Fukushima Travel Guide: Tradition, Resilience, and Tranquility in Northern Japan

Often overlooked yet deeply rewarding, Fukushima is Japan’s third-largest prefecture — a land of enduring spirit, quiet charm, and untamed beauty. From samurai towns and mountain lakes to coastlines rebuilding with hope, Fukushima invites slow travelers to witness the gentle strength of wabi-sabi: beauty found in imperfection, passage, and persistence.

Nature & Scenic Calm

• Goshiki-numa (Five Colored Ponds): A group of mystical volcanic lakes that change color with the seasons and light.
• Mount Bandai: A symbol of Fukushima — peaceful yet powerful, offering trails with sweeping views and silence.
• Inawashiro Lake: One of Japan’s clearest lakes — reflecting the sky like a giant mirror.

Historical & Cultural Sites

• Tsuruga Castle (Aizu-Wakamatsu): A beautifully reconstructed samurai fortress — a place of both honor and loss.
• Ouchi-juku: A preserved Edo-period post town with thatched-roof houses, untouched by time.
• Futaba & Namie: Coastal towns where silence speaks volumes — reminders of both fragility and resilience.

Local Cuisine

• Kozuyu: A humble, warm soup of root vegetables and dried scallops — often served at family gatherings in Aizu.
• Sauce Katsudon: A crispy pork cutlet over rice, soaked in sweet-salty sauce — comfort food at its finest.
• Kitakata Ramen: Famous for its flat noodles and soy-based broth — simple, nostalgic, and deeply satisfying.

Wabi-Sabi Moments in Fukushima

• Wandering through mist over Goshiki-numa in early morning
• Sitting alone beneath sakura trees at Tsuruga Castle in spring drizzle
• Watching golden fields sway around abandoned schoolhouses in Namie
• Slurping Kitakata ramen at a quiet diner with creaking floors and kind smiles

Fukushima is not a destination for rushing. It is a landscape of memory, healing, and humble beauty. Come not to escape, but to feel — and to remember what it means to endure with grace.

How to Get There

• From Tokyo: Take the Tohoku Shinkansen to Koriyama or Fukushima Station (approx. 90–100 minutes).
• To Aizu-Wakamatsu: Local trains or buses connect from Koriyama (approx. 1.5 hours).
• To the Coast: Local lines or car from Iwaki or Soma; some areas still limited due to recovery.