Great exhibition centre worth spending at least an hour looking through, admission is free but check website for closing days. Guided tours are in Japanese, there are QR code for each section that links you to their website for audio description, it includes both English and Japanese options. The souvenir shop is quite nice with bunch of merchandise. Taking the bus from Tx station is quite convenient however the bus does not have a route number so you have to check the Japanese name to make sure. Recommend spending 2-3 hours

A very nice place to visit with kids. It's free for all. Very educative. Nice models of satellites. With QR code, you can get the information in english.

This museum is so nice. Its so good especially for kids who love outerspace or astronomy. It shows the exhibit of the spaceshuttle, spacesuits and other stuff that the astronauts are using during the space travel. They have tour guide, maps and a souvenir shop.

An inspiring place for science and space exploration. The recent popularity of the manga "Space Brothers" made this place even more special. I particularly like how Japanese people love food and make so much effort on space food. Worth a visit if you are around Tsukuba.

Pretty awesome place to pay a visit with family! Cool playground for kids. You need to book it in advanced, otherwise you cannot walk in or park your car. It is totally free, but you can buy some souvenir nearby at the small shop. The Personal recommend: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Family-friendly: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Date for couples: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Parking lot: ◯ Services/meals/products/design: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Period for stay: 1 hour Charge: adults and kids are both free Baby room/accessible toilet: ◯ Cleanness: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Here you can have lots of spot to take picture. Especially the astronout costume. That's awesome! There are some vending machines for beverages around Jaxxa, so don't worry if you'll get thirsty. They also have small cafe that sell coffee and bakery. Beside this, you can find omiyage/souvenir shop. If you come in a group, they have common room/hall. The toilets are so clean. Overall, it'll give you fun and knowledge at the same time, especially for kids.

Children and Adults had fun just visiting various facilities in a guided bus tour with English speaking tour guide. Get to understanding the hardwork and preparations behind in all space expeditions. Had an opportunity to visit the ISS control station where astronauts communicate with staff on earth at real time! Wishing all the best to JAXA to their "Gibo project"!

If you are a beginner like me…It’s a good hike for Saturday..so that you may take some rest on Sunday before going back to office on Monday. I went on 05.01.2025. There was snow near top making some places slippery. Though it was not so crowded, a proper pathway is not available and we had to stand aside to make way for hikers coming down (especially on the last 200m to top to nyotai san) View from the observation deck between nyotai san and Nantai san is amazing. We had to Carry our water/ refreshments for the hike. However there are a few restaurants on the top but with no vegetarian options 🥹. On the way back we took the cable car as it was already late and the last bus to Tsukuba station (40-50 min bus ride away) was at 5pm.

Very fun and enjoyable. Very nice view and peaceful mountain. My son is only 7 years but climbed the mountain ⛰️

Great beginner hike! I went twice, once during summer and once in Autumn. I think people can really enjoy going here during the Autumn because the foliage leaves was really nice. We went for a sunrise hike last time and the view was awesome at the summit! For full post please check my blog at mariejournals

Fairly challenging trail with huge rocks and sometimes slippery, near the top is narrow and crowded. Overall a good hike near from Tokyo. View from the top is awesome. There is options for cable car and rope way as well.

A beautiful mountain an easy bus ride from Tsukuba Station. Dotted with cozy restaurants with views, a cable car, and ropeway, it's a lovely day trip. The cable car takes you to the saddle between the two peaks. Each of them are rocky to reach, but only a few meters above the saddle. A prime thing ti do in Ibaraki.

The ropeway will take you up to the summit with ease! There are several restaurants at the summit. It should be noted, however, that most of them only accept cash. We then walked down from the summit. It was exciting, with steep slopes and lots of huge rocks. This is a great place to enjoy nature.

Nice and beautiful. Good for hike. The path is clearly maintained in natural way. No concrete or any other artificial material. However, in rainy days, it's muddy and slippery at some places. Anyway nice experience to hike it. For those who unable to climb it other options available. Cable car is cheap and easy. It's 600 ¥ per adult. Ropeway is what available. There are shops around the base of mountain. And also few shops at the top. But, as expected, price is bit high. After reaching the top you can enjoy the panoramic view. That's marvelous. It will refresh you. If you can bring food and water the hiking will cost nothing. Wash room facilities available. So I recommend this place for your next trip. Congrats

A traditional temple at a rural pottery town. Full of services available to purchase for Shinto religious and fortune telling sticks. Car parking available at side, and many soba and snack food shops nearby

Currently under construction, which spoils the atmosphere a bit. But the 400 year old wisteria is amazing.

Kasama Chrysanthemum Festival Kasama Inari Shrine About 5,000 pots of chrysanthemums are in bloom and they are so beautiful.

This shrine is known as one of the three largest Inari shrines in Japan. They did not have a lot of 🦊 foxes around the shrine at all. They were doing some maintenance to the trees, shrubs and really not much happening.

A peaceful shrine with two 400 year old Fuji (wisteria) trees. Famous shrine events include yabusame (horse archery), inari sushi and kiku festival in autumn. The town is full of quaint little pottery shops with traditional kasamaware (kasama yaki). After visiting the shrine in spring, people can also enjoy Himatsuri (pottery festival) at the Geijutsunomori Park and azalea (tsutsuji) festival at the kasama azalea park. Highly recommended!

Amazing Inari Shrine. Large and famous shrine in Ibaraki. Bicycle parking available. Lots of explanations in English. Crowded even on a weekday. Toilets available. Definitely worth a visit. This place is super crowded durning New Years holiday.

Lovely and serene place. Many many fox figurines. The inari sushi was supposed to be fantastic but we were too late to taste it. Another reason to explore this place again.

I was lucky enough to watch the recent MotoGP there. The venue itself was great. The major letdown was the extremely poor organisation to get people away from the stadium after the race. I strongly recommend that you book a bus or taxi prior to the event. For the many of us who foolishly didn't, including Japanese, it took an hour and a half to figure out how to get out. We ended up on a two hour bus trip to a train station, a ridiculously long way way from the track. I thought I'd never make it back to Tokyo.

This is only about the Race Track. (Not the resort/hotel. We went to the MotoGP weekend. The race was fun but there is no shade at all. The vending machines ran out of water all three days, and for a tech country, there was only a very small screen in our seat section.

It's always a great time in Motegi for a race weekend! Lots of attractions for all types of kids (real kids and grown up kids!).

This is a review for the TRACK venue, not the hotel! What a world class venue this is! Super GT here was truly incredible. The weather in early November is perfect.

Loads of fun. Can bring kids of almost all ages. And fun for adults as well. Nice hotel on premisses and if you go on a race day on the real track it's fun to watch and hear the roar of engines. Only knock is camping during the summer where the bugs can get out of hand for folk not used to them.

Clean and well managed. Traffic management can be better though. Took us about an hour just to get out of the parking on race weekend.

