🏯 Fukushima · 2 days
Aizu & Mt Bandai: Samurai Country and the Lakes of Fukushima
Drive the Aizu highlands of Fukushima: Lake Inawashiro, the Bandai volcano and its coloured ponds, the samurai town of Aizu-Wakamatsu and the thatched post town of Ouchi-juku — 9 michi-no-eki.
Aizu is the old samurai heart of Fukushima, ringed by volcanoes and lakes in the west of the prefecture — a world away from the Pacific coast in the news a decade ago. Mt Bandai blew its top in 1888 and left behind a landscape of blue-green ponds and lakes; below it sits Aizu-Wakamatsu, one of the last castle towns to hold out in Japan’s civil war.
This drive circles from Lake Inawashiro, up past the Bandai volcano and the Goshikinuma coloured ponds, through the sake and lacquer town of Aizu, and south into the mountains to Ouchi-juku — a thatched-roof post town frozen in the Edo period — before ending near Tajima. Autumn here is among the best foliage in Tohoku.
The stops, in driving order
- 1 Michi-no-Eki Inawashiro 道の駅 猪苗代 · Fukushima
Michi-no-Eki Inawashiro (道の駅 猪苗代) is a government-designated roadside station in 耶麻郡猪苗代町, Fukushima, Japan, registered in 2016 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a restaurant, a cafe, a local-products shop, EV charging and showers. There is free parking for about 164 cars and 16 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 9:00–18:00（冬期間営業時間変更あり） 軽食9:00–17:30LO ダイニング10:30–15:30LO 観光案内9:00–16:00. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Tohoku road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Bandai, Urabandai and Aizu Yukawa ・ Aizubange.
Nearby: 🏯猪苗代城 (2.7 km) · 📸観音寺川の桜 (2.7 km)
- 2 Michi-no-Eki Bandai 道の駅 ばんだい · Fukushima
Michi-no-Eki Bandai (道の駅 ばんだい) is a government-designated roadside station in 耶麻郡磐梯町, Fukushima, Japan, registered in 2010 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a restaurant, a cafe, a local-products shop, EV charging and free Wi-Fi. There is free parking for about 67 cars and 9 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 9:00–18:00（2021.12.1–） 〔コーナーにより異なる〕. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Tohoku road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Aizu Yukawa ・ Aizubange, Inawashiro and Urabandai.
Nearby: 🏛會津藩校日新館 (3.7 km) · 📸lake inawashira (6.1 km)
- 3 Michi-no-Eki Urabandai 道の駅 裏磐梯 · Fukushima
Michi-no-Eki Urabandai (道の駅 裏磐梯) is a government-designated roadside station in 耶麻郡北塩原村, Fukushima, Japan, registered in 1997 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a restaurant, a cafe, a local-products shop, EV charging and free Wi-Fi. There is free parking for about 57 cars and 8 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 8:30–17:30≪冬期・営業時間短縮あり≫＜休 11月–4月の毎週水曜日＞. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Tohoku road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Bandai, Inawashiro and Kita No Sato.
Nearby: 📸桜峠 (3 km) · 📸五色沼湖沼群 (3.2 km)
- 4 Michi-no-Eki Kita No Sato 道の駅 喜多の郷 · Fukushima
Michi-no-Eki Kita No Sato (道の駅 喜多の郷) is a government-designated roadside station in 喜多方市, Fukushima, Japan, registered in 1997 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a hot-spring (onsen) bath, a restaurant, a cafe, a local-products shop and a campground. There is free parking for about 215 cars and 5 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 売店9：30–18：00（最終入館17：45） レストラン11：00–18：00（Lo17：30）≪夏期・営業時間延長あり≫＜休 年末年始＞. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Tohoku road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Urabandai, Aizu Yukawa ・ Aizubange and Bandai.
Nearby: 📸Aizu Sanju-San Kannon (3.1 km) · 📸日中線しだれ桜撮影スポット (4.6 km)
- 5 Michi-no-Eki Aizu Yukawa ・ Aizubange 道の駅 あいづ 湯川・会津坂下 · Fukushima
Michi-no-Eki Aizu Yukawa ・ Aizubange (道の駅 あいづ 湯川・会津坂下) is a government-designated roadside station in 河沼郡湯川村, Fukushima, Japan, one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a restaurant, a cafe, a local-products shop, EV charging and free Wi-Fi. There is free parking for about 195 cars and 11 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 9:00–18:00〔施設により異なる〕＜休 1月1日 2月第3水曜日＞※臨時休業あり. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Tohoku road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Bandai, Aizu Yanatsu and Kita No Sato.
