There are many attractive spots. A little nostalgic and interesting trip to Fukushima City and Iizaka Onsen

Take a big mouthful ♪ Where the dream of eating as many peaches as you want comes true

A wide variety of fruits, including cherries, peaches, grapes, and apples, are grown in the vast orchard, which is twice the size of the Tokyo Dome, and visitors can enjoy picking fruit from June to mid-December. After visiting reception at the “Kazu-chan Farmers’ Market” in the orchard, you can start peach picking!

Peach season is from mid-July to the end of September. First you will be taught how to select peaches, how to pick them, how to eat them, etc. Visitors can enjoy picking and eating as many peaches as they can in 30 minutes.

The sweet fruit, exposed to a lot of sunlight, is dark pink and has a strong sweet taste. Use a stepladder to find peaches that look good.

A good way of picking peaches is to grasp the branch with one hand and gently hold the peach with the other hand as though covering it, then twist it around.

“MARUSEI Orchard” uses organic fertilizer as much as possible and works to reduce the use of pesticides to ensure that its peaches can be eaten with peace of mind. The ripe peaches in early July were a variety called “Kouki.” It is a large variety of peach that ripens very early, and is well-balanced with a strong sweetness.

Leave matters in the orchard to us! President Seiichi Sato, known as "Ebizo-san," gave us a lot of advice. From his hat to his shoes, he is dressed in a dazzling full-body pink coordinated outfit.

He peels some harvested fruit for us. The hotel staff stare at Ebizo-san’s brilliant knife work.

It feels very luxurious to eat whole peaches ♪ The freshly picked peaches are firm, and sweet and juicy when you bite into them.

Those who want to taste more tender peaches can also take fruit harvested earlier from cases and eat it.

It is a seasonal luxury. Exquisite parfait using a whole peach

Seasonal parfaits made with seasonal fruits are popular at the orchard’s “Farmers’ Café Forest Garden.” "Cherry parfait" is available from mid-June for 950 yen, "peach parfait" from mid-July for 800 yen, and in fall, "pear parfait," "persimmon parfait," "grape parfait," and others are also available.

A row of glossy cherries on top of cereal and ice cream. They use a whole peach for the peach parfait. You can enjoy the best combinations of fruits and sweets, such as smoothies and shaved ice.

The orchard is large, so check the illustrated map before heading out. The “Kazu-chan Farmers’ Market” sells fruits picked in the morning, as well as juices and other original products, so be sure to pick some up as a souvenir.

Experience a seasonal taste with vegetables grown in the Moniwa area and 100% buckwheat soba noodles

Located near the Surikamigawa Dam, the “Moniwa Furusato Center” is a facility where visitors can enjoy local products, 100% buckwheat soba noodles, and other seasonal delights of the Moniwa area. We visited “Moniwa Soba Restaurant Kirihanatei” in search of authentic handmade soba.
The "vegetable tempura seiro" (1,150 yen) in the photo is served with crispy fried sweet potatoes, carrots, pumpkins, and other tempura alongside 100% buckwheat soba noodles.

This is the "vegetable and maitake mushroom tempura" from the a la carte menu for 850 yen. These maitake mushrooms are crunchy and aromatic, and are best enjoyed with salt.

100% buckwheat soba noodles, made with locally grown buckwheat flour, are firm and full of flavor. One pleasing factor is that all menu items are reasonably priced, including the "mori soba" (650 yen) and the hot "maitake soba" (850 yen).

Located in a deep mountainous area, the building is surrounded in beautiful green trees.

In addition to the soba restaurant, the "Moniwa Furusato Center" also has a farmers’ market that sells locally grown vegetables and mushrooms. Next door is a day-visit bathing facility called "Moniwa no Yu." If you have time to spare, we recommend refreshing yourself in the hot spring, which has a reputation as a “beauty's hot spring.”

Iizaka Onsen tourist information center utilizing the residence of a local master

The former house of the “Horikiri family,” a wealthy farming and merchant family who had been in business since the Edo period (17th to mid-19th centuries) and who have left their mark on Japan's modern political history, was repaired and restored, and opened in 2010 as a tourist center for Iizaka Onsen. On the 4,000m2 or so site, buildings of high historical value still exist, including the "Jukken Kura" built in 1775 and the “main building,” a modern Japanese-style building.

The "main building" was destroyed by fire in 1880 and rebuilt the following year as a modern Japanese-style residence. Visitors can take a tour of the interior, so take off your shoes at the inner entrance and enter the residence.

The main building has nine rooms where visitors can see skillful artisan craftsmanship, including high ceilings and sliding doors depicting the Thirty-Six Immortals of Poetry.

The main building has a "new storehouse," a "middle storehouse," and a "tool storehouse" attached to it. The "middle storehouse" in the photo is floored with tatami mats, and remained in use from when the Horikiri family served as village officials. It is equipped with a fireproof safe on the first floor.