Amazing track to watch MotoGP, super well organized, shuttle buses from the parking lot to get you to the front gate, lots of food/drinks and bathrooms !

It Is a beautiful aquarium of fresh japanese river . They recreat the environment around the area, with the acquatic fauna of Japan. Please come to see it.

600 yen entry. It's a nice little aquarium with nice views. Reservations are required during the corona pandemic to limit people inside the aquarium. The surrounding area is really lovely to walk around as well

Learn and know all about fish in Tochigi area, good information displayed, alot of fish, some you can touch it. They have capibara also and local farmer market outside near parking area

Nice aquarium, reasonable price. Kids room with 2 changing tables, nursing room and a hot water tap to make baby bottles inside. Outside, huge park including a fishing pond and a splash pad zone.

Seeing different kinds of 🌊 creatures made me feel calm. My grandkids also did enjoy so much. The entrance fee is reasonable. I recommend this place to families with small kids who loves to see the small under water but amazing aquarium world 🌍 without going too far to enjoy.

It's a bit on the small side, but the exhibits are well-maintained and interesting. The real draw for this place is there Amazon River exhibit. It has a tunnel through the main tank and many vantage points from which to see the amazing fish of the region. Worth a stop!

So many beautiful things to see. Loved it

A silky-smooth waterfall cascades down the rock surface. The viewpoint is easily accessible through the town and a short tunnel walk. Entrance fee is reasonable too.

Amazing place! Even though it was pouring it down it was still good. The path to the falls is a tunnel with atmospheric lights and sounds. The top section is access by an elevator but the very very top has a few stairs to climb (with no roof). Parking is 500 yen and the falls ticket is another 500. 15 minute walk from the car park to the falls.

The most beautiful waterfall I ever seen and very easy to reach! I could not imagine how Japanese government built the platform and elevator area and the path to go up there long time ago without ruin its natural landscape. I surely wanna visit other waterfalls after this. You should, too!

Woah 😲 what a beautiful and popular attractions of Ibaraki prefecture. If you want to go inside there is an entrance fees i think ¥300 yen if I remembered you can reach the observatory through tunnel and there is a second observation upper level through elevator. About the parking you have to pay ¥500 yen.

Great sight seeing spot in Ibaraki. Not free but there is a viewpoint with an elevator and then a hiking trail back to the parking areas. One of the most beautiful waterfalls I have seen in Japan.

Nice place, it costs 500 yen for entry. There are a lot of hiking trails as well.

Three viewing platforms of your choice. Elevator available to reach the second. There were various parking lots. The closest was ¥500 per day.

I had never seen a waterfall quite like this one. It is like a work of art. Go in the fall when the leaves are turning, you will be very impressed. We came on a bus tour that included a stop at an apple orchard.

Small waterfall but nice in fall, summer would be nice too to cool off. Walk along downstream. ( near the lowest car parking area) There’s an antique shop full of great items.

Wonderful waterfall in the north of Ibaraki. Not the easiest place to access but definitely worth it. Beautiful landscape and a very cute coffee shop around.

Not as grand as the Fukuroda falls but you get to enjoy the falls from behind. They shops opened at 10:30 but you can visit the falls for free before that.

Amazing little waterfall, it's always nice and relaxing by the water. Didn't get in the soba it was busy even thought it was early for dinner. Next time will sit and try their food, can't wait.

I visit this waterfall at least four times per year. It is generally quiet on weekdays outside peak travel periods. It is quiet, cool and surrounded by maples. It is a power spot and many people claim to feel refreshed after visiting. During the hot summer months it is pleasant to walk throughout the shallow water near the base of the fall. If you are fortunate enough during your visit, the sun may hit the water at the right angle to produce a small rainbow.

Wonderful waterfall, water is down from high cliff. You can go behind the water. There is a local apple shop, bbq lots, a cafe. Parking area is 150 m down the road and takes about 10 cars.

(Translated by Google) I happened to pass by and saw that it was full of people and cars, so I decided to stop by. I bought some local products as souvenirs at the local products center. There were plenty of vegetables and they were cheap. There were also other restaurants, and the local soft serve ice cream here was soba. 2025.10 (Original) 偶然通りかかったら人も車もいっぱいだったので寄ってみました。物産センターでお土産に地の物を買いました。野菜も沢山あり安かったです。他に飲食店もあり、こちらのご当地ソフトクリームは蕎麦でした。　2025.10

(Translated by Google) Sorry. It's a roadside station, but the main attraction is the scenery.^^ You can go around from the restroom side. It's behind the restroom. I've been here many times.^^ Motorcycle riders come here, don't they?^^ There are so many of them. They apparently have delicious soba noodles. They often have something like a flea market outside. The vegetables are also delicious, so please come and visit if you have time.^^ It was early in the morning, so the shops weren't open yet.^^ I just took a stroll around the town. (Original) すみません。道の駅なんですけど、景色メインです^^ トイレ側から回れますトイレの裏手にあります 何度もきてます^^ ここはバイクの人が来ますよね^^ すごい数の 蕎麦が美味しいらしいです。 外ではよくフリーマーケットらしきものをやってます。 野菜も美味しいので 良かったら来てみてね^^ 朝早くてお店がまだやってません^^ 街旅散歩でした。

(Translated by Google) At the Iono Roadside Station, I had soba noodles recommended by a friend. The popular limited menu had sold out by 1pm, so I ordered a set of soba noodles and tempura. The soba noodles had a good flavour and were very delicious. However, it was disappointing that the tempura was not freshly fried and seemed to have been there a while ago... My friend who went with me was concerned that the taste might have worsened from last time, but the soba noodles themselves were very tasty. The soba soft serve ice cream served after the meal was also impressive! It was so heavy that I thought "It's heavy!" when I received it, and it was full all the way to the bottom of the cone. To me, the taste was similar to coffee, but it was also delicious and satisfying. (Original) 道の駅伊王野にて、友人のおすすめで蕎麦をいただきました。 人気の限定メニューは13時時点で売り切れており、盛りそばと天ぷらのセットを注文。 蕎麦は風味もよく、とても美味しくいただけました。 ただ、天ぷらは揚げたてではなく、少し時間が経っている印象だったのが残念…。 一緒に行った友人が「前回より味が落ちたかも」と気にしていましたが、蕎麦そのものはしっかり美味しかったです。 食後の蕎麦ソフトクリームもインパクトあり！ 受け取った瞬間「重っ！」と思うほどのずっしり感で、コーンの下までたっぷり。 味は私にはコーヒーに近く感じましたが、それもまた美味しくて満足でした

