Fukushima has so much to offer, and not even Japanese people know the half of it! Or so you’ll hear time and time again on any trip to Fukushima. On this 2 1/2 day tour, set off from JR Fukushima Station to find the food, sake, scenery, and friendly faces of rural Japan.

Intro: Starting Your Fukushima Trip from Fukushima Station

The city of Fukushima, located in the northern reaches of Fukushima Prefecture, is the prefectural capital, and a center of metropolitan activity in the area, alongside Koriyama (in central Fukushima). Since Fukushima is positioned on the edge of Japan's northern Tohoku region, the city is also a transportation hub for travelers traveling north from Tokyo's Kanto region along Japan Railway's Tohoku Main Line – one of JR's earliest additions. With the railway celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2022, the storied route of the Tohoku Main Line has witnessed over a century of railroad travel in Japan. On this trip, a dozen years after the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, and just months after Japan reopened to the world post-pandemic, the Japankuru team hopped on the JR train to Fukushima Station for an exciting reunion with one of our favorite parts of Japan – and a chance to see even more of this unique area!

At this intersection between Kanto and Tohoku, we found award-winning sake breweries, Japanese whisky distilleries, and sweet local peaches. Not to mention exquisite Kawamata silk and vibrant Date knitwear, plus a traditional wagashi maker frequented by Japan's upper crust, and picturesque beauty in places like the village of Otama, or the secluded springs of Takayu Onsen, little-known even to Japanese travelers.

【Transportation Tips】

For anyone planning a trip to Fukushima (or the general Tohoku region) from overseas, the easiest way to get there is to fly into Tokyo, and pick up a JR East Pass (Tohoku area) issued by the JR East Group. The railway pass costs 20,000 yen for five days, and can be used for unlimited free rides on JR East Japan Group trains and buses within the designated area. That includes all the regular lines, plus shinkansen (bullet trains), limited express trains, and sightseeing trains, saving you time and money!

JR Fukushima Station: Disembark Here to Begin Your Journey!

Located as it is in the capital of Fukushima Prefecture, JR's Fukushima Station is an important hub on the Tohoku Main Line, and railway fans love the station because it offers a view of where the Tohoku and Yamagata shinkansen lines connect. More importantly for this trip, the station is a great starting point for accessing some of Fukushima's most scenic destinations, and it's also the location of Fukushima Prefecture's only JR East Travel Service Center.

Not only are the friendly staff at JR East Travel Service Center ready to share a wealth of Fukushima tourism information, but the facility itself has some lovely examples of Fukushima handicrafts on display, like Kawamata silk and Date knitwear. Before setting off on our Fukushima adventure, we stopped in to visit, and also got the exciting opportunity to chat with several train conductors, drivers, and the Fukushima station master himself, to discuss some of the spots we would find along the Tohoku Main Line in Fukushima.

Recommendations From the JR Fukushima Station Master

Ask Station Master Sasaki, and he'll tell you that his personal recommendations for Fukushima are all about Japanese sake! The prefecture is known to produce some of Japan's best sake, after all, and local breweries have won the highest number of Japan Sake Awards for nine years in a row! Sake lovers should not miss this part of Japan on their next trip to the country.

Easily accessible on foot from Asakanagamori Station (along the Tohoku Main Line), the Sasanokawa Brewery/Asaka Distillery complex produces Japanese sake and whisky side by side, and is known as a pioneer of Japanese whisky production. Its sake brewing history stretches back to the 1700s, but when Japan faced a rice shortage in the years after WWII, the brewery turned to whisky as a stopgap, and they've never looked back. Today, their Yamazakura whisky – the oldest whisky made in the Tohoku region – has fans around Japan and abroad.

Travelers interested in Japanese sake or whisky can make a reservation at Sasanokawa Brewery, take the train to Asakanagamori Station, and enjoy a tour of the brewery-meets-distillery facilities!

