Published date: November 15, 2024
[Fukushima] Aizu Tadami Onsen Trip - The Best Hot Springs!!!
Room Type Stayed
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Experience of the stay
Hotel Basic Information:
Aizu Higashiyama Harinaki Onsen Hotel is a well-established hotel in the Higashiyama Onsen area, and compared to later developed hotels, it has the advantage of a good location. Next to the hot spring pool, you can see a waterfall, and from your room, you can overlook the valley along with the green or red outside the window (depending on the season).
Transportation:
The nearest public transportation to the hotel is the bus, and it is about 600 meters from the bus station (Higashiyama Onsen Station) to the hotel, which takes less than 10 minutes to walk. The outbound journey has a gentle slope uphill, and the return is a gentle downhill slope. If you have large luggage (like a suitcase), it requires some effort to drag it, so taking a taxi directly to the hotel is easier. If you have no large luggage and are budget-conscious, you can take the bus like I did.
Food:
Generally, making a reservation at this hotel through HafH does not include any meals. If you want to enjoy a one-night-two-meals plan, it is recommended to book directly on the official website or ask the hotel to confirm meal plans and prices. Since I was budget-conscious and had a tight itinerary, I actually arrived at the hotel quite late, so I didn’t dine at the hotel for convenience. Instead, I stopped by the Pivot supermarket next to Aizu Wakamatsu station and purchased some decent sushi (discount clearance items, for those in the know) along with beer and other drinks (the hotel has milk and beer vending machines, but the prices are a bit high), which I brought to the hotel to enjoy.
Hot Springs:
The best aspect of Harinaki Onsen Hotel is its spacious public bath. I'm not sure about the layout of the women's bath because I didn't experience it on the night I stayed; it remained the same location for both my day and night visits. The spacious public bath has two levels, and the indoor area is lush with greenery; outdoors, the fresh air and proximity to the waterfall allow you to fully experience all five senses of the hot spring enjoyment. I highly recommend it.
Experiences during the trip
**Take the earliest Tadami Line train and do not stay at a hotel in the Higashiyama Onsen area (but after finishing the Tadami Line, you can fully enjoy Higashiyama Onsen)**
Riding the first train of the Tadami Line early in the morning is to see the famous first Tadami River Bridge. The Tadami Line is already scarce, with only six round trips a day, and you can only photograph the scene at a few specific times. The time of the first early train allows you to reach the first Tadami River Bridge and photograph the trains traveling back and forth between 9:00 and 9:30.
After visiting the first Tadami River Bridge, depending on your schedule, you can take the next train to Tadami Station. You can also rent an electric bicycle from the Aizu Miyashita Tourist Information Center, like I did (3 hours for 500 yen + rental return 500 yen = 1000 yen), and ride all the way to Aizu Yanagitsu, where you can pay a visit to Fukuman Kokuuzousama Enzanji, and finally take the Tadami Line back to Aizu Wakamatsu.
After staying at the Higashiyama Onsen for a night, you can slowly explore Aizu Wakamatsu city. Famous attractions include the samurai residences, the mysterious Entsuuzan Temple, and Aizu Wakamatsu Castle. If you are using the Aizu 2-day free pass like I did, you can also take the bus to visit Ritsuki Kannon Temple and Katsujoji Temple.
Finally, I must particularly mention Katsujoji Temple because it has the "National Treasure" statue of Yakushi Buddha. The photos of Yakushi Buddha online are not very appealing, but seeing the real statue is genuinely moving. In the dark hall, gazing quietly up at the Buddha is truly an emotional experience that could bring tears to your eyes.
Compared to urban areas like Sendai and Fukushima in Tohoku, Aizu is more rural with vast fertile fields and rolling mountains. The low population density adds a sense of ethereal serenity to the travel experience, and every place presents a beautiful and captivating scenery.