(Translated by Google) On the way back from eating Shirakawa ramen in Shirakawa City, I stopped by Tosando Iono Roadside Station. It was a long time ago, but I had heard the soba noodles were delicious, so this was my second visit. I wondered what it was like back then? 🤔 I wandered around, trying to recall my memories. Apparently the soba restaurant is closed on Fridays, so it was closed today. This roadside station sells lots of fresh local vegetables and other products. (Original) 白河市で白河ラーメンを食べた帰りに「道の駅　東山道伊王野」さんに寄ってみました。 ずいぶん前になりますが、お蕎麦が美味しいと聞いたので来たことがあり2度目の訪問です。 こんな感じだったっけな？🤔と記憶を辿りながらブラブラしてみました。 お蕎麦屋さんは金曜日が定休日だそうで、今日はやってませんでした。 地元の新鮮な野菜などがたくさん売っている道の駅でしたね。

(Translated by Google) The waterwheel was bigger and more impressive than I imagined. I had the 100% buckwheat soba and the waterwheel soba. Both were delicious! I also recommend the sweetfish rice! (Original) 水車が想像以上に大きくて迫力があります。 十割蕎麦と水車そばをいただきました。両方ともとても美味しい！鮎めしもおすすめです！

(Translated by Google) I stopped by here on my way home from the Nasu Outlets during the Obon holidays! I was finally able to try the buckwheat soft serve ice cream that I had been wanting to try for a while!! It wasn't too sweet and was very delicious! There are also places to eat, a direct sales vegetable market, and it's a proper roadside station. I was also happy to see the big waterwheel! (Original) お盆の連休中に那須アウトレット帰りに寄らせてもらいました！ 前から気になっていたそば粉のソフトクリーム、食べる事が出来ました！！ 甘くなくとても美味しかったです！ 他にもご飯が食べれる所もあり 野菜の直売場もあり ちゃんとした道の駅です。 大きな水車も見られて嬉しかった！

(Translated by Google) This roadside station is famous for its giant twin waterwheel and soba noodles ground with a 2-meter stone mill. I didn't try the soba noodles, but I did have some soba soft serve ice cream. 😋 It didn't taste like soba, but more like coffee? 🤔 (Original) 巨大な2連水車と2mの石臼で挽いた蕎麦が有名な道の駅。 蕎麦は食べませんでしたが、そばソフトいただきました😋 そば味はしなくてコーヒー味？でした🤔

A small castle with free entry! The view from the top is good and the castle park is nice. There aren’t many tourists, it’s a nice quiet spot. The staff are friendly inside the castle, thank you for chatting to me

Just the 3-level turret house here but still quite an interesting place to get a view of the city. Also stamp inside, everything free to see other than the museum

One of the top 100 Japan castles. There are two castle stamps. One in the tea shop and one inside the castle. It’s free to visit inside.

The castle is free and worth a visit. It's a good reconstruction that unlike those castles rebuilt 40-50 years ago tries to look more authentic.

Visited as of November 2017. The castle is in renovation due to East-Japan Earthquake, so there are some minor inconveniences, like part of the attraction is inaccessible. But this place is beautiful, with a great view on a nice day :)

As of this day, April 7, 2025 the cherries here have started to change colors to green and the petals are falling incessantly. Hurry everyone.

Nice tiny castle in Nasu. You can go inside the castle for 3 levels walk for seeing the old historic building structures which specially for war! Of course it already renovated both inside and outside, but you can still see some of the historical remains like bullets holes. It is free entry and the castle wall is in specially put in waves and curve order which is not the same with traditional Japan castle.

Pieceful place.

(Translated by Google) This is a medium-sized park where you can choose courses depending on your physical strength. We especially recommend the plum blossoms in the Japanese garden in spring, but it is also a very beautiful park where you can enjoy a variety of flowers such as cherry blossoms, hydrangeas, and marigolds. There are toilets and a shop at the entrance, and there is also a rest area with vending machines and toilets in the center of the park. Dedicated staff are always on hand to maintain and patrol the park, so you can enjoy a comfortable stroll. This park is recommended for the elderly and families with small children. (Original) 体力に応じてコースが選べる中規模の公園です。特にオススメなのは春の日本庭園の梅ですが、そのほかにも桜、紫陽花、マリーゴールドなど様々な花が楽しめるとても綺麗な公園です。入口にトイレと売店があり、公園の中央にも自動販売機とトイレのある休憩所があリます。いつも専属のスタッフによる園内整備や見回りなどが行われておりますので快適な散策が可能です。高齢者や小さな子供連れにもオススメの公園です

(Translated by Google) It's a spacious and wonderful facility. There are about eight tennis courts, all in excellent condition, and the fees are very reasonable: about 150 yen per hour for adults, and half price for high school students and younger. (Original) 広くて素晴らしい施設です。 テニスコートなんて、8面くらいあってとても状態いいのに、大人1時間150円くらい？で高校生以下は半額？くらいのとても安い利用料金でした。

(Translated by Google) This time [Travel enriches life] It's been a while since I applied for a tour with ``Travel'' and used Fukushima Airport ✈️. The airport is compact so you don't have to worry about getting lost 👩‍🦰 On the third day (last day) of the tour, we were scheduled to arrive at Fukushima Airport (20:20) from Itami Airport. As a result, I was able to return to Fukushima Prefecture almost on time! ️ After all, I felt that Fukushima is a good place = a place where you can come back and feel safe. I'm currently basking in the afterglow of my trip ⭐️ We also recommend T-LIFE Holdings Co., Ltd.'s travel plans❣️ (Original) 今回【旅が人生を豊かに。旅っくす】のツアーに申し込みをして久しぶりに福島空港✈️を利用させていただきました。 空港内はコンパクトで迷子になる心配はなさそうです👩‍🦰 ツアー３日目（最終日）は伊丹空港から福島空港（20:20)着予定でした。 結果、ほぼ時間通りに福島県に帰って来れました‼️ やっぱり福島は良いところ＝帰って来て安心できるところ　だと感じました。 ただいま旅行の余韻に浸っています⭐️ 皆さんもT-LIFEホールディングス株式会社の旅行プランをオススメします❣️

(Translated by Google) The park across from the airport is well-maintained, a good size, and has ups and downs, so I often take my dog ​​for a walk. In other remote locations, there are facilities where you can enjoy BBQ for free if you apply, and facilities such as a soccer field for a fee. It's a great park, and I wish more people would use it. (Original) 空港向かいの公園は、良く整備されており、適度な広さでアップダウンもあり、犬を連れて散歩に良く行きます。 他に離れた場所には、申し込めば無料でBBQができる施設や、有料でサッカーグラウンド等の施設も有ります。 せっかくの公園なので、もっと多くの人に利用してもらいたいものです。

(Translated by Google) I went for a walk 🚶‍♀️ while looking at the cherry blossoms 🌸 ♪ It is very well maintained ~ there is a feeling of freedom ⭐️ (Original) 桜🌸を見ながら散歩🚶‍♀️をして来ました♪ とても綺麗に整備してあり〜解放感があります⭐️

(Translated by Google) I am grateful to the people of Tamagawa Village for their work. It's a very interesting park. It was a weekday, so it was empty. (Original) 仕事で玉川村の方々にお世話になりました。 なかなか面白い公園です。 平日だったので空いてました。

There is also a steam locomotive on the spacious grounds. There is also a Pokemon Lucky themed park in one area, which is fun.