Sasanokawa Shuzo Sake Brewery / Asaka Distillery (笹の川酒造・安積蒸留所)
1-178 Sasagawa, Koriyama, Fukushima
Access: 12 min on foot from JR Asakanagamori Station
*Tour availability varies, check their official calendar for details.
Official Website (jp)

Fukushima is home to a number of sake breweries with centuries of history, but other local industries also have developed over the years, including traditional crafts like Kawamata silk weaving and Date knitwear. Since ancient times, silk production and loom weaving have flourished in the Date district where both Kawamata and Date are located. Protected from the elements by the barrier of the Ou Mountains, silkworms thrive in the unique environment, and the area is said to produce the best silk in the east: Kawamata silk.

To this day, there are still many silk workshops in the area, where artisans continue to produce the region's famously beautiful and robust silk products. One workshop near the Kawamata Michi no Eki rest stop, called Saiei Silk, has even developed the world's thinnest yarn-dyed silk fabric, which they've given the rather romantic name "Fairy Feather." The masterfully-produced fabric has won design awards, spreading the name of Kawamata silk throughout the world. To show the fabric off to even more people, the JR East Travel Service Center staff members even wear hats decorated with Kawamata silk straps as part of their uniform! While interested shoppers can find Saiei Silk's elegant products online, or occasionally in boutiques, many still prefer to visit the workshop in Kawamata instead, to see the beautiful fabric in person and get their silk from the source!

Saiei Silk (齋栄織物)
6-1 Baba, Tsuruzawa, Kawamata, Date District, Fukushima
Tel: 024-565-2331
Access: 2 min from Tonishi bus stop, on the Kawamatakokomae bus from JR Fukushima Station (East Exit)
*Please confirm your workshop visit beforehand via e-mail. (In English or Japanese.)
Official Website (en)

While you're in Kawamata to see the silk, don't forget to try their popular local cuisine made with Shamo chicken (シャモ). This specially bred variety of gamefowl is raised in the mountains of northern Date, and is said to have high-quality, flavorful meat. To sample this uncommonly delicious chicken, head to the Kawamata Agriculture Promotion Corporation's very own restaurant "Shamoll," situated at the Kawamata Michi no Eki. The menu includes Kawamata Shamo oyakodon rice bowls (川俣シャモ極親子丼, made with chicken and egg), Shamo youlinji (シャモ油淋鶏, Chinese-style fried chicken with sweet and sour sauce), and many more dishes made with local Shamo chicken.

Shamoll (川俣シャモレストラン シャモール)
13-1 Higashi Tsuruzawa, Kawamata, Date District, Fukushima
Hours: 10:00 – 15:00 (lunch ~14:00, closed Tue)
Access: 2 min from Kinunosatoshirukupia-Mae bus stop, on the bus from JR Fukushima Station (East Exit)
Official Website (jp)

Date's other handicraft specialty is a more recent addition to the area, which only arrived on the heels of a wave of industry. Perhaps it was a natural step to take for a region already famous for silk weaving, but today Date is known for knit fabrics, or "Date knitting." Studios that once housed foundries and other remnants of an older era have slowly but surely been transformed into a series of knitting workshops, which now turn out knit items for Japanese designers, or totally unique designs. Local knit manufacturer Dysun, for example, has perfected their own blend of computerized textile machines and traditional hand knitting, and use not just wool, but also unusual materials like Japanese washi paper, to create their own signature items. Their brand Nijiiro Camp often comes out with playful colorful items, whereas their label Shi-zen-tai frequently works with high-end designers.

In addition to all kinds of knitwear, Date knitting manufacturers also make scarves, accessories, and other smaller items. These days fans of the local knitting can show their support by wearing all the locally-made items, but Dysun and other local workshops hope to someday offer factory tours, and even crafting workshops!

