Ouchi-juku

Background

Ouchi-juku is in Shimogo Town, Minamiaizu District, Fukushima Prefecture, along the Aizu-Nishi Kaido road. Many traditional thatched-roof buildings line both sides of the main street, and many still look as they did before the Meiji Restoration. The whole district has been designated an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings and is now a popular attraction, with soba shops, souvenir shops and other stores along the street.

Local customs

• Strolling the main street to see the thatched roofs and souvenir shops
• eating soba at one of the street's soba shops, where the local custom is said to be using a single green onion as chopsticks.

Travel tips

• The main street is short and can be enjoyed at leisure in half a day
• snow is heavy in winter, so wear non-slip shoes
• shop hours vary, as posted on site.
• Head towards Aizuwakamatsu or Kinugawa first, take a train to Yunokami Onsen Station and then a bus or taxi
• bus times are subject to official announcements. In winter the thatched houses are covered in snow, and in autumn the leaves set off the main street.