Nothing much to see during late spring, but the park was relatively quiet on a weekday and there are some nice garden to view the flowers. Not worth the drive up to visit this place.

Great park fit for everyone and all year round. Starting with Cherry blossoms in spring, Rose garden in Summer (June/July) and Autumn (October) and cozy snowfall in winter. Go alone, with your kids or your family. Just loved it.

Now, sakura​ began to bloom in some sections in this park. The atmosphere was so nice and refreshing.

I always happy to be back to this place.This time its semi Autumn and i always wanted to experience an Autumn season in Japan and now this is it!

Not yet ready for cherry blossom . But a nice relaxing park and children playground in the city.

A nice park as is but Hanami season is a perfect time to visit.

it's a very large resting area and with a lot of local foods to buy! food (food and more food), drinks, small gift & accessories, hand crafts, etc., the family must get something that want. however the cashier is very ineffective. it's very slow and always a big long queue there; then while the queue blocks the shopping area and the main walking path, then made the place unpleasant to shop at. more travel ideas, photos & videos👇🏾 follow me on ig: food.n.cats.not1less

Visited here early in the morning. It wasn’t open yet. The parking area is big. The bathrooms are very clean. There is family toilet as well. Mt. Bandai view was great.

⛰️ Escape to Michi-no-Eki Inawashiro, nestled between Bandai Mountain & Lake Inawashiro 🍴 Enjoy wood-fired pizza, hand-cut soba, local rice and soba flour dishes, plus exclusive treats like Bandai golden natto and freshly made dorayaki. With abundant parking and modern facilities, it’s the perfect rest stop on your road trip! #MichiNoEkiInawashiro #AizuEats #TohokuRoadTrip #BandaiViews #LakeInawashiro #JRoadStation

Free dog-run on the premises. Dog-run is separated for small and mid-large dogs. Not really big considering the open area but clean and well maintained 🐶 It's a pity no restaurant or shop allows dogs to enter though.. If you come from the highway's Inawashiro IC you can get back to the highway with no additional fee within 3hours.

Typical roadside stop in Japan. Large choice of fast meals, drinks and small souvenirs. Lunch was very tasty and arrived quickly.

The store is so huge . And there are many stuff and something to eat . If you have opportunities to drop by the store , you have better buy for present to kind friends and family.

Easy parking and good for shopping.

We visited Miharu Takizakura on March 31st 2025. It was still too cold and the trees were still ‘sleeping.’ I came here 8 year years ago. It was fully blooming and it was beautiful. There were some other somei yoshino sakura on the hill. There is a park fee during the sakura season. Some food stalls sell delicious food. According to local people this weeping cherry trees have been standing for more than 1000 years, the height is 13,5 meters and the diameter is 9,5 meters. The local people have been taking care of the tree. After getting off at Fukushima station, I rent a car and drove to Miharu Takizakura.

During our visit on March 31, 2025, this location, home to an estimated 1000+ year-old Cherry blossom tree over 12 meters tall, unfortunately showed no signs of cherry blossoms yet. The temperature remained quite chilly, between 2-6°C.

We visited Miharu Takizakura last month as a couple, and it was truly one of the most magical experiences of our trip to Japan. This ancient cherry blossom tree is absolutely breathtaking in full bloom - the cascading pink petals really do look like a waterfall of flowers. The atmosphere was peaceful and respectful, with visitors quietly admiring the beauty and history of this 1,000-year-old natural treasure. The surrounding countryside added to the charm, and the locals were so kind and welcoming. Everything was well organized, from parking to walking paths, and there were small food stalls offering local treats. It felt like stepping into a fairytale. We were both deeply moved by the serenity and beauty of the place. If you're in Japan during sakura season, this is an absolute must-see. It’s a memory we’ll cherish forever. Highly recommended for couples and nature lovers alike.

No doubt on why this place has become no.1 sakura spot in Fukushima prefecture. Lot people, lot of vehicles and rush during the peak season. Entrance ticket is ¥500. From some car parks, there was a shuttle bus service, difficult to find nearby car parks. Lovely place, unique beauty. Worth seeing historical Takizakura tree. Few snack shops around, can try several snacks such as ice cream, takoyaki, curry bun etc.

So grateful if the nice weather Today the cherry had 50% blossom in the morning and full blossom at 11am?😂

It's worth a 15 min detour trip which costs 300 yen per person. The ambience is nice with spring in full bloom. The place is the site of a big and old sakura tree surrounded by eateries and you can buy sakura plants from here as well.

Amazing! This 1,000 year old sakura, which is declared one of Japan’s 3 great cherry trees in 1922, still stands big and tall as of today. It’s such a moving and awestruck experience when you see this tree before your eye. Many thanks to Miharu community and those who have supported to protect and preserve this amazing cherry tree! I wish this sakura another thousand years to come.

Highly recommend the cave walk. May not be too suitable if you do have difficulty in tight spaces and low visibility / slippery floors.

i highly recommend this place. we went ther on yearend vacation still not crowded at all. cave history is so amazing. and walking though it was very exciting. there are some path which is bit complex than others and one can choose which path they want to take. we went with very young baby(one is 2years old and another is 7months). it is not imposible to visit here with baby but quite tough on some point. but my older daughter really enjoyed.

Temperature is low, so you need prepare jacket. It's awesome place.

Gorgeous. Amazing place to visit. In the summer, The temperature inside is around 15 C. So it's advisable to bring warm clothes. Some places are slippery. Be ready and beer careful. It's good to go during uncrowded period. Because visitors have to go in queue in this cave. So you can't wait if there are lots of people waiting behind. Several places are very big caves. Maybe bigger than normal 2 story house. You can wait and take some special photos. Outside the are shops to buy souvenirs, drinks or to have meal. Ticket price for adult is around thousand yen as I remember. It's worthy. Good luck

Totally fun place to explore, although it tends to be crowded. The extra cost exploration course is worth it but a word of caution: some spaces are extremely narrow and low. Please take heed of the physical restrictions as well as possible claustrophobia. The normal course is more friendly on a general level.

First time to visit and had a lot of fun there. The limestone caves is cool with the right lightings. There is also a lavender farm that you can pick lavender for 500¥

Amazing, it's like out is this world, they did well with the lights, it's very safe as well, you can diffrent routes from easy to hard, it's quite cold inside, jacket is a must

Amazing & stunning lake view ！

Blue themed it was. Blue sky, blue lake; floating islands in between; beautiful landscapes, serene scene with cold air gusting through you with dim sunlight on horizon.

Beautiful lake, middle of the mountain like valley. Freezing weather and beautiful landscapes. Seems like Rara Lake of Nepal.