Nearby: 📸Aizu Sanju-San Kannon (0.9 km) · 🏯神指城 (5.6 km)
- 6 Michi-no-Eki Aizu Yanatsu 道の駅 会津柳津 · Fukushima
Michi-no-Eki Aizu Yanatsu (道の駅 会津柳津) is a government-designated roadside station in 河沼郡柳津町, Fukushima, Japan, registered in 2002 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a restaurant, a cafe, a local-products shop, EV charging and a tourist-information desk. There is free parking for about 55 cars and 9 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 9:00–18:00 ≪冬期・営業時間短縮あり≫. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Tohoku road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Oze Kaidou Mishima Yado, Nishiaizu and Aizu Yukawa ・ Aizubange.
Nearby: 📸福満虚空蔵尊円蔵寺紅葉スポット (0.6 km) · 🌄滝谷駅俯瞰 (4.1 km)
- 7 Michi-no-Eki Oze Kaidou Mishima Yado 道の駅 尾瀬街道みしま宿 · Fukushima
Michi-no-Eki Oze Kaidou Mishima Yado (道の駅 尾瀬街道みしま宿) is a government-designated roadside station in 大沼郡三島町, Fukushima, Japan, registered in 2006 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a restaurant, a cafe, a local-products shop, a tourist-information desk and an observation deck. There is free parking for about 32 cars and 4 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 8:00–18:00 ＜休 1/1–1/3＞. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Tohoku road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Aizu Yanatsu, Nishiaizu and Oku Aizu Kaneyama.
Nearby: 📸No. 1 Tadami River Bridge 第一只見川橋梁 (0.8 km) · 📸Daini Tadami River Bridge (1.2 km)
- 8 Michi-no-Eki Shimogou 道の駅 しもごう · Fukushima
Michi-no-Eki Shimogou (道の駅 しもごう) is a government-designated roadside station in 南会津郡下郷町, Fukushima, Japan, registered in 2009 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a restaurant, a cafe, a local-products shop, a park and an accessible restroom. There is free parking for about 31 cars and 8 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 8:00–18:00（4月–11月）、8:00–17:00（12月–3月）＜休 12/31–1/1＞. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Tohoku road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Hatori Mizuumi Kougen, Nasu Kougen Yuuai No Mori and Tajima.
Nearby: ⛰Mt. Mikura (5.2 km) · ⛰Mt. Nagareishi (5.8 km)
- 9 Michi-no-Eki Tajima 道の駅 たじま · Fukushima
Michi-no-Eki Tajima (道の駅 たじま) is a government-designated roadside station in 南会津郡南会津町, Fukushima, Japan, registered in 1995 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a cafe, a local-products shop, a tourist-information desk, a park and a baby room. There is free parking for about 40 cars and 10 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 7:00–19:00（12月–3月は7:00–18:00まで）. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Tohoku road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Banya, Yunishi Kawa and Yu No Kaguwashi Obara.
Nearby: ⛰Mt. Nanatsugatake (7.5 km) · ⛰Mt. Shikamata (7.7 km)
Make this route yours — load all 9 stops into the planner, reorder or remove stops, then open the finished trip in Google Maps.
Customize this route →Route tips
- The Goshikinuma (“five coloured ponds”) near the Urabandai station are an easy walk and unlike anything else in Japan.
- Aizu is a sake and lacquerware town — the roadside stations sell both, plus the local sauce-katsudon.
- Ouchi-juku (near the Shimogo station) is a thatched Edo post town — go early before the tour buses, or stay for the evening quiet.
- Late October is peak foliage around Bandai and Lake Inawashiro — one of Tohoku’s best colour drives.
Before you drive
- Can you drive in Japan? License rules by country
- Renting a car in Japan: the complete guide
- Can you sleep overnight at a michi-no-eki?
FAQ — Aizu & Bandai drive
How many days do you need for the Aizu & Bandai drive route?
2 days is a comfortable pace: roughly 170 km of driving with 9 michi-no-eki stops along the way. You can compress it, but the stops are the point.
Where does the route start and end?
It starts at Inawashiro and ends at Ouchi-juku / Tajima. Load all 9 stops into the free MichiStops route planner to reorder, add or remove stops, then open the finished trip in Google Maps.
When is the best season to drive this route?
April–November; brilliant foliage late October.
Do I need to rent a car?
Yes — michi-no-eki are roadside stations, realistically reachable only by rental car or campervan. Most visitors can drive in Japan with a 1949-convention International Driving Permit; check the license rules for your country before booking. License rules by country →
Can I sleep overnight at the michi-no-eki on this route?
Resting overnight in your vehicle is tolerated at most michi-no-eki (camping outside the vehicle is not), and 1 stop on this route has a proper campground next door. Read the overnight-stay guide for the etiquette. Overnight-stay guide →