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Aizu-Wakamatsu and Ouchi-juku driving guide: Tsuruga Castle, Iimoriyama, To-no-Hetsuri and map

Drive from Iimoriyama and Tsuruga Castle on Prefectural Route 131 to Ouchi-juku, then past To-no-Hetsuri and Kannon-numa to Michi-no-Eki Shimogo, with a route map, crowds, parking fees, access and fuel.

Edited by Drive Scape Japan · Updated: · Sources verified:

Where the Aizu-Wakamatsu and Ouchi-juku area is (Fukushima)
First drive

From Iimoriyama and Tsuruga Castle on Prefectural Route 131 to Ouchi-juku, then past To-no-Hetsuri and Kannon-numa to Michi-no-Eki Shimogo: about 66 km and 1 hour 35 minutes of driving.

Ouchi-juku parking

Ordinary car ¥500 per visit (cash). ¥1,000 from the start of business on 1 April 2027.

Road for busy periods

Routes 118 and 121 become very congested in the holiday seasons. Take the Ouchi Kobushi Line on Prefectural Route 131 from Aizumisato.

As of 2 November 2026.

Driving time

From Sendai Station
about 2 h 10 min150 km
From Aizu-Wakamatsu Stationif you rent a car on arrival
about 5 min2 km

Times to Iimoriyama, calculated from map data without traffic.

Check before you go

Closures and weather change day by day, so check these pages before you set off.

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The Aizu-Wakamatsu and Ouchi-juku area spans Aizuwakamatsu City and Shimogo Town to the south in Fukushima Prefecture. Central Aizu-Wakamatsu has Tsuruga Castle and Iimoriyama, while Shimogo has Ouchi-juku, a former post town with thatched roofs, and the To-no-Hetsuri cliffs.

This guide follows a day from Iimoriyama and Tsuruga Castle to Ouchi-juku on Prefectural Route 131, then past To-no-Hetsuri and Kannon-numa to Michi-no-Eki Shimogo, a roadside station. Roads and places to stop are listed below.

Map of the Aizu-Wakamatsu and Ouchi-juku area

  • Views and nature
  • Roadside stations
  1. 1Iimoriyama
  2. 2Aizu Bukeyashiki
  3. 3Oyakuen Garden
  4. 4Tsuruga Castle
  5. 5Ouchi-juku
  6. 6Yunokami-Onsen Station
  7. 7To-no-Hetsuri
  8. 8Kannon-numa Forest Park
  9. 9Michi-no-Eki Shimogo
  10. 10Nanokamachi
  11. 11Sarurakudaichi buckwheat fields
  12. 12Michi-no-Eki Aizu Yugawa-Aizubange
  13. 13Michi-no-Eki Tajima
  14. 14Michi-no-Eki Hatoriko Kogen

Line: 1 → 2 → 3 → 4 → 5 → 6 → 7 → 8 → 9

The line follows the full-day route from Aizu-Wakamatsu via Ouchi-juku to Shimogo below. Numbers mark the stops: green for scenery and nature, blue for roadside stations. Tap a marker to see its name.

Recommended drives

First visit: Aizu-Wakamatsu via Ouchi-juku to Shimogo in a day

From Iimoriyama, visit Aizu Bukeyashiki and Oyakuen Garden, then stop at Tsuruga Castle. Pass through Aizumisato and head south on the Ouchi Kobushi Line on Prefectural Route 131, then park at the Ouchi-juku car park. After that, stop at Yunokami-Onsen Station and To-no-Hetsuri, take Routes 121 and 289 to Kannon-numa Forest Park, and continue to Michi-no-Eki Shimogo.

The route is about 66 km, with around 1 hour 35 minutes of driving. Distance and time are calculated from map data and exclude traffic.

From Michi-no-Eki Shimogo, the Kashi Road on Route 289 leads through to Shirakawa IC on the Tohoku Expressway.

Take Prefectural Route 131 to Ouchi-juku

Routes 118 and 121 become very congested in the holiday seasons, especially from Aizu-Wakamatsu towards Shimogo. In busy periods, reach Ouchi-juku from Aizumisato on the Ouchi Kobushi Line, Prefectural Route 131.

Set your navigation destination to Ouchi-juku, with the Hongo branch office of Aizumisato Town as a waypoint. Older units may not give this guidance.