プチツーリング🏍️を敢行し、湖を一周して来ました❗ 所々でキャンプ場やホテル🏨旅館、レストラン🍴🍝などが有ります❗残念ながら森の熊さん🐻は出てきませんでした。(´・c_・`)

Such a wonderful place ❤️🍁

August 2012

(Translated by Google) A majestic view of the backside of Mt. Bandai. The view from Lake Hibara is spectacular no matter the season. Pleasure boats are also available. The best time to see it is from late October to early November. (Original) 磐梯山の裏部分の勇壮な景色。檜原湖畔からの眺望は、季節を問わず最高です。遊覧船も運行しています。十月後半から11月はじめが見頃です

Not a good place to visit if you are not driving. I drove all the way up to the public parking which was a rather small patch and the roads going up was narrow as well. There wasn’t any castle structures left and some of the pics displayed here referred to another castle park nearby. Good views even when it was a rainy day when I visited.

Nice park. Food stands with great fare available. Nice hiking trails abound, and visiting just past peak bloom f I r the Sakura was a great time.

I was not expecting much but this place was breathtaking in Autumn. They also had a flower festival on and fresh food/market strip with shoyaki taiyaki and more. English signage is available for all the notable ruins etc.

Very nice park. Good food stands here. Beautiful sakura here. Lots of walking paths available.

We only saw the ruin, no castle-like building

Parking at multiple levels for those less mobile. Toilets available on site.

Very beautiful place to view the autumn leaves

Parked at the bottom of the crater and walked up, around and back down took us around 1.5 hours for a casual hike. Parking fee was Y500. Totally worth it for stunning views from the top of the crater.

What an amazing view!🌋　You can reach the summit around 10 minutes via stairs and walk around creter around 40 minutes. Very windy and thrilling spot, its worth to go! Don’t forget to wear proper shoes. 🥾

Very beautiful view from the top of volcano. I suggest to walk up the volcano from the left side and walk down to the right side is less slippery. I walked around 1 hour include taking photo

While in Fukushima, I was recommended to head up mount Azuma-kofuji to enjoy the view. So come the morning, I begin my ascent and instantly was met with fantastic views as I Drove up. Each 300 meters was another great photo spot and view of the area below. Once I reached the resting area at the top, I was greeted with more great views and a fun souvenir shop that second as an educational building. It was a great experience visiting but next time I will need to prepare as the sulfur smell from the active funnels was everywhere below the summit.

So beautiful!!!! There’s paid parking that cost 500 yen for the day. The drive up was gorgeous and once you get there, make sure you climb the steps up to the crater and walk all around the rim. It’s a spectacular view and a once in a lifetime experience that shouldn’t be missed. There is a restaurant and gift shop inside the main building along with toilets both inside and out. We found it easier to go up the left side of the crater and come down the right side and the slope on the right is milder.

Great place for hiking and viewing. The road as well as the parking place can get really crowded in high season. Came back for moon-lit night photography due to the popularity of this spot.

Great intermediate hike. I don’t recommend for first time hikers to solo but you’ll be fine in a group with experienced hikers. You don’t need expensive gear to make it to the top but nice boots and crampons wouldn’t hurt. The views from the top are worth the sweat.

Nice park. Free entry. Was under maintenance during my visit. The coloured tracks are easy to follow, but if you head off towards the "observatory" you'll likely not see much else. I walked for a couple of hours following poorly marked signed which lead nowhere in particular. Nice and peaceful, but with a lot of tree cover blocking most of the views.

There are not many flowers in the summer time. But tree trails and the chirping cicadas makes u embrace the natural environment. Three are 30, 45, 60 mins courses. We took the 60 one. It’s easy to walk. But seems not well maintained, may cause by the off season.

We visited on a rainy day but the rain cleared and we got to see all the wonderful blossoms (16th April). We did the 60 minute walking loop, there is a 30 and a 45 minute loop too. I enjoyed the 60 minute loop as you get a beautiful view from the top of the hill. As it was a rainy day it was not busy, but I can imagine it gets very busy.

Amazing place! There are several varieties of flowers beyond cherry blossoms, so the park can be enjoyed throughout a long time during spring (also summer when it's hydrangea season). Since the name of the park suggests it is a mountain, so expect some hiking. The walk to the summit may take around one hour (a bit longer if you stop to admire the flowers and take some pictures). The view from the top is really nice. You're able to appreciate Fukushima city from above while surrounded by flowers. No fees are needed to enter the park. Went there on the 6th of April 2024.

I went there during the full cherry blossom bloom on April 10, 2025. I spent half a day there, and it was bursting with vibrant colors—not just pink! Highly recommended!

Visited on Tuesday 8 April 2025. Beautiful weather in the morning for the astounding views. We did the 60min course which was not a problem for those without walking issues. Only one slightly short steep slope downhill towards the last part. They had some walking poles at the start of the course. There was quite a Q at the bus stop. So since there were 3 of us, we took a taxi (¥1800 per trip) from the Fukushima East exit. We showed them the pamphlet which we took from the Tourist Office at Fukushima station. The bus is ¥500 return. It was full bloom during our visit. Praise the Lord.

Really enjoyed the park and festivities. Quite crowded. However there is a hill to the left when looking at hanamiyama that has just as many if not more flowers and less crowds. Enjoyed that more even though both were great. Parking was really far away and you’re charged 500¥ pp for the return bus but it was well organised and caused little delay. Expected with crowds

Self-reliance is key. Why not pay a visit to the shrine to heighten your feeling of "if you try, you can achieve it?" After your visit, it would be a good idea to purchase the "if you try, you can achieve it" charm.

Beautiful shrine with lots of history. This are has many good steak restaurants too so that was nice as well.

top general in his period respect～

Shrine to the great samurai warrior Uesugi Kenshin (1530-1578) of the warring states period. Kenshin ruled Echigo in the days before the Uesugi clan was sent to Yonezawa after opting for the losing side against Tokugawa Ieyasu at Sekigahara (1600)

Beautiful place. Winter during feb 2024

Majestic and historic shrine, built on the grounds of Yonezawa castle. A local ski instructor that we met at Tengendai Ski Area kindly brought us to this must-visit historic and spiritual site in Yonezawa city. Very cool history and statues of Uesugi Yozan!

Shrine with a nice park to walk and pray. Nice zen feeling

Those interested in wine, this will be the right place for you. They have wine that are made from Japan produced grapes which have a different quality compared to imported grapes directly from overseas and imported grapes grown in Japan. I was awesome by this interesting fact and had the chance to taste the wines. It is definitely delicious!!! While getting some wine, there are also a lot of gift that can be brought from there.

I am a great fan of Takahata winery and had the privilege of visiting the winery in person from Tokyo. The experience was less than what I expected. They had wine tasting but it was by each station. It was almost like food tasting in a Japanese supermarket. Disappointing. They should have western winery style whereby a large counter is set up and customers can stand in a good number and listen to the wine talk from the staff and taste all wines at the one counter. Subpar overall in experience. Good wine though. One star of for experience and four stars on the wine.

Despite being a beautiful and super cozy place, there is not much information in English. The ice cream has 1.7% of alcohol, very tasty!

