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Winter Scenery · Tohoku

Ouchi-juku in Snow

Aizu-Wakamatsu & Ouchi-jukuSnowy village❄ Best season: Early Jan – Late Feb
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Overview

Overview

Ouchi-juku is a village in Shimogo, Fukushima, that still retains the look of an Edo-period post town. In winter, snow piles up on the thatched-roof houses lining the old road, and the post town turns white.

Address
Ouchi, Shimogo-machi, Minamiaizu-gun, Fukushima
Closures & winter suspensions
Some shops close in winter
Time needed
About 1–2 hours to stroll the village
Official website
https://www.ouchi-juku.com/
Peak Time

When to Go

Best seasonUsually January to February (snow starts to settle in December and remains in March)
December
January
February

Snowfall varies by year. Some shops close in winter, so check in advance if there is a particular shop you want to visit

Seasons are typical guides. Snow, ice and drift ice depend heavily on each year’s weather.

Highlights

Highlights

The winter highlight is the scene of thick snow on the thatched roofs and the all-white road. The Ouchi-juku Snow Festival is held every year on the second Saturday and Sunday of February.

📷 Best views
Thatched village along the old road

A view of the post town with rows of snow-covered thatched roofs

Admission

Admission & fares

ParkingRegular car ¥500

Motorcycles free

Prices may change. Check the official website before you go.

Tips

Tips for travelers

  • ✓Take great care with ice in January. The snowy road through the village is slippery
  • ✓Yunokami-Onsen Station, known for its thatched-roof station building, is also covered in snow in winter
Access

Getting there

Nearest station / bus stop
  • Yunokami-Onsen Station (Aizu Railway)By the seasonal Saruyu-go shuttle or taxi
Driving & winter roads
Paid parking available (regular car ¥500). In winter the roads freeze in the morning and evening, so if you are not used to driving on snowy roads, take the shuttle or a taxi
Getting back
  • Check winter operation of the Saruyu-go with Hirota Taxi (0242-75-2321)
Open in Google Maps ↗
Crowds

Crowds & best times

Busiest
The Ouchi-juku Snow Festival on the second Saturday and Sunday of February
Weather

Temperature & staying warm

Typical temperatures
January normals for Wakamatsu: high 2.9°C, low -3.4°C; February: high 4.0°C, low -3.5°C (Japan Meteorological Agency). Ouchi-juku is in the mountains and can be even colder
What to wear & bring
Waterproof snow boots and heavy warm clothing. Bring ice grips for frozen roads too
☁ Tohoku weather by month
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Rules

Rules & safety

  • !People live in the village. Do not enter the grounds of homes
Attractions

Attractions in Aizu-Wakamatsu & Ouchi-juku

Aquarium

Aquamarine Fukushima

Tohoku ・ Iwaki, Fukushima

An environmental aquarium at Onahama Port in Iwaki. It showcases a wide range of waterside nature and wildlife, from the rivers and sea of Fukushima to the Shiome no Umi, where the Kuroshio and Oyashio currents meet, as well as northern seas and coral reefs. It's open year-round, and a visit typically takes 1.5 to 3 hours.

Experience

Spa Resort Hawaiians

Tohoku ・ Iwaki, Fukushima

A hot spring and pool leisure complex in Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture. A single admission ticket gives access to the Water Park's pools and water slides, the Spring Park hot spring area, the open-air bath Edo Jowa Yoichi, and more. Polynesian shows run from midday into the night, so you can enjoy it on a day trip or an overnight stay.

See all attractions →
Winter Scenery

Winter Scenery in Tohoku

Hot spring town

Ginzan Onsen

Tohoku ・ Ginzan Onsen & Obanazawa

❄ Best season: Mid Dec – Early Mar

✦ Illumination
Frozen waterfall & icicles

Oirase Gorge Ice Falls

Tohoku ・ Lake Towada & Oirase

❄ Best season: Late Jan – Late Feb

✦ Illumination
See all winter scenery spots →

Seasons, hours, prices and access are based on official sources such as the spot’s own website, local governments and tourism associations. Winter weather often causes suspensions and road closures, so check the official website before you go.

Last checked: 2026-10-06

PRKlookOuchi-juku Snow Festival & Tsuruga Castle Day Tour from KoriyamaFrom and back to Koriyama Station. Visits Sazaedo, Tsuruga Castle and the Ouchi-juku Snow Festival, with departure dates in February 2027View