The nearest IC to Ouchi-juku is Niitsuru Smart IC, which is for vehicles with an ETC toll card only.

Ouchi-juku parking rises to ¥1,000 in April 2027

Ouchi-juku parking costs ¥500 per visit for an ordinary car, paid in cash on the day. It rises to ¥1,000 from the start of business on 1 April 2027. Cars cannot enter the village.

Ouchi-juku's shops double as homes, so hours vary by shop. Most are open from 09:00 to about 16:00.

Roads you can drive

Road What to expect Length and cost Hours and restrictions
Ban-etsu Expressway, Aizu-Wakamatsu IC and Niitsuru Smart IC Entries from the north. Niitsuru Smart IC is ETC only 46.1 km from Koriyama JCT to Aizu-Wakamatsu IC; tolled All-day traffic restrictions between Bandai-Atami IC and Inawashiro-Bandaikogen IC through 14 November. Congestion of more than 5 km is predicted, mainly on holidays
Tohoku Expressway, Shirakawa IC Entry from the south 169.7 km from Tokyo (Kawaguchi JCT); tolled —
Prefectural Route 131, Shimogo–Aizuhongo Line (Ouchi Kobushi Line) From Aizumisato to Ouchi-juku — Especially busy on weekends just before the Ouchi-juku car park
National Route 118 From Aizu-Wakamatsu to Shimogo — Very congested in the holiday seasons
National Route 121 From Shimogo to central Aizu-Wakamatsu 32.1 km Very congested in the holiday seasons
National Route 289, Kashi Road From Shirakawa IC to Shimogo 38.4 km —
Prefectural Higashiyama Onsen Line (Seaburi Pass) From Higashiyama to the Goro Falls in Minato Winter closure section: 13.7 km Last winter it closed from 28 November 2025 at 15:00 to 17 April 2026 at 15:00 (not yet announced for this winter)

Places to stop

Views and nature

Numbers match the map.

No. Place Parking What to know
1 Iimoriyama (Byakkotai graves and Sazaedo) Municipal: 30 small cars, free, 08:30–17:15. Snow-clearing vehicles park here from December to March Sazaedo adults ¥400; 08:15 to sunset from April to November, 09:00–16:00 from December to March
2 Aizu Bukeyashiki 100 cars, free Adults ¥1,000. 08:30–17:00 from April to November; 09:00–16:30 from December to March
3 Oyakuen Garden 40 ordinary cars, free Adults ¥330. 08:30–17:00 (entry until 16:30), open daily. No lighting in the garden
4 Tsuruga Castle Nishi-Demaru 200, East Entrance 129, South Entrance 35. ¥200 for the first hour, then ¥100 per hour Keep adults ¥410. 08:30–17:00 (entry until 16:30), open daily
5 Ouchi-juku Ordinary car ¥500 per visit (¥1,000 from 1 April 2027). Cash Designated in 1981 as a national Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings. Viewpoint on the hill at the far end
6 Yunokami-Onsen Station — Thatched station building. Free footbath next door
7 To-no-Hetsuri — National natural monument. The suspension bridge was closed last winter
8 Kannon-numa Forest Park — Nine courses, 3.2 km of walking paths
10 Nanokamachi Nakamachi municipal: 13 small cars, free, 09:00–17:00, closed from December to March. Nanokamachi Roman Deck car park is paid A town you can combine in a day with Tsuruga Castle Park, Oyakuen Garden and Iimoriyama
11 Sarurakudaichi buckwheat fields — About 23 hectares. Full bloom from late August to early September

Roadside stations

No. Roadside station Parking What to know
9 Michi-no-Eki Shimogo About 40 ordinary cars. Parking and toilets 24 hours About halfway along the Kashi Road on Route 289. Shop 09:00–17:00. Closed Wednesdays from January to March
12 Michi-no-Eki Aizu Yugawa-Aizubange 195 ordinary cars 09:00–18:00 (varies by facility). Closed 1 January and the third Wednesday of February
13 Michi-no-Eki Tajima 40 ordinary cars Itozawa in Minamiaizu. 07:00–19:00 (until 18:00 from December to March)
14 Michi-no-Eki Hatoriko Kogen 28 ordinary cars Tenei Village. 09:00–18:00