It was nice place to see. Little bit sad about that people cannot see the exact the way to make wine like small your or something but it's good place to visit.

Beautiful location, great experience during winter

Despite being medium body wine, the pinot noir from their "Barrique" serie is very tasty. It was a great pairing with a sukiyaki

Winery & shopping mall

Not the best castle but in terms of crowd it's the least I'd say, very good to take your time to view and photograph. Also the castle stamp is inside.

A rather small castle, but with a very nice view of the city. The exhibition inside is rather modest as well. Surrounding park has a lot of Sakura and is really pretty, though. Do not buy the bundle ticket for ¥800 as it includes a some cinema just in Japanese. However, the Samurai Residence is a nice addition.

Shiroishi Castle is a city castle in Shiroishi City, and it is a rebuild of the castle which was damaged in war. Original Castle was built in 1591 and continued in use until 1871; then, when Meiji Emperor ended Endo Shogunate, in 1874, Meiji Emperor ordered abolishment of the feudal or shogun castles, and it included Shiroishi Castle. Current Shiroishi Castel was rebuilt in 1995 with wood material and traditional techniques, and it is integrated with a city park with an upgrading of lawn and other green improvement. Shiroishi Castle is included as one of 100 Castles in Japan. However, because it is a rebuilt from 1995, it is extremely new. For visitors to the Shiroishi Castle, they may feel going to park with a new building, instead of going to a historical architecture. It is really a completely different feeling or experience for visiting and stopping at this newly built castle when it is compared to Himeji Castle or Hikone Castle. If visitors want to enjoy classic and/or historical architecture, a castle, then, Shiroishi Castle is probably NOT the right one for you. But if visitors want to see and feel the re-build effort of Japanese castle, then, maybe, it is a good choice. There is bathroom inside Castle-park area. The entrance fee for adult is $ 400 Yen and visitors should buy tickets via Ticket machines outside Castle entrance.

An underrated castle which not many people know about, this was originally the resident castle of the Katakura clan. Don't miss out the spectacular views after climbing to the top.

The place is small but well maintained and the view is amazing. For 400 yen it's a steal!

Traditional style castle (rebuilt) with a great view of the city and various info cards displayed around describing the history. You can scan the QR codes on them for an English translation. It’s 300JPY to get in, or you can pay 800JPY for an “all access” pass which includes the castle, samurai village/hut which is about a kilometre away, and a 3D showing. Be careful going up and down the stairs, they are very steep and since you cannot wear shoes inside will be quite slippery on socks. Just around the corner to the castle is a small shrine you can visit. Basic amenities such as vending machines and toilets are available

Nice reconstruction of an ancient castle. Lots of information in English (outside) - none inside. a pity. Also a nice shrine not far and a samourai house.

We arrived Okama on May 2nd as goldenweek holiday in Japan! We can drive up to the top by paying a ticket (800 yen per 1 car) It’s colder than we think, and the Okama is still full of snow!

The caldera lake is much larger in real, and it really leaves an impression. The altitude of the carpark is 1771 metres, so the mountain air is still refreshingly cool in midsummer.

Took bus here from Yamagata. Took 2 hours on the bus. Not many buses come here. Popular tourist location. Good scenario. Volcano lake. Walk around. Shrine. Good views

Fantastic experience visiting Okama. Parked at the visitor center entrance, with a fee of Y550. Took us ~2 hours to hike up to the peak and to see the stunning views. Along the way to the peak, you would already see amazing views of the Gokishinuma (5 colored pond) that was caused by volcanic activities in the past. Definitely recommend to go!

Okama looks absolutely gorgeous in the early to mid April period, when the snow is partially covering the surrounding slopes, partly showing the brown earth below. Under a blue sky, this 残雪 (Zansetsu) scene offer in my opinion one of the best view of Okama. These are photos were taken at 13/4/2024 after a 45min hike from the Zao Jizo Sancho Station 蔵王ロープウェイ 地蔵山頂駅. Something to take note of: (1) the last descending cable car leave at 4:45pm at this time of the year, (2) The trails are mostly covered under loose melting snow, those trail without snow are very muddy. Although I did it with just a gaiter and not fully waterproof shoe, I would strongly suggest good waterproof shoe, gaiter, snowshoe or trekking pole. (3) You can find the gps route and more hiking info from Yamap. (4) These photos were shot at the viewpoint just to the east of Kumanodake 熊野岳 which I think offer better scenery at this time of year compared to the more southern viewpoints.

I’ve skied at Zao several times, but this was my first summer visit. I have always wanted to hike and see Okama, and I would recommend this spot if you can. We drove up in a personal vehicle, but there are hiking trails and a chair lift a bit below the uppermost parking lot if you’re not driving. We also saw some cyclists biking up! There are many great hikes around, and of course, you can see the famous snow monsters without their snow!

It's a great place to visit. Emerald lake in volcano crater looks so magic.Amazing view from top of mountain. But Weather may be really unpredictable.So be aware about it and ready for any case. There are many ways to reach the place:by car, by free shuttle, by rope way or hiking. Parking place usually gets full very quickly,it's better to come before 10am. Hiking courses to the Okama crater are very good for any age and conditions. Never have try so enjoyable course.

A frustrating experience at this open ski area. It’s easy to get lost, and I somehow managed to lose my cell phone in the process. There are too many flat areas where you’re forced to take off your snowboard and walk—definitely not ideal. The weather didn’t help, and to top it off, there were way too many non-skiers taking the cable car up just for photos, blocking the way for those of us trying to actually ski. Not the best place for serious snow sports enthusiasts!

A Paradise of Snow Monsters and Winter Adventures If you’re traveling to Yamagata in winter, Zao Onsen Ski Resort is a must-visit destination. The resort offers a diverse range of courses for all levels from gentle slopes to tight tree runs Get into the Zao Rope Way Sanrokusen for Juhyo Kogen station where you can have some fun with the snow. From Juhyo Kogen Station get into the Zao Rope Way Sanchosen and you will reach to the top(around 1661m). In you way you can see the Snow Monsters JFYI: there might be strong winds at the top so make sure to be prepared with proper wears and shoes. For skiers/snowboarders: the resort is huge and it’s easy to get lost. So have a course map with you. For snowboards : there are lots of flat areas where you have to remove your snowboard and walk for the next lift. Access: Get a bus from Yamagata Station to Zao Onsen. A one way ticket will cost around 1200Yen

The resort is incredible. 🎿 It has several slopes of varying difficulty so you can learn or try somersaults. The staff's attention is unbeatable. Long live Japan ♥️ ❄️ ⛄️

Best experience in Japan. You have to check the weather first. On a fine day, the monster are visible and you can play with snow. We took the ropeway. There are 2 station on the way. Last one is the main spot to see the mighty snow monster. There is also ski area and onsen area. Ropeway round trip price is around 4200 yen. At night there are some illumination also. It was freezing ❄️ cold. Must wear snow boots and take heat patch. It will helpful to survive 😅. Once in a life time experience as Yamagata has one of the highest snowfall area. For ski, pre booking is must. There are restaurant on the last stop. On the first floor, one suvenior shop is there. Vending machine is available to buy hot drinks. Washroom facilities are also in good condition. 10/10 ( as i get the perfect views and nice weather ) in