Built in 1775, the "Jukken Kura" was mainly used as a rice storehouse. It is the largest and oldest storehouse still standing in the prefecture, and was designated as a tangible cultural property of Fukushima City in 2007.

Behind the Jukken Kura, a garden with trees and lawn stretches out, perfect for strolling.

Free-flowing water from the source of a hot spring! You can warm up in the footbath with a view of the garden

The long corridor has a "footbath and handbath" where visitors can enjoy a soak in free-flowing hot water from the spring source and enjoy the view of the garden. The handbath is quite hot, at around 50 degrees. *Varies depending on the season (outside temperature).

There is a roof, so there is no need to worry on rainy days, and it is also wheelchair accessible. Take a soak in the refreshing Iizaka Onsen hot water and refresh your tired feet.

A store in a separate building sold “mysterious peach bars” for 300 yen each from “Ichimian,” a Japanese confectionery store in Iizaka Onsen. These bars have become a hot topic of conversation as a kind of “ice cream that won’t melt,” made by using kudzu to harden Iizaka-machi local peach juice.

These peach bars provide an opportunity to taste different varieties of peaches according to the season. They are made with a lavish amount of peach pulp, and as time passes, the texture of the peach pulp becomes soft around the edges and crunchy on the inside. Be sure to try this mysterious ice cream that has been praised by peach farmers as being "beyond peaches!”

What is the Iizaka Onsen specialty "radium eggs"?

“Tamate Shoten” is the originator of the Iizaka Onsen specialty “radium eggs.” The owner in the Taisho era (1912-1926) named slow-boiled eggs made from spring source water "radium eggs," and they continue to be made using the same old methods.
The "radium egg gift box" in the photo (10 for 700 yen) has won praise for its cute retro wrapping ♪

A "radium egg" is a raw egg that is placed in the 70°C hot spring source water of Iizaka radium onsen, and allowed to gradually soften to a half-boiled state. Hot “radium eggs” are pulled out of the spring source and packed.

They cannot be eaten in-store, so products are only available for take-out. There is an unattended "radium egg" vending machine in front of the store, selling 4-egg packs for 200 yen, 6-egg packs for 300 yen, 10-egg packs for 500 yen, etc.
Inside, the whites are smooth and the yolks are viscous. If you eat it with a small amount of salt, dashi soy sauce, or other seasoning, you can enjoy its unique flavor and the richness of the egg. It also has a subtle hot spring flavor without seasoning.

“Radium eggs” have been popular for many years, including a long history of being served for breakfast at ryokans in Iizaka Onsen, and being sold at local supermarkets. As a food culture that has been passed down from generation to generation in the region, it was recognized as a "100-year food" by the Agency for Cultural Affairs in 2023.

The second Iizaka Onsen specialty! Chikuwa fish sticks have become bread

Take a look at “Watanabe Bakery,” located in an alley off Yuzawa Street, which sells bread unique to Iizaka Onsen.
The signature item, "chikuwa bread" (260 yen), is based on a nice idea: a chikuwa fish stick stuffed with ingredients, wrapped in bread, and baked. There are five varieties: "nori (seaweed) cheese," "corn potato," "hijiki seaweed," "burdock," and "tuna mayo," with each starting from 260 yen.

The "radium egg bread" (260 yen) made with a whole radium egg is also unique to Iizaka Onsen. It features the perfect combination of slightly sweet bread and mayonnaise.

It is a small bakery that was founded in 1952. A handwritten sign and pretty flowers decorate the storefront.

Breads are arranged in wooden boxes that give visitors a sense of the history of the store. At “Watanabe Bakery,” the gentle owner and his wife preserve the traditional taste without using additives or preservatives. How about eating simple but flavorful "chikuwa bread" while you take a stroll?

Enjoy a comfortable hotel stay in a space where you can feel the nature of Fukushima

This hotel is conveniently located for shopping, just a one-minute walk from the East Exit of JR Fukushima Station and a two-minute walk to the station building “S-PAL Fukushima.” There are 129 guest rooms across the 2nd to 8th floors. Based on the concept of “a space where you can feel the local features of Fukushima," the design of the guest rooms incorporates the unique essence of Fukushima, such as the natural beauty of Lake Inawashiro and Mt. Hanami.

In April 2024, a premium floor was created on the 8th floor! The ceiling and walls of the "premium twin" room are made of natural wood, creating a natural and cozy space. The spacious 120cm wide bed features an airweave mattress to ensure a good night's sleep.

There are also deluxe ladies' rooms exclusively for women, with pleasing attention to small details ♪

Ladies' rooms are located on the 5th and 6th floors. The light pastel interior is relaxing, and there are also nice items such as foot massagers and face steamers.