Best seasons and crowds

Season Highlights and cautions
Second Saturday and Sunday of February Ouchi-juku Snow Festival
April Cherry blossom at Yunokami-Onsen Station
2 July Ouchi-juku Hange Festival
Late August–early September Buckwheat flowers at Sarurakudaichi
Mid-October–early November Autumn colours at Ouchi-juku. Tsuruga Castle, Oyakuen Garden, To-no-Hetsuri and Yunokami-Onsen Station from late October to early November; Kannon-numa around late October
December–March Nakamachi municipal car park closed. Snow-clearing vehicles park at the Iimoriyama municipal car park

Sunset in Fukushima is at 16:40 on 1 November and 16:27 on 15 November.

Busy places and times

  • Ouchi-juku is busy during Golden Week in May, the Obon holiday in August, and on weekends and holidays in the autumn-colour season.
  • In 2026, very heavy congestion was predicted for 2–5 May, 2 July, 10–13 August, 20–22 September and 11 October. Congestion was also predicted for 1–3 November.
  • The approach to the Ouchi-juku car park is especially busy on weekends.

Roads and restrictions checked on 2 November 2026

  • On the Ban-etsu Expressway, all-day traffic restrictions apply between Bandai-Atami IC and Inawashiro-Bandaikogen IC through 14 November. Congestion of more than 5 km is predicted, mainly on holidays.
  • The Higashiyama Onsen Line (Seaburi Pass) was closed last winter from 28 November 2025 to 17 April 2026. The schedule for this winter has not been announced.
  • The To-no-Hetsuri suspension bridge closed because of snow on 4 December 2025 and was still closed in January 2026.

Getting there and fuel

Starting point Approximate drive
Tokyo (Kawaguchi JCT) 220.2 km and about 2 hours 15 minutes on the Tohoku Expressway to Koriyama JCT, then 46.1 km and about 36 minutes on the Ban-etsu Expressway to Aizu-Wakamatsu IC
Tokyo (Kawaguchi JCT) 169.7 km and about 1 hour 44 minutes on the Tohoku Expressway to Shirakawa IC
Ban-etsu Expressway, Aizu-Wakamatsu IC About 15 minutes to Iimoriyama and Tsuruga Castle, about 55 minutes to Ouchi-juku, about 60 minutes on Route 121 to To-no-Hetsuri
Tohoku Expressway, Shirakawa IC 38.4 km and about 1 hour 20 minutes on Route 289 to Shimogo; about 40 minutes to To-no-Hetsuri
Shimogo 32.1 km and about 1 hour 8 minutes on Route 121 to central Aizu-Wakamatsu
Sendai About three hours to Shimogo via Sukagawa IC on the Tohoku Expressway and Lake Hatori

Michi-no-Eki Shimogo, Aizu Yugawa-Aizubange, Tajima and Hatoriko Kogen have no filling stations. Refuel in central Aizu-Wakamatsu before heading south.

If you don't have a car

Use the Fukushima rental-car listings to find a pickup location. Before booking, check the driving-permit requirements.

Frequently asked questions

Where should I drive with one day around Aizu-Wakamatsu and Ouchi-juku?

Visit Iimoriyama, Aizu Bukeyashiki, Oyakuen Garden and Tsuruga Castle, then take Prefectural Route 131 to Ouchi-juku. After that, stop at Yunokami-Onsen Station and To-no-Hetsuri and drive from Kannon-numa to Michi-no-Eki Shimogo. The route is about 66 km, with around 1 hour 35 minutes of driving.

How much is parking at Ouchi-juku?

An ordinary car costs ¥500 per visit, paid in cash on the day. It rises to ¥1,000 from the start of business on 1 April 2027.

Which road should I take to Ouchi-juku in busy periods?

Avoid Routes 118 and 121 and take the Ouchi Kobushi Line on Prefectural Route 131 from Aizumisato. Set the Hongo branch office of Aizumisato Town as a navigation waypoint.

What is the nearest IC to Ouchi-juku?

Niitsuru Smart IC, which is ETC only. From Aizu-Wakamatsu IC, Ouchi-juku is about 55 minutes.

Can I cross the To-no-Hetsuri suspension bridge in winter?

It was closed last winter. Snow closed it on 4 December 2025, and it was still closed in January 2026.

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Sources & verification

Last verified: 2026-11-02

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