Fukushima - Aizu, Mt. Bandai

Tsuruga-jo Castle

From Sep. 2nd to 4th, we drove a car to Aizu and Mt. Bandai in Fukushima prefecture.
At first we headed for the Tsuruga-jo Castle.
The castle was rebuilt in 1965 as imitation of the castle was there when there was the Boshin War（1868 - 1869）. So it looks kind of new, but the original one was famous as a fine castle, which didn't collapse for 1 month from harsh attack of the Boshin War.  The picture of the castle of that time was exhibited inside of the new castle. The castle was horribly ravaged, but stood firmly. The image reminded me of earnest and strong mind of people in Aizu. You also see other important documentation exhibited.
From the top floor you see the town of Aizu. According to a local guide it is forbidden to built the building higher than the castle. The castle is still symbol of the local people beyond time.

The moat of Tsuruga-castle

The garden of the castle was very large more than I imagined. The deep moat absorbing the weight of time was very beautiful. I was astonished by the brilliance of technique and all effort of big stones are assembled to make these moats.
In the garden, there is also famous tearoom "Rinkaku" which son of tea master Sen Rikyu,  Shoan made for Gamo Ujisato. He provided shelter to Shoan when Sen Rikyu was orderd suicide by disembowelment by Toyotomi Hideyoshi and helped rebuild family line of grand tea master. Unfortunately the place was under the construction and covered by sheets. Since I was looking forward seeing this place so much I was deeply disappointed.

The view from the hotel room.

We stayed over at the hotel located Ashinomaki Onsen, hot spring area. They gave us better room than we reserved. The view from the window was picturesque.


Next morning we ate breakfast at the earliest time, headed for Mt. Bandai. Mt. Bandai has another name as "Mt.Fuji of Aizu", its altitude is 1819m and designated as one of "100 famous mountains in Japan". The view from the summit is should be brilliant with 360 degree panorama. Since it took more time to get the starting point of a trail from Ashinomaki Onsen than we expected we chose a easiest trail "Happodai Mountain Trail".


It was a misty day. But we had hoped it would clear up before we reached to the summit. The course was not difficult, but most of the trail was rocky, so I needed to concentrate to where to put my legs that produced me fatigue.
After walking about 30min., we smelt of sulfur, saw ruined Japanese inn. It was Nakanoyu Onsen Ryokan which survived eruption of Mt. Bandai in 1888, but closed business in 1990.
Hot springs was still there. We took a rest at "Koubou Shimizu" near summit of the mountain. The mist was getting thick. I saw the top of other mountains in cloud about 30sec at Koubou Shimizu. That was the last time I saw some kind of landscape. After that there was just fog. At summit unfortunately we saw nothing but fog.

Local people who we met on the way told us, the view from the summit around this time is splendid. The colors of gold rice stalk on rice paddy, green forests, blue lakes...How disappointing. Well it can't be helped, we can't control nature.

Around Nakanoyu Onsen Ryokan	The summit of Mt. Bandai

We stayed that night at Hoshino Resort Hotel at Mt. Bandai. Here too, we got better room than we reserved.The room was very comfortable and the dinner was tasty. At least we got good luck for the hotels. Next morning we got up early and walked around lakes.  Breathing moist air wrapped in the silence, I felt really good.

On the way going back to Tokyo, we dropped by a shop sell Aizu lacquerware and bought a tray which 3 cute rabbits are drawn. Also visited Ouchi-juku; a small old village where designated traditional architectures preservation district.

Ouchi-juku