Discover a hidden gem of a ski resort that offers an extraordinary experience! This resort is a paradise for ski enthusiasts who appreciate pristine snow conditions, breathtaking scenic views, and unique local features. The ski tracks are beautifully maintained, nestled among majestic snow-covered trees, and the resort’s distinctive tree monsters add a whimsical charm to the landscape. Unlike the busier and more commercialized ski destinations, this resort provides a tranquil escape, ensuring that the slopes are less crowded and the overall experience is more intimate. Its budget-friendly nature, compared to more popular resorts like Niseko, makes it an excellent choice for those seeking value without compromising on quality. A useful tip for future visitors: remember to carry cash, as many of the cozy, on-site restaurants prefer it over card payments. While the resort boasts an ample number of ski coaches, travelers should be aware that English communication may be limited. Despite this, the friendly and accommodating staff ensures a welcoming and enjoyable experience for everyone. Overall, if you’re in search of an authentic ski getaway where you can connect with the essence of winter sports in a serene and picturesque setting, this resort is an unbeatable choice. Don’t miss out on this less-trodden winter wonderland!

This a great ski resort, especially for beginners and sightseeing. There are some advanced hills, but not many so this isn't the place to come for big thrills. The beginner slopes are great for learning though! There's a lot of long, simple runs. Also, a lift ticket isn't much more expensive than a ropeway ticket so if you want to see the snow monsters you might as well go skiing too. Only real complaint is some awkward flat/uphill spots here and there that required me to take off my skis and walk a couple times.

Exceptionally beautiful ski/board course. The trees look magical covered in snow. Has several beginner areas. The panoramic route through the snow monsters is amazing. Although there are a lot of flat areas in between. Free shuttle Buses run between the gondolas till evening. Gondolas stop operating a bit early so plan otherwise. You can take a gondola to the top with a separate ticket as well. Illumination was cancelled the night i went due to bad weather.

Ensure the day is not cloudy before visiting or you might not be able to see the caldera. However if there's clouds and thick fog you'll get a vision from buddhist hell meets Silent Hill, complete with piled stones, which is kind of spooky and cool in its own way.

This may be one of the most breathtaking places I have ever been in the world. Taking the cable car across the mountain top, and seeing the snow monsters appear from between the clouds was absolutely mind-blowingly beautiful! I cannot wait to return one day and relive this experience!

Severe snow storm. Did not see much. Only 2 with cameras brave the storm to take some pics. The rest sat at the restaurant.

It was great so beautiful place you are top of skay you can drive until ropeway and get ropeway the price 900 yen and also you can drive on top but the charg you 600 yen but the mountain so beautiful in winter so cold

A cable car ride to Zao Jizo Sancho Station at the summit of Mt.Zao. skiers and tourist use these lines to enjoy a bird's eye view of Mt. Zao. Also enjoy the famous frost-covered trees in winter or better known as Snow Monsters.

🇯🇵 Jalapa Yamagata Zao Mountain Snow Monster 🏔️💖👍 Allah's creation is really beautiful unusual cold unusual beautiful a place to see a place to remember a place wonderful beautiful subhanAllah…..💖💖💖☝️

Nice good weather to hike around Mt Zao, overlooking the Okama crater

Super beautiful and spacious. I went when the tullip is in season, and it was so beautiful. The park is clean, and there are open spaces for children to run about and play (soccer, throw flying disc, basketball, etc).

This is the best park in this area of Japan. So much to do for the kids, endless amounts of beautiful trees and flowers, and some easy to access facilities and food and drink. Our kids still talk about the -first- time they came here in 2023, and we had another amazing time this time around too. From the awesome squishy running pad area, to the ball pit, kart area, amazing and large slides, flying foxes, and there’s still more! We came back for a reason and we’ll definitely come back again.

What an amazing park to spend a day at! About 20 min drive from Sendai station ... a big dam on the way to the park ...I went there on 11 October with my 🇯🇵 friend park is Quite spacious ... have boating, recreational rides for children and adults ... scenic beauty... flowers ...fountains ... colorful fish (koi) however, for entry in park, a ticket is required which is about 420 yen ... but free entry on selective days like 31 October 2020! Parking is 320 yen. 😇🌻🧚‍♂️⭐️😌 Highly recommended place to chill out. Love and peace Happy

It's a big area that has field playground, flower park, canteen and small history house (about preserved insect and old-life tools). There are many various flower and plants here. There's also a board near the plant to introducing the species and name of it. Entrance ticket cost me 450¥ Bus ticket cost is 1140¥ It's recommended to come on summer or on the bright day.

It is one of the great parks in Sendai area. It has pretty much everything you might expect at a park. It is mainly divided into three parts. The main part has the lots of playgrounds for the kids. Huge parking area. The admission fee is 450 yen for adults and free for the kids. Parking area is 310 yen for regular cars. There are various flower parks, lake where you can enjoy boat riding, bbq area, a special village with old style Japanese houses, indoor ball pool, small tricycles for kindergarten level and foot wheel type car ride for uppers and huge relaxing places. There are shops and bathrooms around. The second part which I didn’t visit yer but saw on the map has eco-camp ground, livestock barn, dog park and several other beautiful places. You can enter from the north gate. The third part is mainly a forest like area. There is a forest school in it. Great place for students to experience nature. Overall great place for both kids and adult. You can spend whole day here. Would like to come back again.

Came during the off season so the park was very quiet and only the group of elderly folks “playing” in the park... the park the flowers the greenery the space - was fun and enjoyable as we stroll around and take photos and had a relaxing afternoon.

June 2024. Beautiful flowers in bloom. A great place for families with children, including trampolines, water features, and roller slides. Lots of fun for my 5, 3, and 1 year-olds. Plenty for adults too. You can take in the artful flower displays at every season, or come to see the old house replicas of life in the northern prefectures from centuries before. A very nice park! Soli Deo gloria. "The earth is the LORD’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein" (Psalm 24:1).

This has been one of my most favorite places to visit in Japan so far. It is an absolutely magical place! We went on a drizzly day, so the raindrops and mist added to the mysterious quality of the location. There were so many stairs to climb- but a lot of places to step to the side, take a break, and look at the surrounding beauty. Moss covered statues, beautiful temples, and little shops skirted the path up the mountain. The grounds were in pristine condition and so clean. The view from the top was amazing!! I was under the impression dogs are not normally permitted on temple grounds but we saw (and heard) many dogs during our visit. There are many areas outside of the temple grounds to purchase food and souvenirs. There are also some paid parking lots nearby.