Dysun Co., Ltd. (株式会社 大三)
23 Higashidobashi, Yanagawa-machi, Date District, Fukushima
Access: 20 min on foot from AbukumaExpress Yanagawa Station
Official Website (jp)

Returning to Station Master Sasaki's local recommendations, his final suggestion is perfect after a day of exploring the local breweries and workshops. Mentioned specifically by name, the hot springs of Takayu Onsen are something of a local secret, despite being known by the people of Fukushima for around 400 years. Unlike many hot spring areas around Japan, there is no busy shopping district surrounding Takayu Onsen- instead, the Azuma Mountains rise up all around, creating a tranquil, secluded feeling in the middle of nature. Along with Zao Onsen and Shirabu Onsen in nearby Yamagata Prefecture, Takayu Onsen is known as one of the Three Great Oshu Onsen, especially the Takayu Onsen ryokan called Tamagoyu.

Takayu Onsen's water is milky-white and sulfurous, and Tamagoyu's name (玉子湯, which quite literally means egg water) is said to have two origins: the egg-smooth feeling of your skin after bathing in the water, and also the faint egg smell left by the sulfur-filled water. When Tamagoyu first began welcoming bathers 150 years ago, it was just a simple bathhouse, but the long years have brought some changes while maintaining the traditional feel. Now there are seven different baths scattered across the mountainside, including both indoor and open-air baths, bath huts halfway buried in the snow, and special foot baths. Traversing the paths to find each one feels a little like an adventurous expedition.

As a traditional onsen ryokan, Tamagoyu also offers classic Japanese kaiseki cuisine, with breakfast and dinner made using fresh local ingredients. Plus, the hotel sells a wide variety of snacks and souvenirs, including local Fukushima handicrafts.

Tamagoyu Ryokan (旅館玉子湯)
7 Takayu, Niwasaka, Fukushima
Tel: 024-591-1171
Access: At Tamagoyu bus stop, on the Fukushima Kotsu Takayu Onsen (via Kami-Ubado) bus (40m) from the JR Fukushima Station West Exit
Official Website (jp) ｜ Reservations

Recommendations From Train Conductors and Drivers on the JR Tohoku Main Line

For the conductors and drivers who spend so many hours speeding through the beautiful Fukushima countryside along the Tohoku Main Line, the lunchtime conversation quickly came to rest on two areas in particular. The village of Otama has earned a spot on the official NPO list of Most Beautiful Villages in Japan, thanks in part to the majesty of Mount Adatara rising up as a spectacular backdrop behind the small community. And not far away, the area around Nihonmatsu Castle is known for "chrysanthemum dolls," and for being featured in the Japanese historical drama Yae's Sakura (八重の桜).

The list of "Most Beautiful Villages in Japan" includes Biei, a bucolic town in Hokkaido, and Ine, a unique seaside fishing village in Kyoto, but also Otama, this little Fukushima village. Located between JR Motomiya and Sugita Stations on the Tohoku Main Line, Otama is scattered across the dramatic landscape on the foothills of Mount Adatara, one of the 100 Famous Japanese Mountains favored by the Japanese emperor. The gorgeous scenery changes throughout the seasons, and even if you don't have the time to stop and explore Otama, you absolutely should not miss the view out the window as you pass by on the Tohoku Main Line.

For those who do get a chance to stop in and see more of Otama, one local claim to fame is the Mukaiyama Seisakusho, a former precision machine parts manufacturer that found popularity after expanding into a very different kind of manufacturing: sweets. Their caramel confections are particularly famous – calibrated to sweet perfection utilizing the same exacting standards needed for producing small technical parts. The caramel, with toasty bitter notes and well-balanced flavor, is not just sold as-is, but also used in their cakes, to coat popcorn, and added to chocolates, among other delicious uses.

Mukaiyama Seisakusho's main shop in Otama is surrounded by picturesque rural scenery, and fans of the brand can visit to enjoy the sweets at the on-site coffee shop and bakery, before taking home plenty of snacks as souvenirs from the gift shop. Their caramel pancakes are the go-to option for eat-in customers, and the variety of fillings and toppings means the pancakes are full of tasty surprises. But the Japankuru team also recommends their "flowing pancakes" (流れるパンケーキ), a dish that arrives at the table piled high with a special cream and caramel topping, which flows down when released from a plastic film.

Can't quite fit the trip into your schedule? There's also the convenient "Mukaiyama Seisakusho Cafe S-PAL Koriyama" branch at JR Koriyama Station!