The top of the desk opens to reveal a large mirror, creating a dresser. Guests can put on their makeup without going to the powder room ♪

Breakfast is served at "Tohoku Sushi Sakana FUKUGURA" on the first floor, where guests can choose between Japanese or Western set menus. The Western-style set meal is a good nutritionally balanced breakfast that includes Spanish omelet, salad, bread, and yogurt. (The photos show examples for both the Western and Japanese set menus)

The Japanese set meal includes basic dishes such as grilled fatty mackerel, Japanese-style omelet, simmered vegetables, and natto (fermented soybeans). The fact that it is served with the local dish "Squid carrots" is also pleasing. There were free refills of freshly cooked rice and miso soup.

Breakfast is the source of power for the day! Free refills are also included, so enjoy a leisurely breakfast with coffee or soft drinks.

Guest rooms on the west side offer views of trains, including regular trains and the shinkansen bullet train. Please ask the hotel when you make a reservation if you would like one of these rooms.

Visitors can also experience traditional crafts! Enjoy the agriculture of Fukushima with all five senses

The "Village of Four Seasons" is a park developed by Fukushima City to promote new development in the agricultural sector. Beyond the flower-filled entrance gate, a lush green park spreads out, dotted with brick Western-style buildings such as the crafts center, rural market, agricultural products processing center, and water mill.

At the “crafts center,” visitors can try painting Tsuchiyu kokeshi dolls, which are unique to Fukushima. Tsuchiyu kokeshi dolls are said to be one of the three most famous kokeshi dolls in Japan, along with "Naruto kokeshi" and “Togatta kokeshi.”

First, paint the "snake eye pattern" on the head. Fix the kokeshi firmly to the hand wheel and turn it slowly to paint lines. Maybe we did surprisingly well?

The “Tsuchiyu kokeshi's” facial features include “whale eyes,” a “drooping nose,” and a “small mouth.” Imagine what kind of expression you want to paint.

If we get worried, ask the staff, "Is this okay?" The staff will give you the right advice.

Carefully paint the eyebrows, eyes, nose, and other features using a fine brush.

We were able to paint a cute face. The final step is to paint the pattern on the body!

The "kokeshi doll painting experience" costs 1,100 yen per person (50 minutes per session, five sessions per day). It is also popular among foreign tourists, because it enables them to casually experience the traditional culture of Fukushima.

Various hands-on experiences using natural materials from Fukushima

Other hands-on experiences are also available at the “crafts center.” The “upside down spinning top painting experience” costs 550 yen per top (around 15-30 minutes).

The “herbarium experience,” in which you choose your favorite shape to make a herbarium from three types of bottles, costs 1,100 yen per person (around 30-60 minutes). You can use an unlimited number of original dried flowers from the Village of Four Seasons.

There is a free rest area inside the “crafts center.” The walls are made entirely of glass, providing an overwhelming view of the pressing greenery. It is a spot that looks great in photos, which you will want to revisit during the fall foliage season.

The store sells goods such as "Kibokko-chan mascot," a local character of Tsuchiyu Onsen, for 770 yen, and "Momorin acrylic key chains," a PR character of Fukushima City, for 550 yen.
The park also has a gelato store and café where visitors can taste the prefecture's agricultural products, as well as a "japu chapu (splashing) pond" where children can play, and other facilities, enabling visitors to have fun all day long.

Art appreciation at a museum of art surrounded by beautiful nature

This museum of art stands at the foot of Mount Shinobu, the symbol of Fukushima City. The collection includes 3,800 works from Japan and abroad, including works by Shoji Sekine, a Western-style painter from Shirakawa who was active in the Taisho era (1912-1926) and passed away at the age of 20, as well as French Impressionist paintings and 20th century American paintings.

The entrance hall is a majestic space lined with several pillars and filled with natural light. From here, visitors will head to the special exhibition gallery and the permanent collection gallery.
A portion of the collection is displayed in the permanent collection gallery on the second floor. The special exhibition gallery on the first floor holds about five special exhibitions a year based on various themes, such as Impressionism and pop art.

The museum is surrounded by a garden of approximately 60,000m2. It is covered with lawn and has beautiful seasonal flowers, such as azaleas in spring and hydrangeas in early summer. The "Walking Flower," which looks as if it is about to start moving, was prototyped by the French artist Fernand Léger.

The garden is open to the public and anyone is free to take a stroll there. Spend a pleasant moment listening to the murmuring of a stream and the chirping of birds.

Here is the entrance to the museum. The Fukushima Prefectural Library is also located on the right side as you face the front.

A must-see for railroad fans! Rest area in a renovated Showa-era (1926-1989) retro station building and train car

The Soneda Station on the Fukushima Transportation Iizaka Line, which has been renovated to appear as it did when it was built in 1942, giving it a retro Showa-era feel. Along with the attractive station building, the attached "Resting Place Nanasen" has become a hot topic of conversation among railroad fans.

