Roadtrip Fukushima’s Ouchijuku
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May 19, 2014 - Roadtrip Fukushima's Ouchijuku
After Aizu-Wakamatsu, my friends and I drove to Ouchijuku, the preserved post town south of Aizu-Wakamatsu, to explore.
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We arrived in Ouchijuku in mid-afternoon, giving us over an hour or so to explore before shops started closing up. At first glance, Ouchijuku is very a-typical not only because of the many thatched roofs and old-style buildings, but also the lack of power lines! You can see some banners flying of koi-no-bori, or carp streamers for Children's Day during Golden Week. Still coming out of winter, the trees are a bit bare, but it would be very beautiful when it is all green in summer I think!
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We spent several minutes walking around each shop and snacking on senbei and flavors of ice cream, before heading up to the mountain to see the view.
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There were several fun Fukushima souvenirs to buy, and each store's goods was different enough to warrant going in all of them! I bought two of these little cuties, one in blue and one in red, with a little carpet to put under them!
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The temple for itself isn't worth visiting... there isn't even a place to get calligraphy or anything done (although that may be due to seasonality). But the view from the mountain is a nice one! The steps are a bit steep, but are the fastest way up. For those a bit scared of steep steps, around to the left of the steps is a windy road that curves up that you can walk up that is easier.
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We went back down and on to the small museum. It is cheap to enter, but there isn't really anything to see... you are given a brochure in English that has some explanations, but nothing is in English inside. And it was very smokey inside due to the fireplace! A few minutes inside was enough for me.
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Look for the torii gate on the main road and follow it to the small, quiet shrine located in a copse of trees off a quiet dirt road.
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It too is too small for calligraphy or anything, but is a nice walk and cooler than the surrounding areas due to the trees. I liked it much better than the temple!
On the way back we saw this house which is getting a new roof... too bad we didn't catch anyone actually working on it!
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Shops began closing at 5pm, although again that may be a seasonal thing. We finished up some shopping after getting back from the shrine, then headed back north towards Yamagata.
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