Mukaiyama Seisakusho Otama Base (向山製作所大玉ベース店)
8-1 Shinden, Oyama, Otama, Adachi District, Fukushima
Hours:
　Shop: 9:00 – 18:00 (Apr~Sep) / 9:00 – 17:30 (Oct~Mar)
　Bakery: 9:00~ (until sold out)
　Cafe: 10:00 – 16:00 (weekdays, last order 15:00) / 10:00 – 17:30 (weekends and holidays, last order 17:00)
*All hours subject to change.
Official Website (jp)

A little to the north of Otama, Nihonmatsu is famous for its castle ruins, and "dolls" or mannequins decorated with chrysanthemum flowers. Nihonmatsu Castle, an important local landmark, witnessed all the samurai history that turned the area into a domain of the Niwa Clan, and the fierce fighting of the Boshin War, which brought the end of Japan's samurai shogunate. During the war, the samurai who still supported the old ruling class found themselves unable to resist the efforts of the powerful new government, leading to a tragic loss of young warriors who defended their homes to the death – a story still felt deeply in the region, and found in the story of the popular Japanese drama "Yae's Sakura."

The park around the present-day castle ruins, called Kasumigajo Castle Park, also happens to be one of Japan's top 100 cherry blossom spots! And nearby, the Nihonmatsu Castle Information Center is a new addition, presenting the castle's striking history through the use of digital displays and interactive features. The end result gives travelers a chance to see what makes Nihonmatsu Castle such a local icon, and to make the most of the park with its castle ruins.

Nihonmatsu Castle Information Center (にほんまつ城報館)
3-303-5 Kakunai, Nihommatsu, Fukushima
Hours: 9:00 – 17:00 (closed Mondays, or next day in case of national holidays, and New Year's holidays)
Access: 5 min by car from JR Nihonmatsu Station on the Tohoku Main Line
Official Website (jp)

In this little historical town, there's also a historic little traditional sweets shop! Wagashi lovers might already know of Hinatsu, since passengers traveling on the JR East luxury Train Suite Shiki-shima are known to buy the shop's traditional sweets from station souvenir shops when passing through Fukushima. Crafted by hand using local Fukushima ingredients, Hinatsu's wagashi confections are beautifully decorated packages of nostalgic flavor. Many of their customers flock to the bite-size yokan jelly balls, but the shop's owner recommends you try their Senshintei monaka (洗心亭最中)  – crisp wafer shells packed full of rich bean jam. Fans of wagashi, Japan's traditional sweets, will want to try some of Hinatsu's specialties.

Visitors who make their way to Hinatsu's main store in Nihonmatsu are not only afforded an opportunity to see all the colorful, varied sweets being made, but can also try making wagashi themselves, at Hinatsu's handmade wagashi workshop! Reserve a spot to learn the skills, and the fun, of wagashi making directly from the experts.

Hinatsu (日夏菓子店)
1-203 Motomachi, Nihommatsu, Fukushima
Hours: 8:00 – 19:00
Access: 4 min on foot from JR Nihonmatsu Station on the Tohoku Main Line
Official Website (jp)

One last recommendation from the conductors and train drivers – the mouth-watering fried chicken bento lunch they were all chowing down on while we talked. It turns out, this "karaage bento" (唐揚げ弁当) is from a famous Fukushima bento shop called Hinomaru-tei. The bento shop originates from Iwaki, but one of its branches can also be found in Fukushima City, about 20 minutes on foot from JR Minami-Fukushima Station.

Hinomaru-tei Gonome Branch (日の丸亭 郷野目店)
8 Kanegomecho, Gonome, Fukushima City, Fukushima
Hours: 9:00 – 14:00 / 16:00 – 19:00 (closed Mondays)
Access: 22 min on foot from JR Minami-Fukushima Station on the Tohoku Main Line
Official Website (jp)

Before departing from Fukushima Station to explore the area, the station area is a great place to grab a bite to eat. Nearby Terui Gyoza, for example, has become a must-eat for visitors in the area.

