Japan, but let me tell you this Manyo-Tei is one of the best Japanese style Ryokan I've ever stayed. Food was awesome and Onsen located in the middle of the forests made us super relax., and moreover, atmosphere was very nice. According to Manyo-Tei's blog, radiation level is very low which pretty much same level as Tokyo. In fact, Inawashiro has been housing for evacuees from Futaba area where restricted due to the nuclear accident.

Tatsuzawafudo-daki

Next day, we visited to Tatsuzawa Fudo-daki where located 5km away from Manyo-Tei. This beautiful waterfall is used for film shooting quite often, but not many people know where to exist since this location is difficult to found and hard to reach. But it's worth to visit.

Tenmori Soba 1,370JPY

Ohori

Inawashiro is very famous area of production of Soba. Usually Soba noodle and Tempura is a set menu. We went to the Soba restaurant call Ohori and ate Tenmori-Soba. Soba noodle was very delicious and wild vegetable Tempura was very fresh.

Goshikinuma Lake

After the lunch, we headed to Goshikinuma Lake originated volcanic eruption of Bandai Mountain at 1888. Due to the quality of volcanic water, the lake surface seems to has five different colors , and that how it came to be the lake's name.(Gishiki=five)  There are several trekking courses around the lake allows to enjoy and feel the part of Bandai Asahi National Park that is the third biggest National Park of Japan.

Morohashi Museum of Modern Art

Morohashi Museum of Modern Art located a few minutes away from Goshikinuma Lake has one of the foremost Salvador Dali collections around the world.

Akiyoshido & Hagi / YAMAGUCHI

Date:        4-6 Aug 2011
Stay:        4 Aug - 1NT  Plaza Hotel KOTOBUKI at Yuda Onsen
                5 Aug - 1NT  Hagi-Honjin at Hagi
Access:   JR Sainin Honsen from Matsue station to Masuda station.
               From Masuda, I rented a car to travel over Yamaguchi prefecture.

I believe, JR Sainin Line provides one of the best coastal landscape among all JR lines in Japan. It took about 3 hours from Matsue to Masuda station and fare was about 3,000yen. (If you use Limited express, time will be an hour shorter but fare will be additional 2,500yen.)

From Masuda station, I used a rental car to visit sightseeing spots in Yamaguchi. Japanese local region like Yamaguchi doesn't have effective transportation system like Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, so I recommend to use rental car for visiting sightseeing spots efficiently.

Pictures on top is Oumi-Jima. It's a small island located North side of Nagato city and designated as a Japanese national monument. It has various small island and beautiful coastal lines. I saw many divers enjoying their diving.

This night I stayed Yuda-Onsen which located 20min away from Yamaguchi station famous hotspring in Yamaguchi.

Next day, I visited Akiyoshido, is the largest limestone cavern in Japan. It took only 30min from Yuda-Onsen to Akiyoshido entrance. Akiyoshido is also designated as a Japanese national special monument, and located under the Akiyoshidai Plateau.

Inside of cave, temperature consistently stays 17℃ all season. Amazing to see each drop create all those impressive figures over million years.

On a same day, I headed to Hagi also known by the name of Choshu area. Choshu has produced many active Samurai who contributed Meiji Restoration. Hagi is very quiet and has traces of Edo-period. I visited The Hagi Museum, Hagi porcelain museum, Senryuzan Hagiyaki pottery and Shokason-jyuku and all located within 5km area, so easy to access each sightseeing spots.

Last day, I stayed over night at Hagi-Honjin Japanese Hot Spring Inn with very reasonable price like 6,000yen without meal. Room was located old side of their building, but enough space for myself and since no serving lady like other expensive Onsen Ryokan, it was very comfortable and  was able to enjoy the time by myself.

Izumo Taisha & Matsue / SHIMANE

Date:          3 Aug 2011
Stay:          Matsue New Urban Hotel

　　　           40-1, NISHICHA-MACHI, MATSUE-SHI, SHIMANE 

                  TEL: 852-23-0003

Access:      JR Sunrise Express(sleeper train) from Tokyo Station to Izumo.  
                  Use Ichibata Densya(one-day free pass) from Izumo to Izumo-Taisha and Izumo-   
                  taisha to Matsue.   

Sunrise Express is Japanese night train departs from Tokyo station to Izumo sation.  Japanese night train is quite expensive and many uses for special occasions like a anniversary and long vacation. One of the hard tickets to get. 

I booked B single compartment. All you can get are see in pictures below. Don't expect much, but bring six-pack and snacks will do. It takes 12hours from Tokyo to Izumo. Try to book left side upper compartment from Tokyo which runs pacific ocean side on Tokaido line. 


                       

This is Izumo-station. Izumo-station is not the final destination. Izumo-Taisha is. Two way to go to Izumo-Taisha from Izumo-station, one is using local bus, and other is using Ichibata-Densya. Both starts from Izumo-station. 

I got Izumo-Taisha with Ichibata-Densya, using Ichibata-Densya one day free-pass. Since my final destination was Matsue, this pass was very reasonable for me to enjoy Izumo-Matsue area.

              

Izumo Taisha is Japan's oldest shrine and considered second important shrine after Ise Jingu, and also known for holy place somebody who is looking for love and happiness in marriage. You see many singles pray desperate for hope. (I was one of them!)

This straw object is ritual article for Shinto called Shime-Nawa. Some people believe once you successfully stick coin into this Shime-nawa, all the wishs will come true.

Ichibata Izumo-Taisha station.
Very compact but nice atmosphere.

Kyonan Hota / CHIBA

Date:     14 Sep 2011
Stay:     BANYA Hota, Chiba (￥10,500～/per person)

　　　　　 99-5 Kichihama Kyonan Aki-gun, Chiba

          TEL: 0470-55-4844

Access: JR Bus called BOSO NANOHANA from Tokyo Station to Kazusaminato Ekimae.
             From Kazusaminato Ekimae, took JR UCHIBO LINE to HOTA station. From HOTA
             station, use Free shuttle to BANYA. (about￥2,000/one way)                

Main purpose for this trip was staying Banya. Famous for fresh fish Dinner and Breakfast served sashimi, tempura, grilled ..... like a fish fes on the table, impossible to eat up all of them. There are only 4 rooms at Banya. It is hard to make a reservation especially on the weekend. We made our reservations 4 weeks before our stay. There is also Onsen with bubble called carbonated spring in the property. People can also enjoy fresh fish dishes at the restaurant located next to accommodation facility without reservations.

Banya is located in the city of  Hota Kyonan in CHIBA Prefecture.  One and a half hour away from Tokyo Station. Nice place to feel Japanese countryside near to Tokyo, and also able to see Mt. Fuji and Miura peninsula off the distance on a clear day.

At Banya, we took an fixed-net fishing tour next morning. Woke up 3:30 am and got on a fishing boat with crews. Still dark outside but as we get close to the fishing bank, beautiful sunrise came up.

Fishes caught in the morning were served as breakfast as you see. If you are not big fan of sashimi, Banya might not place to go. 

But if you want to visit beautiful countryside and beautiful ocean near from Tokyo, Kyonan Hota might become one of your choice.  It'salso easy on a budget!  At kyonan, there are also famous hiking course call Nokogiri-yama and several beaches.