The Fukushima Transportation Iizaka Line connects Iizaka Onsen and JR Fukushima Station. This local line is indispensable to the daily lives of local people and is fondly referred to as “Iiden.”

The "Resting Place Nanasen" located inside the station is a train that was transferred from Tokyu Corporation in 1991 and operated for 28 years as a means of transportation for the citizens of Fukushima. The interior of the train has been renovated and reborn as a resting place for Iizaka Line passengers.

Inside the train is a relaxing space with extensive use of wood

The interior of the two-carriage train is bright and spacious. The second carriage has 12 single-seat box seats and is equipped with power, wi-fi, and air conditioning! It is a nice place to relax and read a book alone or to get lost in thought. Drinks purchased at the “Fushimi Coffee Shop” in the station may be brought in.

The first carriage remains exactly as it was when it was operated, and the driver's seat can be seen through the glass.

Small station building between Fukushima Prefectural Museum of Art and JR Fukushima Station

The fare chart and route map all have a retro look. To use the Resting Place “Nanasen” without riding the train, purchase an admission ticket for 150 yen.

There were small chairs at the ticket gate where visitors could sit down for a bit. How about immersing yourself in a nostalgic world in a station building that evokes the good old days?

The crispy texture is irresistible! Gyoza dumplings arranged in a circle, a local specialty of Fukushima City

A local specialty of Fukushima City is “disk gyoza.” Since its founding in 1953, Gyouza Terui has continued to make "disk gyoza," which are dumplings made from select ingredients then arranged and cooked in a round shape.
The photo shows a plate (22 dumplings) of "Fukushima's specialty disk gyoza" for 1,800 yen.

At lunch time, order the "gohan set” for 600 yen together with disk gyoza. The set includes rice, miso soup, pickles, and a small side dish. For the small side dish, you can choose from homemade slow-boiled egg, dessert, or salad.

The filling of the gyoza is made from cabbage with Fukushima "sangenkohai pork" and wrapped in homemade thin skin after you order. The crispy texture is achieved by cooking the gyoza in a heavily oiled pan heated to between 140 and 150°C.

The small size means you can eat as many as you like ♪ One plate (22 dumplings) is just the right amount for two people. A half dish (11 dumplings) is also available for 900 yen.

Side dishes besides gyoza that go well with beer and local sake

We also recommend the "Tamashoyu Ramen" (ramen noodles with soy sauce and egg) at 1,100 yen.
Draft beer, highballs, and local sake from Fukushima are also available, and many people enjoy them with the disk gyoza. For side dishes, we also recommend the stir-fried vegetables (900 yen) and squid carrots (450 yen), and to round off the meal, the "ajitama shoyu ramen" with straight noodles (1,100 yen).

There are three Gyouza Terui restaurants in Fukushima, and the East Exit Restaurant in Fukushima Station is a popular restaurant where there is always a long line of customers. It is also close to JR-East Hotel Mets Fukushima, so it is nice to be able to casually stop by.

A variety of popular Fukushima souvenirs, from standard items to new goods

“S-PAL Fukushima,” located next to JR Fukushima Station, is a commercial complex that offers fashion, miscellaneous goods, and food, and also shares seasonal information. The “Fukushima Souvenir Center” faces the East Exit ticket gate of Fukushima Station. It offers a wide selection of famous confectionery and local sake, and is a good place to quickly find a souvenir while waiting for the train.
Fresh caramels from “Mukaiyama Seisakusho,” delivered from Otama Village in the Adachi area of Fukushima Prefecture, are also available from 1,000 yen for 10 caramels.

“Mukaiyama Seisakusho” fresh butter sandwich cookies are sandwich cookies that feature “Japanese taste cream” made with fresh butter and white bean paste sandwiched between soft sable dough. Flavors such as plain, grape, green tea, and chocolate are available, starting at 750 yen for four cookies.

The showcase is filled with sweets made from Fukushima ingredients, such as fresh caramel and cheesecake. The sophisticated packaging also makes it a good gift.

A large collection of local sake from breweries throughout Fukushima Prefecture!

At “Jizake no Mori,” there is a wide selection of local sake from Fukushima, which is known as the land of sake in Japan. Check out the local sake from breweries around Fukushima, as well as seasonal products.

A wide range of specialty products are also available, including local sake, foodstuffs, and lacquerware from Fukushima Prefecture. There are also goods featuring Fukushima's Akabeko cow, including the "Akabeko Niginigi Voice," a soothing mascot that moos when its belly is pressed.

Located near JR-East Hotel Mets Fukushima, it is also a convenient place to spend time in a café and shopping. Look for attractive stores and find your favorite Fukushima souvenir.