Gyoza Terui: Rounds of Delicious Manchurian Dumplings

When it comes to gyoza, Terui is quite possibly the first Fukushima shop to really make a name for itself! When the shop opened in 1953, the first-generation owner had just come back from China (fighting in WWII) with a taste for the local dumplings, a flavor he just couldn't forget. Looking to reproduce the unique Manchurian gyoza, Terui's owner began a process of trial and error, testing endless recipes, until he finally arrived at the gyoza still featured on the menu today. Terui's gyoza are filled with juicy meat and cabbage, wrapped up in a thin skin fried crispy and golden brown, and served with the shop's specialty dipping sauce. They go great with what's on tap.

Nowadays, Gyoza Terui has three locations in Fukushima City, including one right outside JR Fukushima Station. The crispy dumplings are definitely worth a try next time you pass through the station.

Gyoza Terui Fukushima Station East Exit (餃子の照井 東口駅店)
1-1 Sakaemachi, Fukushima City, Fukushima
Hours: 11:30 – 15:00 (last order 14:15) / 17:00 – 20:00 (last order 19:00) (closed Tuesdays)
Official Website (jp)

Shimiten: Mugwort Mochi Inside a Donut, a Fukushima Specialty

Our last Fukushima specialty of the trip, "shimiten" donuts are a specialty from the local sweets maker Konohata. The center of a shimiten is made of chewy green mochi, flavored with the traditional Japanese ingredient mugwort, and the outside is a layer of light fluffy donut batter, fried to a flaky golden brown. The end result is a unique combination of Japanese and Western-style flavors that's sweet, but not overpowering, and decadent without being greasy. Shimiten are also available with optional red bean filling, or in a miniature size, offered in cups like a box of donut holes. (Great for sharing!) Konohata has a store in Pivot, a shopping area directly connected to JR Fukushima Station, so they're a convenient snack to pick up for your trip!

Konohata Shimiten (木乃幡食品館ピボット店)
Power City Pivot 1F, 1-1 Sakaemachi, Fukushima City, Fukushima
Hours: 10:00 – 20:00 (closed Jan. 1, second Wed in Sep)
Official Website (jp)

+ All the Souvenirs You Could Want at JR Fukushima Station

On this trip through Fukushima, we chose JR Fukushima Station as a convenient starting point for our itinerary – but it's a great place to end your trip, too! S-PAL, one of the shopping areas connected to the station, is particularly good for a wide variety of souvenir options, with shops like Jizake no Mori (specializing in local sake) and a branch of Hinatsu, the wagashi specialists.

Jizake no Mori has snacks and local gourmet products, but more importantly, the shop offers a great selection of sake from the surrounding Aizu area. Check out the bottles from the famous local brewery Suehiro, or pick up the sake and whisky made at Sasanokawa Brewery/Asaka Distillery right at the station! With so many bottles lined up on the shelf, it can be hard to choose which sake to try, but the friendly staff are always ready to help and offer advice.

And if you didn't get enough Japanese sweets in Nihonmatsu, here's another chance to stock up!

S-PAL Fukushima (エスパル福島)
1-1 Sakaemachi, Fukushima City, Fukushima
Hours: 10:00 – 20:00
Official Website (jp)

The Japanese Scenery Still Waiting to Be Discovered

On this trip to Fukushima, we took the advice of the station master, conductors, and train drivers at JR Fukushima Station, and got to see a whole new side of Fukushima. There's the quaint town of Nihonmatsu, with its tragic war-torn past and sleepy small-town present. The onsen ryokan Tamagoyu, tucked away in the snowy mountains like a secret hot spring escape. And the districts of Kawamata and Date, where textile workers have long labored over looms to create fine fabrics. All of these places left their own distinct impressions, each one quite different and unforgettable.

According to  Station Master Sasaki, "Fukushima has a lot to offer, but the people of Fukushima are a little too modest when it comes to getting all that information out there." If you're ready for a unique adventure on your next trip to Japan, give Fukushima a try!