For foliage /momiji reference, these pictures were taken on October 22nd. Great place to slowly enjoy, but too soon for color change. If this area was in Kyoto it would be so crowded with tourists because of its beauty, but it still gives a untouched kind of place vibe. 2 hours should be enough to take your time going up and appreciate yhe nature, statues and local architecture

You’ll find plenty of paid parking at the base of Risshaku-ji temple, and it’s only about 500 yen. The view from the top of the mountain is absolutely stunning! The photo I took was taken in early November, so you can already see some trees starting to turn red and yellow. There are quite a few stairs to climb to the top, so if you walk up without stopping, it should take around 20-30 minutes.

Risshaku-ji Temple (Yamadera) was honestly one of the most impressive places I visited on this trip. From the moment I started climbing the long stone steps, I already felt that it was going to be special. The path winds through the forest, past small shrines and statues, and you can hear the sound of the bell and the wind in the trees as you go up – it’s very peaceful and a little bit magical. I visited in autumn and the colours were incredible: bright yellow, orange, and red leaves covering the mountains on all sides. Every few minutes I had to stop just to turn around and look at the view again. By the time I reached the top, the panorama over the valley and villages below completely took my breath away. It looks like a picture from a postcard, but standing there in person feels even better. The climb is a bit tiring, but not too difficult, and there are many spots where you can rest and enjoy the scenery. In the end I felt that every step was worth it. I left Yamadera feeling calm, happy, and very satisfied that I made the effort to come. If you are anywhere near Yamagata, I really recommend visiting – you won’t be disappointed.

This a very famous temple with many tourists in the area. Nonetheless the many steps to the top are well worth the effort. The view is spectacular and the temple beautiful. But you will not be able to enjoy the temple alone as there are loads of tourists visiting. Still very worth the trip.

1000 stair steps to reach the top. Admission fee for an adult is 500 yen. We recommend going up earlier than 11 AM because of many tourists visiting this place later on. It is worth the view as well as to embrace the beauty of the little forrest around the trail up. At the top you can expect a shrine and a little shop with drinks if you feel exhausted. The people are friendly and forthcoming despite the masses of tourists.

Be prepared for the need to walk up and down lots of steps to reach the top. It's a 1015-steps climb. There were however different levels for a stoppage and short rest. The fall foliage was still amazing along this pilgrimage route.

This is my 2nd time to stay a night here. Very crowded. There is a 24 hours supermacket and very reasonable hot spa near here. (May 25th 2024) This roadside parking area is a very popular site for staying a night in a car. You will feel difficulty to find your parking space. (June 11th 2023)

They have a pretty nice and hot onsen for your feets here! The food is average considering the price though its good. A bakery can also be found here and the typical souvenir shops.

Good place to get local produced. A foot Onsen is also available.

Varieties of foods and vegetables. Gelato is good

Nice place to grab some lunch and gelato ice cream. There's also a nice park and playground area. In the summer they have a little water play area. Good on a hot day for adults and kids to cool off

Rest​ area​ for​ coffe​e, super market​ and​ foot onsen

Nice park with a food onsen. Has a good ice cream stand and places to buy omiyage

My guest and I had a great experience at the Miyagikyo Distillery. Ito-san (if I remembered her name correctly) gave a fun and informational tour that we both enjoyed. The free tour provides 3 different whiskeys to taste, and there is a separate bar next to the souvenirs if you want to try other Nikka spirits. Club soda and ice were also available if you want to make yourself a whiskey highball. Definitely worth a visit if you're around the Sendai and Yamagata areas.

A great experience for any whisky lover. Compared to the Yoichi distillery, the tour for this one didn’t seem as in depth. However, the grounds are nicer…very picturesque setting in the forest. The free tasting after the tour was great as usual. The paid tastings don’t have any rare whiskies available, but they do have everything that they sell in the gift shop on the menu so that you can try before you buy. Speaking of which, great gift shop selection, including several distillery exclusive varieties.

Great distillery, placed in a beautiful valley between mountains. If you visit it in autumn you'll be delighted with an incredible landscape. Totally kawaii. The tour is interesting and suitable for non Japanese speakers, except by the fact we need to use the phone and turn on the speakers while the guide explains everything so it tends to be noise enough to don't understand anything and bother the rest of the people. This lead to give up the phone explanation. Note aside, I was told there was a text version but instead only saw the audio one. The tasting from the tour is correct but considering, they should add another variaty of whiskey since they include an "apple wine" (brandy style) which is just a sweet treat. The problems comes later. After you can taste some other types of whiskey paying. You can try a 10 years old single cask, absolutely incredible. But then you cannot find it in the shop and buy it. Also, they should fix their contact section in the website, it has not been working for a while.

The guided tour is free, it's cool, and the tasting is great. On the drive from Sendai, you will pass L'Albero, a Napoli pizza restaurant that you don't want to miss.

We did the pre-booked free tour - they had an app to download to get some English audio and and videos had subtitles so we were able to understand what was being explained for the most part. You get to try 3 of the whiskies at the end for free. It's definitely worth a visit and the shop has some whiskies / tasters which you can't get everywhere

I've consumed quite a few bottles of Nikka Whisky and previously visited the Yoichi distillery, so I had to go to the Miyagikyo distillery when in Sendai a few weeks ago on 31 October. Overall, all the staff were friendly and welcoming. While the tour is in Japanese, there are subtitles on the videos and some english text available via a webapp on your phone. The tour guide also spoke very clear Japanese, so I was able to pick up on a number of words I do know, which helped. :) The distillery itself is in a beautiful setting right up in the mountains above Sendai. The autumn colours in the surrounding trees just added to the atmosphere. The tour was longer than I expected and the tasting at the end was a great way to finish. Even if you aren't a whisky drinker, the tour itself would still be interesting and the location alone makes it worthwhile.

Took a lovely guided tour of this distillery with friends while on vacation. If you love Japanese whisky as I do, this is a great stop during your vacation. The location is incredibly beautiful and they have taken great care not to disturb the natural beauty of the landscape, something that was emphasized in their tour. The Japanese respect for maintaining the harmony between humans and nature is admirable, and it shows. Personally, Nikka is not my favorite distiller in Japan, but their products are still delicious and it was an easy decision to stock up on as many bottles as I could carry while there. My stock should last me many years :) The tour itself took about an hour start to finish. I believe you need to book tickets in advance for the guided tours, but if they’re not at capacity I’m sure they would allow you to buy a ticket on the day you arrive. I’m unsure, however, as our hosts bought ours in advance. The prices in the gift shop were very reasonable and much cheaper than these products would cost as exports in another country. Not to mention the generous exchange rate as of April 2024. My total purchase of ¥71,000 came out to $460 USD*. Highly recommend stopping for a tour if you’re in the area! Even driving to/from the location is a wonderful experience because of the natural beauty of the mountain valley it’s nestled in. *FYI for credit cards: the gift shop codes as a grocery store, so if you have a card that gives cash back or bonus points for grocery spending, you can make use of that benefit here.